Taking Care of Chronic Yeast Infections in Babies and Toddlers

October 4, 2012 By

Taking Care of Chronic Yeast Infections in Babies and Toddlers

Any infection in a young child is disturbing for a parent to see; yeast infections are no exception. When you can tell that your baby or toddler is distressed, uncomfortable and possibly in pain, it’s natural to feel compelled to make things better right away. After all, your child can’t verbalize yet what he or she feels; it’s up to parents to instinctively know how to handle baby toddler chronic yeast infections.

How do you know that your child has a yeast infection?

Yeast infections in babies and toddlers are commonly found in two areas; there’s infection in the mouth called thrush, and there’s infection in the diaper area. These places are inviting for baby toddler chronic yeast infections because yeast thrives in warm and damp environments. Common symptoms of thrush include white patches on a baby’s mouth area, including the gums and tongue. Yeast infections in the diaper can be seen via flat and red rashes especially if the infection has been aggravated by friction. Babies with thrush and diaper yeast infections can be quite irritable, especially during feeding and changing time respectively.

How do babies and toddlers get yeast infections?

If your child is on antibiotics, or is currently fighting off an immunized virus, he or she is more susceptible to yeast infections. This is because antibiotics can replete the body of helpful bacteria. Plus, babies in general have yet to develop strong immune systems to begin with, thus their bodies are hospitable for baby toddler chronic yeast infections.

Parents and caretakers with yeast infections can also pass on baby toddler chronic yeast infections. For instance thrush has been known to pass via breastfeeding or even during birth. It can also be acquired through improper cleaning of feeding bottles and pacifiers.

What can you do? For yeast infections in the diaper area, pharmacists do sell over-the-counter anti-fungal creams that are sensitive enough for an infant’s skin. Just make sure you apply it first to a small test area before you use it to all as there may be allergic reactions. Apply the cream in the infected area after every diaper clean-up and change, and the yeast infection should disappear in a couple of days. Always keep creams handy to arrest further development of baby toddler chronic yeast infections.

For oral infections, antifungal medicinal drops are also readily available such as nystatin liquid. It can be applied in the mouth area via soft cotton balls or taken orally. Remember that it’s imperative that you consult your pediatrician first before giving your baby something that’s to be taken orally.

Anti-fungal medication can have side-effects like diarrhea and vomiting and you’d want to take precautions especially if you’re dealing with baby toddler chronic yeast infections.

And don’t forget: effective feeding and diaper-changing habits can go a long way in preventing and healing baby toddler chronic yeast infections.

Sterilize your bottles and utensils and clean baby’s mouth thoroughly after feeding. Use quality diapers; some brands are more absorbent and more comfortable than others. If you’re still using cloth diapers rather than the disposable ones, pick cotton and similar airy material. Be diligent in spotting and changing soiled nappies; delays create hospitable environments for further rash. And make sure you clean the diaper area thoroughly after every change. Use soap and water; baby powder after dry helps too. Make sure that diapers are snug but not too tight so as not to irritate the rashes.

Taking Care of Chronic Yeast Infections in Babies and Toddlers

Taking Care of Chronic Yeast Infections in Babies and Toddlers

For more information on yeast infections and how to cure them visit [http://yeastinfections-news.blogspot.com/]

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Head Banging in Toddlers – Why?

September 25, 2012 By

Head Banging in Toddlers – Why?

Our 16 month old toddler has been exhibiting some pretty weird behavior that our other son never experienced…head banging. So I did some research and came up with some answers. I found out that head banging is common in toddlers and each child does it for various reasons. This really surprised me and made me less worried at the same time. Toddlers bang their head for various reasons some of which are discussed below:

Attention! Toddlers want attention! Toddlers start head banging to get attention from their parents.

Comfort! Your toddler may be comforting his or herself by banging their head. This calms them to help them go to sleep.

Frustration/Stress! Your child may be frustrated or stressed! This frustration can come from family stressors or just a regular temper tantrum.

Above all, head banging in toddlers is fairly common and rarely does it signify a more severe mental problem. Some parents think of Autism and other childhood mental disorders when it comes to toddler head banging but these are very rare with head banging alone. Other behaviors and symptoms would need to be present before that would be a cause for concern. If you feel your toddler’s head banging is out of control, your toddler doesnt talk at all, or you just feel like something is wrong then you need to contact your child’s pediatrician. If you are ever in doubt, call the doctor.

We have come to the conclusion that our toddler’s head banging has a lot to do with temper tantrums when things don’t go his way. During these periods of rare head banging, we do what we can to keep him safe. You should do the same with your child. Remember, in most cases, head banging is a stage and it shall pass.

Head Banging in Toddlers – Why?

Head Banging in Toddlers - Why?

Amanda Compton is a work at home mom to 2 little boys. She owns and publishes a fun site for Babies and Moms, http://www.ContestForMoms.com featuring a free baby photo contest, mom forums, and lots of baby & mom information. Check out her Baby & Toddler Parenting & News site too, http://www.OurSmartBaby.com

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Television Production – Lesson Fourteen, Babies, Toddlers and Children Inside the Television Studio

September 14, 2012 By

Television Production – Lesson Fourteen, Babies, Toddlers and Children Inside the Television Studio

This is a touchy subject when it comes to community access television. After all, usually our audiences are moms, dad, guardians, babysitters or teachers of children, and if not, they probably are related to children in some way. And almost everyone loves children. So, what do you do with children in the community access television productions? No one wants to alienate anyone who brings babies or children inside the building but everyone wants everyone to be safe and secure once inside the building. So this article is to spread information that will keep babies and children safe and secure while inside of any studio building. Before I get deep into this topic I should discuss what the children are doing there, in the studio building. Children are in the building for these reasons (For one, some or more than one of these reasons):

Sometimes the talent, guests, hosts or co-hosts are children, teens, or young adults.

