Six Tips To Help Your Overweight Children Lose Weight

Childhood obesity has more than tripled over the past 40 years. More than 30% of children and teens are overweight and 20% are classified as obese. Most parents wait for their child to grow out of it, encouraging them to be proud of who they are. That is certainly noble in theory, but being overweight increases the risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated blood cholesterol levels, and premature heart disease.

It can certainly be a challenge for parents to provide children with opportunities to lead a healthy lifestyle. You never know what they could be stuffing down their mouths in the school cafeteria or at their friend' house. That is why it is so important to teach proper nutrition in the home. They will not learn about it in school, not even in health class. The more you practice good health at home, the better choices they will make out in the world.

Here are a few weight loss tips to get your children started on the road to good health.

Children Lose Weight Tips #1: Be The Example Yourself

If you are overweight or obese yourself, you are setting a bad example for your children. Be a responsible parent and go on a diet. Yes, YOU! Children often mimic what their parents do, and if you are fat, they will think it is OK to be fat. It is a rare occasion that I see fat children with skinny parents, and vice versa. How often do you see fat kinds with skinny parents, or skinny kids with fat parents? Not too common.

Children Lose Weight Tips #2: Pack Their Lunch For Them

Do not hand over a five dollar bill for your child to purchase a lunch themselves just because you are lazy in the morning. Nine times out of ten they will spend it on junk food because you are not there to tell them no. If you want your children to eat properly, do the most you can. Pack their lunch so they are forced to eat it. If that is all they have, they will suffer through it and come out better in the end.

Children Lose Weight Tips #3: Think Ahead

Kinds want to grow up fast but they do not think of the consequences once getting there without planning. Studies show that if a child remains obese by the age of 10-14, they have nearly an 80% chance of remaining at a dangerously heavy weight through adulthood. Let them know that, especially if it scares you (which it should!). A childs weight is the most important predictor of whether or not the child will become an obese adult. Nearly 65% of obese adolescents will still be obese as adults, even if neither parent is obese.

Children Lose Weight Tips #4: Eat Together

When I was a child, it was a rare occasion that my family ate dinner in separate rooms. Do not let your child heat up a burrito and slam it down in their room in front of their computer or television. It is important to monitor their eating and make sure they are paying attention to the luxury of having dinner, especially if they are trying to lose weight. Eating together as a family is an activity that will help everyone follow a healthier lifestyle.

Children Lose Weight Tips #5: Fix Them A Healthy Breakfast

You know this is the most important meal of the day, so handing over a sugary pop-tart to your child on their way out of the house is extremely counter-productive. And do not even think about stopping off at Starbucks and buying them a fatty latte either. A healthy breakfast at home does not have to be time consuming. I make a soy based protein smoothy every morning that provides me with the best nutrition possible. It takes me literally 2 minutes to make it in the blender.

Children Lose Weight Tips #6: Introduce Healthy Snacking

Children are quite active with school, sports and other extra-curricular activities. It makes sense that they need a boost of energy in between meals. Stock your cupboards and refrigerator with healthy snacks instead of processed trigger foods. Cut fruits and vegetables so they can grab them just as they would a candy bar. Protein bars and soy nuts are a great alternative to cookies and chips. Premix flavored water with green tea to give them natural energy boosts instead of providing high sugar soda and sports drinks they are not healthy.

Helping a child to develop lifelong healthy habits can be rewarding in so many ways. Introducing healthy alternatives into your child's diet is not rocket science. Try the Children Lose Weight tips listed above to prevent resistance to healthier eating. As a parent, you are responsible for what, when and where your children eat. It is up to you to help your children adopt a healthy lifestyle.By William Winch

Choosing The Right Infant Toy For Your Child

Toys have been a perennial thing in each person’s life. Every individual passes the phase of having toys and enjoy playing with it. Toys need not to be expensive and complex, as long as the enjoyment is there then its fine having a simple one. There are also toys that are not bought; they can just be made from household things. Imagination and creativity is the key in making and creating a homemade toy.

But there are times when parents find the right toy for their infant. The toy should be soft so that the infant would not be harmed. Several toy makers are always coming up with new designs to cater to the infinite needs an infant has. But of course there are several factors that need to be considered before purchasing an infant toy.

