Important Parenting Tips for Infants

Posted on 06/30/2011 by Jacaranda

The stage of infancy has long been known to pose a number of challenges to parents, largely because the baby is unable to speak out its needs to their moms and dads. While they cannot say “I’m hungry” or “My diaper needs changing”, babies have their own means of communicating with their parents. Here are some important parenting tips that will enable you to understand your baby.

Close contact with your baby is crucial if you want to be able to identify the signs he or she uses to convey their needs. It also forges a strong bond between the parents and their child. Comforting your baby helps to reassure them of your love and ever abiding presence, so that they are not too fussy. Just be sure that you respond quickly to their needs and comfort them, and you will see just how at ease they would be in their surroundings.

As you spend more time with your baby, take note of any subtle gestures or behaviors. Babies use body language to communicate. For example, babies that start crying may be distressed by their dirty diaper. In some cases, parents can already anticipate if their infant is going to “do their business” from the grimaces of their faces or when they start squirming in the effort to pee or poop. There are also some infants who will suddenly stop moving, and will only wiggle and squirm (and not cry) once they have urinated or moved their bowels.

Your baby crying may be a cause of distress and frustration for you, but you need to pay close attention to the circumstances when your child starts bawling his or her lungs out. Hunger is one common reason why your baby will start crying. Determine the intervals between feedings and set a schedule, so that you can give your baby his or her milk before they start to cry. A dirty diaper is another cause. Crying can also be a sign of physical discomfort. This includes the abdominal pain and flatulence that is commonly seen in colic. When your baby is feeling bad, usually, he or she will cry persistently and at a much higher pitch.

Babies that cry with no apparent cause should be closely examined. Take his or her temperature in case there is a fever. Check for mucus from the nostrils for colds as well as coughs. Look at their urine or stool if there are any changes, such as the presence of blood or the stool is loose and smelly. A child that is constipated can move very hard stools. If your baby won’t stop crying and you can’t figure out what’s wrong, bring him or her immediately to your doctor.

There are parents who harbor the mistaken belief that crying is the way by which babies manipulate them. Manipulation is not even existent in an infant’s mind at this stage. Crying is their way of conveying that they need you to care for and comfort them.

Parents who want their babies to learn how to speak as soon as possible are advised to avoid baby talk. Syllables like “Aah”, “Ooh”, “Goo goo” and “Gaa gaa” have no discernable meaning to an infant. Speak to your baby as you would an adult. The more often they hear certain words, the faster they will be able to pick up the language. It is by this process that they learn to speak and understand the meaning of “Mama” and “Dada”.

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Parenting Tips For Teenagers

Posted on 06/21/2011 by Jacaranda

Parents have long used negative adjectives in describing their teenaged children’s behaviour. Such descriptive include “stubborn”, “rowdy”, “unmanageable”, and “disrespectful”. But did you know that many of these unsavoury behaviours could have been curved if you – the parent – established open communication lines with your teens and became good role models for them?

First of all, you want your teenagers to respect you. But how can they do that if you refuse to listen to them and, instead, keep on working or reading the newspaper? Ignoring them is being disrespectful toward their worries and feelings.

Secondly, don’t flippantly dismiss your teen’s problems by saying “You can handle that on your own” or “You don’t need my help.” Remember that they are asking for advice because they need your expertise as an “adult”.

Thirdly, constantly criticizing your teenagers is not only disrespectful, it is also very hurtful. You drive daggers through your son’s and/or daughter’s hearts whenever you tell them “You are weak” or “Why can’t you be more like your brother and/or sister?”

By ignoring, dismissing and criticizing your teen’s concerns, you push them into finding solutions from questionable peers or to find relief from the stresses imposed by these problems through overeating, playing violent video games, smoking, alcohol drinking, or even drugs.

Other mistakes that you should avoid making with your teenager is spoiling them or being too overprotective of them. Giving them that expensive new cellphone, IPod, IPad or laptop is not the way to earn their respect. Neither should you impose your will upon them by demanding that they should do everything you say.

parenting teenagers As the parent, you should impose discipline and certain rules upon your teens, but not to the point that you prevent them from making their own decisions. Establish communication lines by encouraging your teenager to talk to you if they have any problems. Always put down whatever it is you are doing and listen to them very carefully. Guide them through possible solutions or offer advice based on your own experiences. Do not judge them if they made the wrong decision. Instead, advise them on how they can rectify their mistakes and avoid making them all over again. Never criticize them whenever they do the wrong thing. Acknowledge good decisions and praise any achievements they have made.