Sometimes the children are audience members.

Sometimes the children are there with their adults who are producers. The producers are doing their own shows or helping other producers in the other producer’s shows.

Sometimes there might be children of staff or administration present.

Any or all of the above can be possible. Now that I have listed the reasons why children, teens or young adults are in the studio, I can get down to the basics of what happens, and what you might want to do if children appear on your reservation time.

There are many shows, a large number of shows, that have children as talent and active participants in main parts of the show, so we welcome babies and children into the studio, as long as the babies and children are well-supervised at all times. This ensures their safety and security. So, whether the children are talent, invited guests, or producers’ children, we all have the safety and security of babies and children as our first priority. Everyone inside the studio building must be safe, or there will be no successful television production possible. A production with injury or loss is not successful. So, with success in mind, I will go on to talk about babies and children inside of the studio buildings. So, this article is not stating that children, teens and young people should not be inside the studio, but clearly stating that there are places that are not safe for babies and young children, so most Executive Producers do not want to see children in these places that are or could cause injuries to any young children. Injuries could be caused by heavy equipment, electronic equipment and also by strangers who might have entered the building. So to avoid these injuries, the best thing to do is to have children supervised at all times when children are in these places inside the studio building. So, by following these instructions, all children should be safe and supervised inside any of the studio buildings, no matter what borough you live in.

When you bring children inside the studio building, know and remember that you are responsible for these children. The other producers, staff, interns, guests, volunteers, hosts, co-hosts or talent are not responsible for any babies, toddlers or young children that you bring inside the building. Knowing this and remembering this will help you to keep them supervised and safe while you visit the building. Many people forget this because there are so many people around. It is easy to take your eye of a child while some other adult is speaking with the child or paying attention to that child.

Know that the Security Guard is protecting your child when he or she tells you that your child is not permitted inside the conference room or permitted inside any other area of the studio building without constant adult supervision. That makes good, common sense. Many strangers come into the building at all times of day. You would not expect to leave your baby or child unattended with a stranger, so you are not going to leave your child unattended with strangers in the conference room, or any of the other areas of the studio building. While all this might seem like unnecessary rules to you because you feel comfortable and safe in the studio building, these are necessary rules for babies and children since the studio is not a place that was designed with babies or children in mind. So, leaving any baby or child unattended in any area of the studio building is like inviting a baby or child into a factory and leaving them alone. No reasonable parent or guardian would do that. So, if anyone reminds you that children need to be supervised, kindly take that as a friendly gesture that is helping to protect your child from injury or loss.

If and when you bring babies or children inside of the studio area (where producers tape shows), be alert that no one brings liquids inside the area. These liquids ruin equipment and the equipment is extremely expensive to replace. Besides being a financial responsibility, any liquids that come in contact with any of the equipment causes a possible electrical or fire danger to anyone nearby. Liquids and electricity has never ever mixed well when it comes to any electrical, camera or sound equipment. One of the reasons for the dressing room is so that parents and producers have a place to enjoy their meals, drinks and other snacks while they are at the studio building.


How Parents and Guardians Enjoy the Studio Experience:

Wait (with babies and children) in the waiting area (usually near the Security Guard). This keeps all babies and children in full view of the Security Guard. Even though you are still fully responsible for their safety, the Security Guard adds another measure of safety, just be being there. (Most strangers will not bother or abduct babies or children while a uniformed Security Guard is present).

When it is time to go into the conference room, have your babysitter watch the children outside the conference room while you are inside the room. If the child is older and responsible, they might be able to come into the conference room. Just ask the Executive Producer and there should be no problem with that. (You will need to pre-arrange this with the Executive Producer so he or she is aware that you are bringing babies or children into the building).

Once you leave the conference room or the lobby area, bring all babies and children with you, wherever you go. If you go into the rest room, bring them there, unless you have a babysitter watching them somewhere else. If you go into the dressing room, bring them there. Do the same as you would do with your babies or children in any business situation.

Be alert, and have your child’s safety first in mind. Yes, the show must go on, and everyone works to make the production a success. But you, as the parent or guardian, have a job first, and that is your child’s safety and security. (Yes, I know you have that in mind always. But I mention that because being inside the studio is such an exciting experience for some babies and children, that it can sometimes be overwhelming to them. And this alone, can cause some babies and children to want to explore areas that they have not seen or been in before.

By following those ideas, all babies and children should be able to safely experience the television production process and shows. With safety in mind, that makes everyone happy. No one would want to put any baby or child in any danger, so following these ideas definitely makes the show run smoothly.

What Dangers?

Dangers of strangers inside the studio building. Anything at all is possible. So, know that there might be strangers inside the studio building. Even though everyone signs the security books upstairs and downstairs, everyone entering the building is usually a stranger to your child. You do not know their background, where they come from, how they live or even what they are in the studio building for.

