Parenting Blog

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Babies

4 Most Important Things You’ll Need After You Give Birth

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When you have a baby there are all sorts of things that people tell you that you will need. Before you know it your Amazon wishlist has surpassed $5,000 and you’re wondering how on Earth you’re going to fit all of this stuff in your tiny apartment.

When it comes to the bare essentials after having a baby, however, there really aren’t that many things you need besides clothing, diapers, and a source of milk. Don’t trouble yourself over buying thousands of socks that jingle, special pants which will cinch your waist, or the latest overpriced lamp made of salt rocks. Here are the main things that you’ll need when you give birth. [Read more…] about 4 Most Important Things You’ll Need After You Give Birth

3 Myths About Having A Baby

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There are lots of myths surrounding having a baby for the first time. Many people go into parenthood thinking that they know exactly how it’s going to play out because of what they’ve heard or read. However, most of these myths aren’t based on fact at all. You will quickly start to recognize that they aren’t true soon after experiencing parenthood for yourself.

Although plenty of advice on babies can be helpful, there is also a lot of misinformation which can actually lead you astray. When it comes to the things that people get wrong about babies, here are the most common. [Read more…] about 3 Myths About Having A Baby

5 Breastfeeding Must-Haves

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Most people can agree that breastfeeding has many benefits which will last a child a lifetime. Therefore, many mothers are choosing to breastfeed over a bottle. With the right tools, you can make sure that your breastfeeding experience is as positive as possible.

In order to be comfortable, you will need to have the right things to turn to in order to avoid things getting irritated or risking not enjoying your experience. If you set yourself up for success then you can ensure that not only are you doing the best thing for your baby, but you will also get to enjoy an incredibly unique and wonderful experience between you and your baby. Here are some of the most essential must-haves that you should have on hand for your breastfeeding experience. [Read more…] about 5 Breastfeeding Must-Haves

Creating A Family-Friendly Home

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woman preparing nursery

Whether you already have children, have some coming to visit, or you have a new baby on the way, you need to make sure that you have a family friendly home that is safe for little ones and young ones. There are many things that go into having a safe home, and you also want it to be a home where little ones can feel comfortable as well (a home with no toys is going to quickly bore a child of nearly any age).

You may think that a safe home is just about making sure that little hands can’t get pinched in cupboards, but there is much more to it than that. Here are a few things to consider in creating your family friendly home atmosphere.

Window Safety

One of the important things needed in a safe home for children is the security of the home. There have been too many cases (one is too many) of children found wandering the streets on their own at ages like five or seven. They opened the door and left while a parent or sitter was napping.

Ensure doors and even windows are secured so that little ones stay in the home and stay safe. That could mean adding new types of locks to your doors, and it could also mean investing in some new windows that can make them safer in more ways than one. You don’t want little ones falling out them or getting their fingers slammed in them either.

Babies, Toddlers, Teens, Oh My!

Babies need safe beds, safe bedding, and safe toys. Since they won’t be doing much moving around on their own in the beginning they don’t need as many safety precautions around the home as toddlers do. Toddlers, and babies that are crawling and starting to walk, risk bumps and bruises.

Make sure large furniture is secured so it doesn’t fall on little climbers. Have cupboards child proofed, as well as toilet lids, and make sure to have bumper guards on tables. Teens are better at safety, but you should consider keeping prescription drugs and alcohol locked up.

Your Entertainment Room

Having a family friendly home is about more than just safety. You also want everyone to feel comfortable in your home. Kids want to feel like they are a part of the family, and they want to have kid’s things to entertain themselves with.

You also want to have some stuff that will let your family bond with each other, from movies that are family friendly to board games that everyone can play. It even helps to let your kids, when they’re old enough, have some say in decorating their own room.

Give your home a safe atmosphere that also lets the whole family feel like they can have fun and be comfortable.

3 Things to Consider When Baby-Proofing Your Home

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baby-gate-living-room

Bringing a new baby into a home can be an exciting and stressful time. From purchasing all the baby gear to washing all those tiny clothes and banking as much sleep as possible, many parents feel that they have enough to worry about without having to prep the home for the havoc that a mobile baby can bring. But once those legs and arms start moving and you’ve got a crawler or a walker on your hands, you’re going to wish you’d put more thought into baby-proofing.