First thing to consider is its size. The toy should not be small because the infant may swallow it thus making him choke. It should also be not that large so that the infant would not have a hard time in handling it.

Second thing that should be kept in mind is toy material. Is the toy made of plastic or cotton; or other substances that is used in making it? Individuals should see to it that the material used in making the toy would not be harmful to the health of the infant.

Thirdly, the toy’s color should also be thought of. Though children may not know what color they are seeing, it is best that they are exposed already to different colors. This exposure helps their mind develop that sense of color distinction at an early age.

Fourthly, the purpose of the infant toy should also be considered. Buying toys because of its functionality enables the infant to learn and discover new things with these. There are toys made to strengthen the grip of an infant and the like.

Fifth, look at the age group the toy is intended for. You wouldn’t buy a toy that says for ages three and up would you? Of course you want the toy to be right for the age of your child.

Sixth, asking and talking to other parents about the toys for their infants can also be helpful. Since their child is older than yours, perhaps they can share some ideas on what to toy to buy or give to your infant.

Making sure of the health and welfare of a child is always the priority of a parent. So in keeping the things stated, your infant will be ensured of having a safe yet enjoyable toy. The aforementioned tips are only a few of the many things that parents should consider in buying an infant toy. They can always do some more research and keep their options open until they find the most suitable toy for their child.

Toys are educational and at the same time enjoyable, it is up to you on which toys you think have both. Expensive toys does not necessarily mean a high quality toy, there are less expensive ones that have the same purpose. Infant toys should also be kept clean at all times since it is the nature of the infant to suck on things he grasps.

TEACH KIDS TO ENJOY WALKING AS AN EXERCISE

Far too often parents find themselves exasperated when they attend to go walking with children especially if the children are young.

There's no getting around it:Since the children's legs are shorter, they will walk slower than you do. They might also want to use the walk as a time for adventure and exploration, which further slows down their pace. One solution is to allow more time for each walk, so you can let the children walk at their own pace and enjoy yourself. You might also concider setting aside time for two walks, one on your own and one with your kids. If you have only a limited amount of time for a single walk, you can walk with the child during your warm up period and then push the child in a stroller when you pick up pace. When walking with the family, make sure to vary your route, even if you merely walk in the opposite direction every other day. You might also encourage the children to invite one or two of their friends along or have them walk the family dog. One more useful variation: let one of the older children lead another child who shuts his or her eyes. This is an activity that is often used by teachers to heighten a child's awareness of his or her surroundings and developing the non visual senses. Be sure, however, that you keep an eye on them as they do this. You might also try walking together to go out to dinner, to go shopping or to go to religious services. When walking along a road where there are no side walks, walk on the right side of the road, against the traffic. Teach children the rules of traffic, such as obeying traffic lights and crossing the street at cross walks. And, as in driving, teach them to watch out for the other guy. Finally, make sure the children wear light coloured clothing. If they are wearing dark clothing, have them wear bright arm bands or hats. That way motorists will notice them. Will you be able to talk your children into walking with you and staying on a walking programme? Yes, provided you set an example yourself, and support your children with positive feedback and encouragement as they adopt more active habits. In this way you'll be able to maximise the health and happiness of your family's future generations. Don't push your children into walking, however. Nagging won't do much good, you'll just turn off fitness. Try to encourage an atmosphere of cooperation, togetherness and a sense of adventure. Show them how much you enjoy your walks and they'll be more likely to follow your example.

How To Teach Kids About Money

A good place to start teaching children about money is by demonstrating that money is used in exchange for goods and services, showing them that in making their own purchases they are in fact trading with the shop owner and receiving the product in exchange. As an example, next time you are shopping, try to have the exact change for the product and give it to your child. Let your child hand over the money to the cashier and after you have left the shop, have a chat about how the money paid for the item.

It is important to always approach teaching children about money with openness and honesty, giving a constant and clear message. Explain to them why they can or cannot have certain items they wish to buy. You can’t always say yes to a request for money and if it has to be a no, it does few favours being over indulgent, but equally the ‘because I said so’ clause has little educational merit.

Before long your child will have a basic understanding of money. When this happens you may wish to start explaining the bigger picture. You might consider showing children how the whole family benefits from money via a visit to the supermarket. Once there pick out two similar products, perhaps a well known brand and an own label and allow the child to make the choice. If they choose the supermarket’s own brand, allow them to make a further purchase with the saved money. This might be a useful starting point for a discussion about value vs. price.