Dangers of electrical exposure, fire hazards and things like that. The studio room has numerous electrical outlets, and all sorts of heavy, moveable electrical equipment, throughout the studio.

Moving hazards, most studios have robotics cameras that are controlled from inside the control room. So a baby or child could see this camera (robotic) moving all by itself and they might go over and try to handle, touch or move the camera. This causes great danger to the baby or child as these cameras are extremely heavy and can fall onto babies or children inside the studio area. This is one reason why parents and guardians must supervise babies and children at all times inside the studio building.

Heavy doors leading into the studio area and into other areas of the studio, control room, and dressing room. Any or all of these doors can close on little fingers causing great danger and hazard.


False Sense of Security:

This is very important. When producers and other people come into the building with children, they usually feel very comfortable because everyone is very friendly. They feel comfortable too, because they think that they know everyone. Feeling too comfortable here with babies and children is having a false sense of security. You need to feel like you are in a public building — which the studio is in a public building (one that anyone from outdoors can walk inside of ) . One of the reasons that some parents and guardians feel safe inside the studio building is because they know most of the people entering the building. Most are either friends, relatives, or co-producers, or producers they have worked with before. There are staff members, volunteers and interns that work there too, and most might be familiar with them also. However, there are, at times, complete strangers in the building. Hundreds of different people might enter the studio building during any given week (depending on the studio where you are). Some of those hundreds could be people who do not belong in the building. They might be people who belong in the building also, but still strangers, like plumbers, electricians, locksmiths, computer repair people, and any number of others that might enter the building. There have been people who have entered the building by mistake. They were looking for another building. So, not everyone that you see inside the studio building belongs in that particular building. I am not saying that the building is unsafe. What I am saying is that the building is not safe for babies or children who are left unattended. You would not leave children unattended out in the world, so it makes sense that babies and children are not left unattended inside the studio building.

What Is In The World Is In the Building:

Knowing that what is in the world is inside the building, that might open anyone’s eyes as to the many reasons why we (as producers) ask parents and guardians to supervise their babies and children once they are inside of the studio. What is in the world? Look around your outside world. Almost everything that is out there can be inside the building. Why? Because there are people inside the building and those people are from outside the building. There are all kinds of people with all kinds of values and all kinds of backgrounds. The world is a magnificent place and it is also a place where babies and children should be supervised. Ask yourself these questions:

What if people are discussing an adult topic? Do I want my children to hear this?

What if people argue? Do I want my baby or child to be around this?

What if two people begin fighting? Will my baby or child be in danger?

What if a large piece of heavy equipment falls, will my baby or child be protected if they are there unsupervised?

What if there is an electrical problem, will my baby or child be safe if they are unsupervised?

What if a fire breaks out, will my baby or child be safe if they are unsupervised?

What if an expensive equipment fails or is broken while my child is around unsupervised? Will I be responsible?

How will a studio experience be for my baby or child if they are left unsupervised in the building?

What if my baby or child is unsupervised, and I can not find them in the studio building?

If you ask yourself those questions then you will know why producers insist that babies and children have constant supervision at all times once inside the studio building. And many of those things have happened inside of different studio buildings in our own cities. They might not have happened while babies or children were around, but they have happened. Some reading this might think this article is too much or too restricting but supervision can never be too much when you are talking about having babies and children in an industrial-type area. Yes, there are times, when babies or children are needed in the studio area. They might be part of the show or they might even be the entire show! So, knowing this, you see that I am not trying to restrict the admission of babies or children inside the building but rather I am simply writing an article on how to keep babies and children safe and secure when they are in the building. All babies and children who are guests, hosts, co-hosts, audience members, and children of producers are welcome inside the building provided they are supervised at all times. So, knowing that, I invite you to thoroughly enjoy your studio experience, now that I have placed these few reminders out to the public in this article.

I am hoping that everyone reading this takes the article in the spirit that it is written, entirely for safety first for babies and children inside the building. I warmly welcome everyone to the studio for my own productions, including babies and children (with proper constant supervision). There have been many occasions where some producers have brought children to the show and they were properly supervised and they were a great asset to the show. I invited them back again. So, it definitely goes without saying that some of our shows are enhanced by the children’s presence.

Security:

Our particular building does have wonderful security guards who take care of what needs to be taken care of. Thank God for that. One of the things that does make producers and visitors feel secure is that our studio has uniformed security guards at the desk, and they have proven that they can handle any situation that arises. So, know that the studio has provided a means for safety, and that you need to help them out by being responsible for your own children or for the children that you bring inside the building.

That is all I have to say, for now, about the experiences of being inside the building with babies and children. I welcome any comments, questions or criticisms from my readers.

Television Production – Lesson Fourteen, Babies, Toddlers and Children Inside the Television Studio

Television Production - Lesson Fourteen, Babies, Toddlers and Children Inside the Television Studio

Certified television producer, artist, writer, collage-artist, and creative individual with many years photography, press and publicity experience. She has covered national and International events as an independent journalist and artist. She shares information, helpful hints and resources with the readers on a variety of topics including television production, art, photography, and psychology.

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Bedtime Sleep Rituals For Babies & Toddlers

September 6, 2012 By

Bedtime Sleep Rituals For Babies & Toddlers

Every baby or infant should have a set routine to follow before it’s time to sleep. What exactly this routine will consist of will vary greatly depending on the parents personal choices. The common elements however will revolve around low key activities.