So to help with this ordeal, here are three things you may want to consider when baby-proofing your home in order to keep your children safe. [Read more…] about 3 Things to Consider When Baby-Proofing Your Home

Filipina Girl Needs Help for Cochlear Implant

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A child is always a blessing no matter her condition. To parents, the birth of a baby is a priceless event worth celebrating. Whether it’s the first, second or third child, moms and dads are always excited to hold their new member of the family in their arms after waiting for nine months.

There are instances, however, when parents face unexpected challenges with their bundle of joy such as when they find out something’s wrong with their very young child. It can be hard to accept at first but with faith in their hearts and support from family and friends, parents are able to gain strength and find solutions to their woes.

Rhyka Tiangco

One parent in a very trying situation right now is Rhyan Tiangco, father of two-year-old Rhyka. Born on May 5, 2013, Rhyka passed the newborn screening test but her parents noticed she was unresponsive to sound in her first months of life. She was later diagnosed with profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears. She is now using a hearing aid to help hear sounds in her surroundings but this is not enough. The best solution recommended by her audiologist and ontologist is a cochlear implant for her condition. [Read more…] about Filipina Girl Needs Help for Cochlear Implant

The High Cost of Raising a Baby

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Raising a child today is no joke. It’s a huge challenge that takes patience, knowledge and a lot of preparation particularly on the monetary side. Not many couples realize how expensive a new baby can be until they’re in the actual situation of raising their child after birth.

happy-couple-and-baby

It’s a fact that having a new baby these days can cost so much the reason why couples bent on having their own child need to know what they’re potential expenses would be right from the start. From conceiving the child and that includes pre-natal care to hospitalization and birth, a couple is bound to spend thousands of dollars ranging from $1,500 to $5,000.

Take note, however, that this estimated cost is only for a healthy childbirth and short stay in the hospital. The expenses can still go up in other situations such as when the baby is born premature, the mother goes through caesarean section or when the mother quits her job. [Read more…] about The High Cost of Raising a Baby

How to Create the Ideal Bedroom for Children

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Kids will spend a considerable amount of time in their bedrooms so it is important that their rooms are designed in such a way that will prove to be beneficial for them. Aside from motivating them to clean up after themselves, their bedrooms are the best places for them to learn and recuperate. However, some parents are unsure of how to design their child’s bedroom so without further ado, here are some tips for creating your child’s ideal bedroom.

Colors

Colors play a large part in how a room turns out so make sure you pick the right one. Hues of blue are said to promote relaxation so you may use sky blue or lavender for your child’s bedroom. You must choose a color that is soft enough for a child but isn’t too reminiscent of infancy. After all, your kids will grow up faster than you think. You may use prints to give the room some depth, but keep the color scheme in mind at all times. You don’t have to stick to one color for the entire room and you’re free to mix and match what you think works or what your child might want. The same goes for window treatments. If you’re going to use curtains or blinds, make sure the colors are at least complementary. You could even opt to use window film if you don’t want to use traditional window treatments but make sure that the film you choose keeps heat out.

Toys & Decoration

Don’t skimp on the toys. You can use toys as accent pieces or décor and help your child’s bedroom look cheerful while helping them develop their minds. Have toys all over the room in an organized fashion and don’t forget to include some educational toys along with the trucks and dolls. Doing so could even assist with making your child associate learning with leisure.

Furniture

If your child is of an age where he or she has strong opinions regarding what they like, try to choose the furniture yourself. That car bed might seem like a good idea now but your son won’t think so in a few years when he gets older and taller. Well-picked furniture can also be reused around the house when your child moves out or goes away to college. You don’t have to get boring pieces but make sure they’re not cartoon-themed, either.

Fabrics

Use appropriate fabrics for the bedding and curtains. This isn’t limited to color and pattern but texture as well. Mix and match however you see fit and since they’re temporary, you can give in to your child’s requests for matching Spiderman or Sesame Street bedding and curtains.

The ceiling

Use the ceiling to your advantage. Create a galaxy or have someone paint it to give your child something nice to look at before going to sleep. If you’re lucky, they’ll put themselves to bed before you do.

 

With a nice compromise between you and your little one, you can give them the bedroom they’ve always dreamed of.

 

Tammie Braunson is a professional blogger that shares the latest on architectural decorative glass. She writes for Imaging Sciences, a top company for producing architectural decorative glass panels. 

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