Consider also the type of signals about money that your child picks up on. You may feel it's important to let your child know family money matters are private, and not for discussion outside the home. If however, as parents you talk in hushed tones over bills and bank statements, your child may deduce that finances are something to be secretive and furtive about. Similarly, if they pick up some stress and anxiety over money, this too is a value that can be carried forward into adult life.

7 tips to help teach children about money

1) Fun, fun, Fun - make a game of both saving and spending. If only spending money is fun then they will not associate any pleasure with saving.

2) Routines - When they receive money as presents or from the tooth fairy establish a routine, like putting some or all of it in their piggy bank or savings account. They will most likely take these traditions forward into their own families.

3) Consistency - If you pay pocket money in return for helping around the house make sure they actually do the work. Even very young children can be responsible for tidying away their own toys or clothes. It’s a good idea to pay a set amount on a regular day but encourage their entrepreneurial side by giving them the opportunity to earn more if they seek it.

4) Look after the pennies - Turning off the lights, saving their pennies and giving small donations to charity collections are small things that they can do to create positive habits which may last a lifetime. Ensure that you explain why you are doing it and what the benefits are. Charitable giving can illustrate to your child that there are others less fortunate and introduce the idea to be grateful that they have more than enough.

5) Consequences - When your children ask for something, rather than say no. Ask them if they would like to buy it from their own money and explain what the consequences are. You may find that they are more reluctant to spend their own money than they are yours!

6) Praise, praise, praise - We may learn by our mistakes but by praising we reinforce positive behaviour and will encourage children to do the right thing out of choice ‘because it feels good’. This can be applied to saving, spending wisely and giving to charity.

7) Spend and save - when your children are receiving pocket money, teach them to save either some or all of it. It is always a good idea to let them spend a little however, as this encouragement will stand them in good stead later in life.

How Our Thoughts And Actions Affect Our Children’s Behaviour.

When children misbehave, it is pretty natural to feel negative and you may find yourself behaving in a negative way back, by shouting or putting them down, withdrawing affection or some other method of making children feel bad about what they have done. This is because their negative behaviour attracts a negative response from us, unless, we are aware of how it is making their behaviour worse and try hard to stay in a more positive mindset.

As parents who are trying to improve children’s behaviour, remembering that your negative behaviour will also attract a negative response, can really help you to stay positive and non reactive, so that you are more likely to get a positive response from your children.

James Allen in his classic book “As a Man Thinketh”, explains this theory really well.

He likened our minds to that of a garden. He said that we can “intelligently cultivate” a garden by planting useful seeds and helping it blossom, or we can leave the garden to grow wild and let an abundance of useless weeds take over.

He believed negative thoughts were like weeds and very destructive, while positive thoughts can be planted like seeds to grow and develop into beautiful things.

So by thinking of your child’s mind as a garden that needs to be carefully cultivated and filled with good seeds and know that negative actions are destructive and fill the mind like weeds in a garden it can help to see the reason behind using positive methods to improve children’s behaviour.

The bottom line is, by helping a child to feel good about their self, you attract good behaviour, and if a child is made to feel bad about their self you attract unwanted behaviour.

So next time you feel yourself getting annoyed with your children, and they are misbehaving, check to see if you are saying or doing negative things which will be making the situation worse. You can turn things around by saying more positive things and acting in a more positive way, even if this starts with calming down and getting yourself in a more positive mindset first.

For example,

If you asked a four year old to get dressed for school and 5 minutes later you see that they have not even started, it can be a natural reaction to think negative about this and respond by saying something negative, such as,

'Why can't I trust you to get dressed when I ask you, you are always wasting time and making me late for work'. .......and so on. Although a child may respond and get dressed, it is not going to put them into any kind of good mood, which will likely mean more negative behaviour later on.

If we turn our thoughts into positive ones, we might say something encouraging and positive, for example,

'Come on it's time to get dressed, you are really good at getting dressed, show me how quick you can get dressed and see if you can beat me to the kitchen for breakfast, ... This is much more positive and likely to put them into a good mood and want to please you by getting dressed.