Very young children and babies crave normalcy and consistency. Of course we are not bringing up robots here. Parents that are too religious about schedules and routines may do well to offer a little spontaneity in the picture now and again. However it’s best to err on the side of the routine in the very beginning until you know exactly what your child can handle and assimilate and what they can’t.

The bedtime ritual should be thought of as a winding down period. For babies of around 6-months old this maybe around 6:00 or 7:00pm. Often soon after the parents arrive home from work. While the impulse for loving parents who have not seen their beloved baby all day, would be to extend playtime and quality time into the evening so as to bestow as much love as they can. It is critically essential to get your baby off to an early start on the bedtime ritual.

Early evening activities of the family should be centered around the bedtime ritual of the newest member. Other children will often interfere but that completely natural. it’s important for them to understand early on that the baby’s sleep time is very important and precious. Engaging the older children into the bedtime ritual of babies can be very rewarding for all parties. This can often avoid any jealousy and counteractive feelings older children may have against the younger member of the family.

It’s not easy to combine a bedtime ritual that suits all members of the family. Older children will naturally want to stay up later and sending them to bed early or letting the baby stay up later can be counter productive. It may also cause problems for the baby ritual you are trying hard to instill. Older children can still disrupt the ritual and you may have to make some sacrifices later on in the evening just so the older children behave.

Once the baby is asleep then you can reward them with a little television or maybe to play some type of game or puzzle. All of this helps bonding parents and children together so it no big chore.

At the end of the day you are just trying to set out a regular pattern of sleep for your newborn child while at the same time ensuring that the rest of the family are not completely ignored. That’s why it’s a great idea to involve them and not shut them out which can have a negative effect and fuel longer lasting problems.

You will also need to ensure that anyone baby sitting continues with the same routine. A break in this pattern may bring you back to square one again and all your hard work will be lost. Just be strict with the system and ensure your babysitters and child minders do the exact same thing.

Getting children and babies into a sleep ritual will take time and a lot of patience. No two children are alike and will all have their own traits so there is no set rule to follow. What will work wonders for some parents may have poor results for others. Don’t be afraid to experiment until you get the right bedtime ritual system that not just suits your children, but it also suit the parents also. After all, you both need your sleep too remember.

Bedtime Sleep Rituals For Babies & Toddlers

Bedtime Sleep Rituals For Babies & Toddlers

Vilma has been writing articles for many years on a variety of topics. You can see her latest web site on Garden Bird Feeders This is also a great resource for Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders accessories and supplies.

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Food Allergies in Babies and Toddlers

September 6, 2012 By

Food Allergies in Babies and Toddlers

Allergies are very common and can cause serious reactions. The digestive and immune systems of a baby need to be sufficiently developed before solid foods are introduced. Introducing solid foods too early or introducing foods which are likely to cause problems too soon will stress the baby’s immature systems. When introducing solid foods you need to be aware of the possibility of allergic reactions. This article presents the symptoms of allergic reactions and how to minimise these in babies.

In recent years there has been an increasing awareness of the number of diseases and complaints that can be caused, or contributed to, by the presence of allergies. Allergies are very common. Conservative estimates are that twenty percent of the population is allergic to something. However when we consider minor allergies such as hay fever, minor eczema and food intolerances, the true incidences of allergies and or intolerances may well be a lot higher. It is thought that the changes in the Western diet over the last 100-200 years – in particular the refining of food, the use of food additives and the increased consumption of animal produce and the presence of environmental pollution, have contributed substantially to the prevalence of all forms of allergic disease.

What is an allergy?

The word means an ‘altered reaction’ and an allergic individual usually suffers from physical symptoms (such as, headaches and migraines, vomiting, rashes, asthma) when he or she comes in contact with substances to which they are sensitive. The substance which provokes the reaction is called an allergen and can be house dust, dog or cat fur, a food/s, a chemical/s or a bacterium – to name just a few. In this article we are looking at food allergies.

When solid foods are introduced, a baby may have an ‘allergic reaction’ to wheat for example, and develop diarrhoea, abdominal colic, crankiness, a runny nose, or even a mild ear infection, asthma or eczema. The cause of these symptoms is often not recognised and may even be treated as a transient infection if the problem is a runny nose or ear pain. The offending food will be continued to be offered and the infant usually recovers from the acute symptoms, though there might be persistent, relatively minor symptoms. At some later stage (days, months, years later) either following periods of infection or stress or just due to a gradual failure to remain healthy, symptoms develop.

If the food is withdrawn, the symptoms usually clear within three to five days, though sometimes, especially in children this can take as long as three weeks. There may also be marked withdrawal symptoms which eventually clear.

When introducing new food to babies and toddlers you need to be aware of the symptoms of allergies. This is particularly the case when parents or other members of the family have food allergies.

What does a food allergy look like in a baby or toddler?

The symptoms associated with food allergies are legion and can mimic a whole range of different clinical conditions. It depends on the baby or toddler. Some of the symptoms babies and toddlers develop include:

an itchy mouth and throat,

rashes, eczema and hives,

cramping and colic,

nausea and vomiting,

diarrhea or constipation,

wheezing, sneezing, runny nose,

unusual crying,

shortness of breath,

hyperactivity, and

sleep disturbances.

In extreme cases, a child may develop a life-threatening condition called anaphylactic shock. Severe symptoms or reactions to any allergen require immediate medical attention.

What are the common causes of food allergies?

Foods that are the most likely to cause an allergy include:

wheat, rye, oats, barley, maize (corn),

cow’s milk and other dairy products,

hen eggs, and chicken meat,

cane and beet sugar,

fish and shellfish,

peanuts,

colourings and preservatives,

yeast,

pork,

chocolate, and

citrus fruit.

What can you do?

Here are two things you can do as a parent to reduce your baby’s susceptibility to food allergies and reduce the severity of food allergies:

Wait until your baby is at least 6 months old to introduce solids.

Apply the 4-day wait rule when introducing new foods to your baby.

Waiting until your baby is 6 months old

Babies are not born with adult digestive systems and they cannot handle foods and will not digest them properly until their digestive systems have matured, at 4 to 6 months of age. Prior to that, your baby should only have breast milk or formula. Waiting until your baby is 6 months old to feed them solids will give them the best chance of actually being able to digest the food and a smooth digestion reduces risk of allergies.

The 4-day wait rule

When you begin to feed your baby solids, you need to be sure that the food isn’t causing a reaction. Sometimes, it can take three or four days for a reaction to show up.

Introduce one food at a time and then wait for four days before introducing another food.

It is worthwhile keeping a food diary, noting which foods are introduced and when. This information may be very valuable later if your baby develops some kind of reaction which could be attributed to an infection or upset, or wind or whatever, though it may in fact be a food reaction. If you also note when particular problems start, you can quite often identify the offending food, exclude it from the baby’s diet, and have a healthy, happy baby.

If there is a family history of food intolerance then it is recommended that you avoid the introduction of cow’s milk or wheat until the baby is twelve months or even older. (If you introduce these foods at all – but that is another issue.)

Allergies are very common and can cause serious reactions. The digestive and immune systems of a baby need to be sufficiently developed before solid foods are introduced. Introducing solid foods too early or introducing foods which are likely to cause problems too soon will stress the baby’s immature systems. When introducing solid foods you need to aware of the possibility of allergic reactions and should you be concerned about a reaction stop giving this food and allow the baby more time to mature. While the above details are intended to be generally helpful and educational they should not be construed as a replacement for individual advice from a health professional. You should seek professional assistance if your child’s allergy is sudden, extreme, long-lasting or fails to improve.

References

Bland, J. 1996, Contemporary Nutrition. J & B Associates.

Davies, S. and A. Stewart, 1997, Nutritional Medicine. Pan.

Elliot, N. 2004, Green Peace. Practical Parenting.

Holden, S., Hudson, K., Tilman, J. & D. Wolf, 2003, The Ultimate Guide to Health from Nature. Asrolog Publication.

Pressman, A. and S. Buff, 2000, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Vitamins and Minerals. (2nd Ed.) Alpha Books.

Soothill, R. 1996, The Choice Guide to Vitamins and Minerals. A Choice Book Publication.

Sullivan, K. 2002, Vitamins and Minerals: A Practical Approach to a Health Diet and Safe Supplementation. Harper Collins.

Food Allergies in Babies and Toddlers

Food Allergies in Babies and Toddlers

Dr Jenny Tylee is an experienced health professional who is passionate about health and wellbeing. She believes that health is not just absence of disease and seeks to actively promote vitality and wellness through empowering others. She encourages people to improve their health by quit smoking (Growerz.com can assist with this), cleansing their body, taking essential vitamin and mineral supplements and many other methods, including herbal remedies. Join her newsletter for more valuable health information.

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Feng Shui Tips for Babies’ and Toddlers’ Bedrooms

September 2, 2012 By

Feng Shui Tips for Babies’ and Toddlers’ Bedrooms

If baby doesn’t sleep too well at night, you may try repositioning his or her crib or bed to face his or her personal Sheng Qi location. You can make use of our free Gua Calculator to discover this auspicious location. The personal Sheng Qi happens to be the most auspicious location for each individual, so go ahead and let your precious little one enjoy good Feng Shui too.

Once you’ve identified your baby’s Sheng Qi, position the crib or bed to face this location.

Here’s another good pointer for crib or bed positioning in the bedroom – it should not be against a window or be directly in line with a door.

Play with colors to help your child enjoy peaceful, deep and stimulating sleep. As we know, babies and toddlers thrive on a good night’s sleep, hence calming Yin colors such as blues and greens will be perfect for the little one’s room. Bright yellows, reds and other Yang colors are not very auspicious for babies and toddlers, but will definitely suit older children better.

You may also use white-based colors for your baby’s room, but this is not a particularly auspicious Feng Shui color – how about playing with light beiges or off-white instead? For lighting, keep it neither too dark nor bright during the day – this will also comfort your child.

Keep your baby’s bedroom spotlessly clean! Moms and dads probably understand the importance of cleanliness and good hygiene in babies’ bedrooms, but in Feng Shui terms cleanliness is also conducive to good Qi (pronounced chee), or energy. You may even go a step further and place faceted crystals in the bedrooms to further help break up and disperse Shar Qi – this then allows positive Qi to enter and meander, giving your child a wonderful sense of well-being. Of course, crystals are not particularly baby- and child-friendly objects so remember to place these items on an elevated height!