So remember GOOD thoughts and actions produce good results
BAD thoughts and actions produce bad results
By Ruth Edensor

How To Choose Baby bedding Sets

Before you buy your first cot or bassinet make sure you've got a good idea on what kind of design you want. After you've determined the genre of baby bedding to purchase, it's a good idea to blend the patterns for the baby's cot. Keeping colors without mixing is a smarter choice than mixing them. There are scores of fabrics and ideas available so be sure to choose discreetly before buying.

Cotton is a excellent fabric for baby bedding due to its durability. It goes through the washing machine and dryer well, and it is breathable. Cotton is also nice and warm during the winter months and keeps you cool during the summer months. If you are looking for a deluxe look and feel you should consider a silk fabric because of its natural protein that feels extremely smooth. Silk baby bedding is delicate so it is important to follow the washing instructions listed on the manufacturer's label. Softness and durability are the character of wool: a 100% natural fiber. Baby beds can be made warm in cold seasons by using wool bedding. Wool should always be dry-cleaned by default but also refer to the manufacturer's instructions.

When you are purchasing for luxury baby bedding, you should pay close attention to the thread-count. In one square inch of fabric, the number of horizontal and vertical threads constitutes the thread-count. The standard thread count is 190 to 330. The material in your baby bedding will not necessarily be durable just because it has a high-thread count. But with a superior thread-count, you have baby bedding that both feels softer and is of superior quality.

When browsing for baby bedding, try a red and white blending because it goes well with almost any decor. Cot sheets, blankets and quilts with flower designs are well-suited to conventional or contemporary nursery bedding decor. Infant's room usually comprise of bright colors. A room will experience pure euphoria when invigorating colors are applied. Beautiful pastels in many different styles and layout of their multi-faceted natural patterns, give ultimate relaxation and striking beauty to any room you aspire to find comfort and pleasure in. Purple, blue, pale yellow and lilac are colors that are often used in the most elegant baby bedding and in nurseries.

You should not be astonished if shopping for modern baby bedding if it feels mildly crispy. Fabric manufacturers use starches or other stiffening products because they want the linen to look ironed and new, so it is to be expected that it would be crisp. Always to wash all washable linen, including your baby bedding before you use them. Buying high quality baby bedding is also a great idea because numerous washes results in an even softer feeling from when first bought.

Before purchasing your baby bedding check the labels to ensure it's not flammable. Keep an eye out for bedding sets available in the stores that are sold with matching coordinates if the subject idea of the bedding is meaningful to you. Baby bedding sets on clearance can save you a considerable amount but have fewer accessories. The money you save by purchasing less expensive baby bedding can go toward making a nice theme for your nursery.

Teach a Child to Take Care of His Toys

Children always anticipate playtime. It is one time of the day that children love. Playtime allows them to relax after a tiring day at school. It is a reward after doing their homework or after helping in household chores.

It is a fact that playing games and having fun improves children in many ways. It develops them physically. It gives them the chance to greatly exploit their mental prowess and imagination. Furthermore, when they play with other kids, it allows them to practice friendship, cooperation, sharing, sportsmanship, and camaraderie.

Kids and toys, of course, are important components during playtime. They always offer fun no matter if they are as simple as a ball or a stick or as complex as a remote-controlled walking robot. Each play session is an adventure for children, and they should not be deprived of that.

After playtime is over, however, children should be responsible for taking care for their toys. This is also part of play, to teach the child the responsibility of taking care of things that are his property. It will also teach them how to pick after themselves. Both disciplines should be ingrained in their minds as soon as possible.

1. Remember that you invested in a kid toys. No matter how cheap it is, it still came from your pocket, and you passed the item’s ownership to your child. Therefore, you have to make him realize that his toys are important. So you need to set an example. Take out the toys from their storage space carefully, letting your child see how you do it. Let him see how you clean it and how you handle it. Children follow their parents as examples. Just because it is a toy does not mean you can take it for granted. Explain to the child that you worked hard to buy the toy he wants, so he needs to take good care of it.

2. Toys 4 kids should be kept in their own space. Firmly tell the child to pack away his toys and place them in their proper place after he plays with it. To encourage him further to pick after himself, tell him that the storage space is a “house” for his toys, and everything inside that “house” are special and should be handled with care. Explain this to him in a simple way; simplicity allows a more favorable attitude in a child.