Beware of poison arrows! These are harmful structures that actually send out ‘killing energy’ to occupants of the home, and it is said that babies and toddlers are more susceptible to the negative effects of poison arrows. If your child constantly falls ill or has a strange sickly disposition, I would seriously recommend you to examine the bedroom thoroughly, and take note of any structures that are pointy or sharp. Look out the window too, and see if there are any pointing structures outside of your home directed towards your child’s bedroom.

For interior poison arrows, you can easily remove the offending structure. If this is not possible, hang a baby mobile or pretty, tinkling wind chime between the poison arrow and your baby’s crib or child’s bed. This will ‘soften’ the blow, and keep baby safe. For poison arrows that are from the outside of your home, hang a Bagua above your child’s bedroom window outside the home for the best Shar Qi minimization.

Wallpapers or picture frames of nature scenes or animals are always a wonderful, uplifting idea for babies’ or toddlers’ rooms. But, do take heed of what you mount on these walls – for nature scenes, avoid overly Water element images such as lagoons, waterfalls and such since they can actually harm your child, making them prone to weak, ‘watery’ chests. For animal images, avoid overly Yang animals such as predatory cats, reptiles and dinosaurs – even if they’re cartoon-cute! These animal images might cause your child to be restless and fitful during sleep.

Shelves, cupboards and other storage structures above the baby’s crib or toddler’s bed is never a good idea. This may send off poison arrows towards your child, plus it is a safety hazard.

Let your child enjoy the benefits of the Maitreya! The Maitreya, or Laughing Buddha, is a strong symbol of benevolence, happiness and joy. Decorate your baby or toddler’s bedroom with just one Buddha figurine to keep him or her smiling and content.

Do you like these Tips? Dragon-Gate.com sends monthly Feng Shui Tips newsletters to its members. To read past Feng Shui Tips, click here.

Feng Shui Tips for Babies’ and Toddlers’ Bedrooms

Feng Shui Tips for Babies' and Toddlers' Bedrooms

Corey Tsang is the resident Feng Shui expert of Dragon-Gate.com, and is well-known for his bi-monthly newsletters on Feng Shui Tips and Feng Shui Alerts of the Month. For more information, please contact Mr Tsang at corey@dragon-gate.com or visit our website at Dragon-Gate.com.

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Babies, Toddlers and Child Proofing the Home

August 22, 2012 By

Babies, Toddlers and Child Proofing the Home

It is not easy being a parent for the first time. Along with the indescribable joy, there is the responsibility for providing, not only the basic needs, but also making sure your baby is safe in the home.

Before the birth of my son, I actually got on my hands and knees and crawled around the house to get a perspective of what a baby sees. I found a button, a dime, a toothpick, the wall sockets demanding that curiosity be satisfied by poking something in them to see what would fit, and numerous little things just beckoning to be put in a baby’s mouth. When my baby was old enough to walk, my eyes were constantly aware of where he was. We didn’t have safety gates or things to keep the doors and windows from opening too far, outlet plugs, padding to put around the fireplace hearth or furniture, gates to separate child and pets, or window guards. We made our home as safe as possible, and most of it was done just by being aware of what the baby was doing and keeping a watchful eye at all times. There are so many tools today that help to ‘child proof’ your home that we did not have.

To make your home safe for your baby, and piece of mind for yourself, there are a number of things you can do to make a happy, safe, environment for your child to play and grow up in without it feeling like a fortress. The rule of thumb is that if anything is small enough to fit through a toilet paper tube, it is not safe for your children. Children explore by putting everything in their mouths. Peruse the rooms in your home for anything on the floor that could cause your child to choke if put in the mouth. Never – ever let the child have access to balloons. There have been deaths from children swallowing balloons. In my own life, a good friend of mine lost his brother when he gave him a balloon to play with.

Use safety gates around stairs, and any opening that leads to outside or any undesirable part of the house, especially the pool area. Use safety belts on changing tables, and high chairs, never leaving a child by him/herself on beds, furniture. If you have matches, cleaners, poisons or medications in or around your home, keep them in a locked cabinet and out of sight. 

The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that you keep cribs away from electric cords, drapes and curtain cords, and never leave your child alone in the bathtub – not even for a second! In one year alone, there were 3,582 deaths from unintentional drowning either in bathtubs, pools, buckets (believe it or not, babies or a small child can drown in less than two inches of water), or toilets (make sure you put a toilet lock in place). Check all toys and make sure they are safe, and keep all houseplants out of baby’s reach. 

Over two million children a year are hurt in home-related injuries. Before the baby arrives, do some detective work around your home and prepare for the arrival of your life-changing bundle of joy. But, of course the best protection is constant supervision and knowing where and what your child is doing at all times. And when your child becomes a teenager, you will already be prepared for this next stage of life! Always know where and what your children are up to. Then, as they grow up and have families of their own, they will also be responsible parents, just as their parents have been.

Babies, Toddlers and Child Proofing the Home

Babies, Toddlers and Child Proofing the Home

This article was written by Safe Home Sue of Safe Home Products. Safe Home Products, Inc. is a growing e-commerce reseller of consumer products that improve safety, security, health and quality of life. Established in 1999 as a woman-owned business, Safe Home Products serves over 100,000 clients worldwide from its customer service and fulfillment headquarters in Iowa City, Iowa and offers over 10,000 products including carbon monoxide and radon detectors, emergency preparedness equipment, environmentally-friendly cleaning supplies, pet products, pest control solutions, and home medical equipment. They ship to all 50 states and U.S. territories and to most countries.