The storage space itself should be kept clean. Assign a cleaning schedule each week wherein the child cleans his own toy cabinet. Be ready to lend him a hand in the chore.

3. You need to give your child a warning if he plays or handles his toys roughly, even tough-looking baby toys. The problem with most parents is that they just let this go, believing that this is natural. Yes, but this should not be allowed to happen. Leaving the child to play that way instills a belief in him that rough play is all right. Remember that he has to take care of his toys.

If the child is particularly resistant, then take the toy away from him, effectively ending his playtime. Tell him that you will give back the toy if she plays nice.

4. Let him share his toys with other playmates, especially those Kids Toys. Then tell him to make sure that his playmates do not play roughly with his toys. This teaches him the value of protecting his own property.

For New Moms : How To Manage Your Time

For young parents, there is often not enough time. How can you manage time to better care for your child and yourself?

Try this. Get a sheet of paper. On the left side, write the hours of your day. Start with when you wake up and end with when you go to bed. Keep track of how you spend each 15-minute period. Here's a sample of how one hour might look

6:00 a.m. Get dressed.
6:15 a.m. Feed the baby
6:30 a.m. Dress the baby.
6:45 a.m. Finish dressing.
7:00 a.m. Take the baby to day care.

Do this every day for a week. After a few days, you will notice habits. You will get a clear idea of where your time goes.

At week's end, review what you have done. Circle all the important things—such as baby care, work, meals and sleep.

Use Existing Time Better

Maybe you spent 10 minutes one morning looking for your keys. Instead, put your keys in a regular place—such as a hook in a kitchen cabinet.

If you always seem rushed in the morning, get organized the night before. Set out clothes for yourself and the baby. Pack the diaper bag. Make your lunch and put it in the refrigerator.

When standing in line at the store, play a simple game with your baby. You might point to things in your basket and name them.

Plan Ahead

Plan menus a week or more in advance. Make a list of needed groceries and shop only once a week. Instead of shopping Saturday afternoon when the store is busy, go on a weekday night.

Combine errands into one trip whenever possible. The day before a doctor's appointment, write down the questions you want to ask.

Simplify When Possible

Find a simple hairstyle that needs only washing and brushing. Choose clothes that look fresh without ironing.

When faced with a big job, avoid the temptation to put it off. Instead, break it into small parts. Ask about anything you don't understand. Do one part at a time. Reward yourself when it's done.

Free Up Time

Maybe you can wake up 15 minutes earlier than your baby. You might use this for exercise or quiet time for yourself.

Divide up chores among family members. When cooking, double the recipe. Freeze half for when you're too busy to cook. When someone asks you to do something, consider saying no.

Now plan your time for the coming week. Be realistic. Remember that unexpected things may happen. Be flexible. Keep refining your schedule in the weeks ahead. You may still feel busy and miss doing some things you want to do. If so, be patient. In a few years, your child will be in school most of the day. Your schedule will change.

For now, give yourself a pat on the back. You are doing important things for yourself and your family. The ways you spend your time now will shape the rest of your child's life.

These tips were reproduced from the U.S. Department of Education.

How To Coping With Stress

Taking care of a baby may cause stress. It's a big job. It's normal to have moments of sadness, fear, frustration or anger.

These feelings can be powerful. When you are angry, you may feel like hitting someone. You may feel like breaking things or saying hurtful things.

But there are other ways to deal with strong feelings. Here are some tips:

• Talk about these feelings with someone you trust. The worst thing you can do is keep these feelings to yourself.
• Talk to your spouse or a family member.
• Talk to a friend, a doctor or a member of the clergy.
• Try to exercise. Put your baby in a stroller or in your arms, and take a walk. Exercise at home while your baby sleeps. Being active can make you feel better. Exercise can give you more energy to take care of yourself and your baby.
• Take time to relax. Take a moment for yourself while your baby naps. Do something that calms you down. Take a break from your chores. Take a moment to talk to a friend, read, listen to music, just be still or enjoy a hobby.
• Don't take your stress out on your baby by yelling at her or avoiding her. Get someone to help you for a while so that you can calm down or get rest.

If you want to know more about how to cope with stress or groups that help parents cope with stress, ask your doctor or clinic.

Tips to Keep Your Child Safe on a Backyard Swing Set or Playground

Playgrounds or backyard swing sets are wonderful for preschoolers. Not only can they help develop gross and fine motor skills, they can also increase your little one's social and emotional development as they interact with other children and learn what their bodies are capable of. And of course, they are fun too. But with any physical play, it is important that you take steps to make sure your child is safe. Here's what to look for when it comes to playground safety.

Make Sure Surfaces are Safe

The right type of playground surface, whether it be mulch, rubber mats, sand or pea gravel, can protect your child from a fall. Loose-fill or synthetic surface materials are those that come the most highly recommended by playground designers. Guidelines set by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission suggest that whatever surface is on a playground should be at least 12 inches deep.

Surfaces to avoid include rocks, concrete, packed dirt, blacktop and asphalt.

How High Is It?

Tall slides provide a thrill, bridges are lots of fun to run on and who can beat the feeling of swinging high in the air? It's important, however, to make sure your child isn't too high up. A preschooler shouldn't be more than four feet off of the ground, due to the risk of a fall. According to the National Program for Playground Safety, more than 70% of all playground injuries come from falls, and affect the face or head and arms.

Is the Equipment Age-Appropriate?

The best playgrounds are divided by age -- ideally 2-5 and 5 and up. No matter what type of playground you visit though, make sure the equipment is age- and size-appropriate. Handles should be smaller and bridges and platforms should be low and have guardrails and handrails. Slides should be on the short side (under four feet) and the stairs should have a gradual (not steep) incline.

The NPPS suggests playgrounds for preschoolers have: areas to crawl; low platforms with multiple access such as ramps and ladders; ramps with pieces attached for grasping; low tables for sand, water and manipulation of materials; tricycle paths with various textures; flexible spring rockers; sand areas with covers; and shorter slides.

Is the Equipment Safe?

Make sure all equipment is securely anchored to the ground. Hooks for swings should be closed and keep an eye out for sharp edges -- nails, bolts and corners -- that can scratch your child's skin. Make sure there is plenty of space in front of and behind the swings (and teach your child to never walk directly in front of or behind a swing) as well as the bottom of the slide -- you don't want your little one to crash into anyone or be hit by someone coming down. If there is a see-saw it should be spring-centered, meaning it won't knock your child off if the other child gets off unexpectedly.

Pay Attention

It's tempting to let your kids run off on their own once you hit the playground, but preschool-age kids still need to be supervised. You don't necessarily need to be sliding down the slide with your child, but be close at hand in case he has trouble with some of the equipment or winds up getting hurt. You also want to make sure your little one doesn't wander off to another part of the park or worse, the parking lot or a nearby street.

Never leave your child alone at a playground, even for a minute. Not only can she get hurt without you being present, but the risk for abduction increases dramatically.

Playground Safety Means Using Common Sense Caution

If it's a hot day, make sure your child has plenty of water to drink. Be sure to touch all the surfaces of the playground before your child starts to play to make sure they are cool enough for your child's skin.

Make sure your preschooler is wearing appropriate clothing -- no drawstrings which can cause strangulation -- and sneakers.

How To Choose Safe Baby Products: Toys

Whether your baby's toy is new, homemade, or a hand-me-down, it should not only be fun, but safe, too. All toys should be checked frequently for loose or broken parts.

What to look for:

• Always follow all manufacturers' age recommendations. Some toys have small parts that can cause choking, so heed all warnings on a toy's packaging.
• Check to see if the toy has been recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
• Make sure the toy is unbreakable and has no sharp edges. It should be large enough that it can't be swallowed or lodged in the throat.
• It shouldn't have any small parts such as eyes, wheels, or buttons that can be pulled loose, and it should be strong enough to withstand chewing.
• There should be no parts that could become pinch points for small fingers.
• There shouldn't be strings longer than 7 inches (18 centimeters).
• Hand-me-down and homemade toys should be carefully evaluated. They may not have undergone testing for safety. Do not give your infant painted toys made before 1978; they may have paint that contains lead.
• Stuffed animals and other toys that are sold or given away at carnivals, fairs, and in vending machines are not required to meet safety standards. Check carnival toys carefully for loose parts and sharp edges before giving them to your infant.