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Kids Musical Instruments – Music For Babies, Toddlers and Kids

August 16, 2012 By

Kids Musical Instruments – Music For Babies, Toddlers and Kids

Why get your kids to play a musical instrument? The real question is why wouldn’t you! Kids who learn a musical instrument often do better at school, particularly in the mathematical area. Kids musical instruments can help develop the discipline that comes with regular practice and the self-esteem that comes with achieving through perseverance. The skills developed with kids musical instruments often affect every part of a growing child’s life as they learn the importance of balancing work and play to achieve success in whatever endeavours they ultimately choose.

Especially for younger kids, dramatic, hands-on toys such as kids musical instruments are a brilliant way to help your kids express or release emotion. The beauty of music is that kids musical instruments can so easily be an outlet or avenue to express how you are feeling. In the case of my four year old for instance, he now regularly takes out his emotions on his drum kit. I can now actually judge how he is feeling by what he is playing! (It has also led to a much happier cat, who often used to be the hapless recipient of my son’s frustration, poor moggy!) Kids musical instruments are also extremely accessible for parents, you can be singing along with your children as you do things around the house or drive to the shops, or as your child grows and starts serious musical training you can, as I do, learn an instrument with them! I am finally learning the piano at the age of forty thanks to the endless encouragement of my gorgeous 8 year old! His patience as he teaches me over a week what he easily picks up in a couple of days is wonderful to see in someone so young. The time we spend together each day pumping out tunes (as he calls it, “Hey dad, wanna pump out some tunes!”) is a very special part of my day and is a bond between me and my boy that I expect to last a lifetime.

You don’t have to stop at just playing and singing with your kids either, why not get into homemade musical instruments? Imagine the joy and satisfaction that can come from playing music on instruments you and your kids made together! This incorporates an even and more rewarding level of fun, skill and learning into the musical experience.

So kids musical instruments can improve your child’s education prospects, develop discipline, teach responsibility, create a safe outlet for emotion and give you a fun, stimulating avenue to help you develop and maintain a bond with your kids. What’s not to like?

Kids Musical Instruments – Music For Babies, Toddlers and Kids

Kids Musical Instruments - Music For Babies, Toddlers and Kids

Stephen Macklin is a school teacher, actor, and most importantly a parent! He enjoys surfing, karate, making short films and learning the piano with his son.

Kids Musical Instruments

welcome to music for kids

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How to Survive Air Travel With Babies and Toddlers

July 23, 2012 By

How to Survive Air Travel With Babies and Toddlers

For many of us, air travel is part of our lives, as we go on holidays, business trips, visit friends or relatives. But for children, flying can be an adventure beyond imagination! Some love it, some hate it and others will be indifferent, as long as they are with their trusted parent.

In any case it is good to plan ahead and travel prepared otherwise even your 50 min short flight (or however long your flying) will feel like you are flying to the end of the world!

Tips for flying with your baby:

Have plenty of fluid to give your baby during the flight and make sure that she is drinking or eating during take off and landing. That way you will automatically get her to ‘equalize’, that is adjust to the changes in air cabin pressure by swallowing.

However, taking fluids on board is not necessarily that straight forward these days with heightened safety measures. Custom officials may ask you to open a milk carton/ bottle and sample the contents in front of their eyes – regardless of the fact that this may spoil the milk for your baby or leave you stuck with an open carton. You should definitely check with your airline what types of restrictions are currently in place before you pack your bags!

If you are breast feeding then you are obviously not going to have any problems with taking extra fluids on board so if you are about to travel somewhere by plane it may well be worth delaying weaning your baby off your breast until after your trip.

A spare set of clothing for your baby and enough nappies to last you the journey are a definite must, too! In fact, take an extra top for yourself, just in case your baby is sick all over you. I once sat for a good two hours with semi-digested banana vomit down my cleavage because my daughter was sick all over me and I had no choice but to hold on to her for the rest of the trip without being able to clean myself up properly – of course I had brought an extra set of clothing for my daughter so she was nice and clean again once I got her changed…

Toys for distracting a little baby are also a good idea although small babies do not need much more than an un-inflated balloon or the inboard magazine to tear apart.

Depending on how long you are travelling your baby is likely to want to sleep during the flight so you might want to reserve a bassinet for a long-haul flight and take your baby’s sleeping clothes along (including sleeping bag). If you are travelling by yourself and the flight is not fully booked, try and ask that the seat next to you remains unoccupied as you can always rest your baby on it when your shoulders have gone all stiff from holding her in the same position.

When you are travelling with a toddler most of the above points also apply although you need to be a bit more adventurous with your snacks and toys.

Thick short pencils and something to draw on are always a favourite but do not take felt tips as you are bound to loose the tops and your toddler will start colouring the seat in front of you!

In fact, your toddler is likely to show real interest in the seat and person sitting in front or behind you anyway. Whilst you can sort of discourage constant kicking of the seat in front of you or prevent your toddler from pulling the hair of the person sitting in it, you will not be able to stop a tantrum if you are being too restrictive. This will be worse if your child is suffering from air sickness so take nose drops and baby paracetamol just in case!