SAFETY NOTES: Never give balloons or latex gloves to a child younger than age 8. A child who is blowing up or chewing on a balloon or gloves can choke by inhaling them. Inflated balloons pose a risk because they can pop without warning and be inhaled. In addition, never give your infant vending machine toys, which often contain small parts.

How To Choose Baby Products: Backpacks and Soft Carriers

Babies love and need close contact, and backpacks and soft carriers are ideal for nestling them against their parents. Two types are available: one is pouch-like, and the other has a frame.

What to look for:

• The carrier should have straps that prevent your baby from falling or crawling out. Look for firm, padded head support.
• 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.
• Both you and your baby should try on the pack for comfort.
• Ideally, the fabric should be durable and easy to clean.
• Pockets or zippered compartments are handy for storing frequently needed items.

SAFETY NOTE: Never use a framed carrier as an infant seat. It can tip over without warning.

How To Change a Diaper

Below are the instructions on how to change a diaper :

1. Make sure you have everything you need nearby to change a diaper.
2. Lay your baby on his back on the changing surface. If you are using a changing table, it's recommended to use the safety straps.
3. Unfasten the diaper tabs. You can raise your child's bottom off the diaper by gently grasping his ankles and lifting. If there is a lot of bowel movement present, you may want to use the upper half of the diaper to gently sweep it towards the lower half of the diaper. If you are changing a girl, make sure you always wipe from front to back to help prevent infection.
4. Slide the diaper away from the baby and place nearby, but out of reach of baby.
5. If your baby is a newborn, you will want to cleanse the area thoroughly with either cotton balls and warm water or with a wet baby washcloth. Wipes, especially those containing alcohol, can cause rashes and irritation until children are about two months old.
6. Place any used disposable cleaning supplies on top of the soiled diaper.
7. Slide a clean diaper under your baby's bottom making sure tabs are on the portion located under your child's bottom. Most diapers today have colorful markings or characters indicating the front of the diaper.
8. Before closing the diaper, apply any ointments or creams your doctor has recommended for rashes. Doing this step after you've placed the new diaper under your baby will help prevent you from having to clean ointments off the changing surface, which can sometimes be difficult.
9. Close the new diaper by pulling the front up over his belly and pulling the tabs open and around to the fastening surface. If you are not using specially cut newborn diapers, be sure to fold the diaper down to avoid irritation of the umbilical stump.
10. Dispose of old diaper by wrapping tabs all the way around and securing inside a bag if desired.
11. Wash changing surface and hands. This step is especially important if your baby is ill, to avoid recontamination.

Tips

1. Follow your doctor's instructions when caring for a healing circumcision.
2. Take care not to make the diaper too tight. You do want to avoid leaks, however, a too-tight diaper can cause pressure on your baby's stomach making him more likely to spit up. This is especially true after feedings.
3. If your baby has a rash that doesn't seem to be clearing up after a few days, or if he seems to be in a lot of pain and has skin that is red and raw in appearance, contact your health care provider immediately.
4. If you are using a changing table, always make sure that you use the safety straps. Even when using the straps, never leave a child unattended on an elevated surface.
5. Some parents don't like using a changing table. An alternative to this is to use a changing pad on the floor (about $5 at most discount stores). These are easily concealed underneath a couch or bed, and you can keep a decorative basket nearby (but out of baby's reach) for changing supplies.

What You Need:

• diapers
• cotton balls, baby washcloths or wipes
• creams or ointments for rashes
• baby lotion if desired
• warm water for cleansing if wipes aren't used

How To Care Baby's Umbilical Cord

After your newborn's umbilical cord is cut, a small stump will remain that will need to be cleaned and cared for until it falls off. This usually takes place after 1 to 2 weeks.

Healing takes place quickly when the cord is kept clean and dry. You can clean the cord by gently rubbing a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol over the cord and surrounding area. Do this at every other diaper change, and be sure to fold your baby's diaper down slightly to prevent rubbing and irritation. You can also buy special newborn diapers that have a crescent cut out of the top just for this purpose.

Don't worry if you see a little bit of discharge or dried blood in the area. This is perfectly normal unless the area is consistently reddened or the discharge has a foul smell. In that case, call your doctor for an appointment so you can make sure there isn't any infection.

Until the umbilical stump falls off, you will want to stick to sponge baths so that the cord doesn't become too wet. After it has fallen off, you can begin taking regular baths in a baby tub or sink.