Although you are generally discouraged from allowing your toddler to run around the plane, you should definitely allow your child some exercise if the alternative are yells – this is not fair on your child, you, your fellow travellers and even the stewardesses! Remember that sitting still for a long period of time is totally unnatural for a young child and you should just apologise to your fellow travellers in advance of your child playing up if you know he may be difficult during the flight. On the other hand, your toddler might be so excited by the whole adventure of being in an plane, maybe even seeing the captain and cockpit and playing with the window blinds that you will not have no problems whatsoever!

Final word of wisdom: before the end of your flight you are likely to be pretty exhausted from all the damage-limitation exercises if you have an active toddler with you so make sure to rest if he’s finally sleeping, too!

How to Survive Air Travel With Babies and Toddlers

How to Survive Air Travel With Babies and Toddlers

Julia Heidstra,

Mother of Joanne (5), William (3) and Josephine (1 month)

http://www.international-baby-shop.com

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How to Choose the Best Educational Toys For Babies – Toddlers And Children Under 5

July 21, 2012 By

How to Choose the Best Educational Toys For Babies – Toddlers And Children Under 5

Choosing a toy for a baby or child can be a difficult decision, particularly if you are not sure which toy is relevant for which age. This brief guide explains which toys are best suited to which age group taking into consideration the development stages of the baby and child.

Newborn to one:

This is a magical year in which so much happens. Babies go from being able to do little other than be amazed with this world to sitting up, crawling, possibly even standing up or even taking their first steps. In the early months they will not be able to hold a toy but will love colourful things which move and play music such as a traditional music box. These are really useful for just before bedtime or when changing a nappy and will stay a favourite for years.

Once babies perfect their grip, everything they come into contact with will be picked up and stuck into their inquisitive little mouths. Any toy that can be easily held, safely chewed on, and preferably makes a noise, will totally delight them. Jingle bells and maracas are ideal.

When they come close to walking they will love toys like the small Wheely Bug, although they may need help staying on. A good all-round educational toy for this age is a set of colourful, and preferably musical, stacking blocks – initially the blocks will be played with only for their sound and the colour attractions, but in the second year they will come into their own as a stacking toy.

Find out more about educational toys for babies aged 0 to 1

Toddlers between one and two:

The second year is the year of mobility. During their second year most toddlers will become confident on their little feet and once they do, there will be no stopping them. They will explore how things work – stack things and then knock them over, hit things to see if they break, pull them along to check if they move in an interesting way or make a noise.

Pull along toys are great for this age, especially those that bend and sway, nod their heads, and enable some form of interactive entertainment for their young owners. Sound blocks are good for shaking and making noise too, and stacking rings are just difficult enough for this age to provide toddlers with a manageable challenge. Also, don’t forget shape sorters to stretch young minds. There is nothing like noise and music to keep small people happy so depending how much noise you can bear why not try a children’s toolkit or for the more musical types, a wooden xylophone?

>>>To find out more about educational toys for toddlers aged 1 to 2 follow links at bottom of article>>>

Three to four:

At this age speech becomes a much bigger part of a small person’s life and role playing games start to take over from straight forward exploration games.

Also, this is the time when toddlers begin to play with rather then just alongside one another. A wooden garage or a castle are perfect to share with small friends. Bring in the mini trucks, fire engines or police cars and watch them immerse themselves in a little world of their own.

Little girls will love a Vanity Case, with combs, powder puffs, lipstick and mirrors and for the budding DIY specialist or gardener try a tool box or garden bag. Kitchen games are another favourite – you can even get wooden cakes with pieces that Velcro back together. Pretend fruit and vegetables and kitchen items such as toasters are equally loved by both little girls and boys.

For the active toddler you can never go wrong with a pedaless wooden bike or a Wheely Bug – they come as a colourful ladybird, a bumble bee or a cow.

>>>To find out more about educational toys for toddlers aged 3 to 4 follow links at bottom of article>>>

Four to five:

Preschoolers absorb information like little sponges and frequently remember more than adults which makes this age the perfect time to introduce them to educational toys like jigsaw puzzles of Britain or Europe. Show them where you went on holiday or where friends and family live and then marvel when they point to Manchester and Glasgow on the map, or Greece and Ireland.

Their imagination is very fertile at this stage and toys like a multi-storey garage or castle, kitchen equipment like cookers and toasters make a perfect backdrop for them to play out their imaginary world. They are also likely to be full of energy and enjoy being physically active, so indulge them with a set of wheels of their own – a bike or large Wheely Bug, for example. If you feel like bringing the game into the kitchen give your four or five year old some dough, a rolling pin and shape cutters and watch the mini master-chef at work. With any amount of luck you’ll have biscuits for tea!

>>>To find out more about educational toys for toddlers aged 4 to 5 follow links at bottom of article>>>

How to Choose the Best Educational Toys For Babies – Toddlers And Children Under 5

How to Choose the Best Educational Toys For Babies - Toddlers And Children Under 5

By Karen Singleton of Strawberry Children’s Toys.

Karen Singleton is a mum of two who is passionate about quality, affordable toys which encourage learning and development through play. She runs her own online independent shop specialising in educational wooden toys [http://www.strawberrychildrenstoys.co.uk] and traditional wooden toys [http://www.strawberrychildrenstoys.co.uk] for babies and children under 5. All toys featured on Strawberry Children’s Toys are played with, tested and enjoyed by real children.

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