If your teen has acquired any bad habits, don’t condemn them. Chances are you are equally responsible for their turning to cigarettes, alcohol and drugs because you did not provide them the support that they needed.

Perhaps the most important advice of all is to show your teenager that you love them. Always be there for them whenever they have problems. Reassure them that all problems have solutions as long as you stick together as a family. Showing your love for your teenager is the best way of demonstrating how much your respect them as an individual and as a soon-to-be adult.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Parenting Teenagers: Common Mistakes that Moms and Dads Make

Posted on 06/17/2011 by Jacaranda

Nothing can be more challenging than parenting teenagers. Teenagers are in that period wherein they are no longer children, but neither are they considered adults yet. This puts them in a frustrating period of transition. They want to be acknowledged as adults, but their parents are reluctant to give them the freedom that they crave. This period is just as difficult for parents who find it hard to accept that their “little” boy or girl has now grown up and would still want to keep them under their protective wing.

This conflict between “nurture” and “independence” has led moms and dads to make some mistakes when it comes to parenting teenagers.

One very common complaint that you hear from the mouths of teens is “My parents never listen to me!” It is very important to maintain open communication lines. If your teen wants to talk to you, set your work aside or put down your newspaper and listen to them. By doing so, your teenager will know that you give importance to their problems and opinions. This will also minimize the chances that the teen will be unduly influenced by bad peers.

Some parents immerse themselves into earning a living that they end up neglecting the emotional needs of their teen. When it comes to teenagers, parents should adopt the motto, “There is no such thing as a busy schedule.” Never bring work home after office hours and during weekends. Spend these times with the family. It could be as simple as watching TV or playing video games with your teen or enjoying fun weekend activities like outdoor sports and going to the beach.

A mistake that parents often make is completing their teen’s sentences for them. Never assume that you know what your teen is going to say. This is just as bad as not listening to them completely. Again, let your teen have his or her say while you listen carefully.

Don’t be overprotective of your teenagers. By doing so, you allow fear to develop inside them, so that they are afraid to make crucial decisions for themselves. Permit them to go on the occasional date, but set a curfew and ask them to give you the name of the place and the phone number where he or she is going. Always guide and encourage your teen to walk their own paths in life.

A lot of parents complain that their teenagers don’t respect them. These moms and dads, however, don’t realize that they have earned this disrespect by not being respectful in turn to their teens. This happens when parents always criticize their teens or when they always use the word “should”, which makes the teen feel that he or she should always do what their parents want. You can show your respect for your teen by permitting them to pursue certain activities that they enjoy. Acknowledge all their successes and never criticize them for their failures.

By doing these tips, parenting teenagers will be a painless endeavor!

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General Advice on Parenting Toddlers and Kids

Posted on 06/14/2011 by Jacaranda

Many parents consider parenting toddlers and kids as a major step up during the child-raising process. Indeed, unlike babies, toddlers and kids are now capable of communicating, expressing their needs as well as their likes and dislikes to their moms and dads. However, just like video games, moving a “level up” will present you with a new set of problems and challenges.

The term “toddler” refers to kids aged 1 to 6, also known as the “pre-school years”. Many child psychologists refer to this period as the first step on the road to a child’s attaining true independence. This begins when the child learns how to walk. From a social standpoint, he or she learns how to interact with the people around them. What they have not yet acquired is a complete sense of responsibility, and parents need to impress upon them the differences of private and public behaviors, as well as teach them to get rid of undesirable behaviors.

At this point, toddlers learn ways by which they can “manipulate” their parents to fulfill their needs and desires. These behaviors will include crying and/or screaming and temper tantrums. Early on, you must curb these behaviors. The best way to deal with crying, tantrum and irrational demands is by saying “No!” or “Stop!” in a firm and low tone of voice. Why is this method more effective than yelling at them? Speaking to them in a lower tone will distract a toddler from their tantrum so that they concentrate to listen to what you are saying to them. Toddlers who throw a fit because you refuse to buy them a toy they like are best ignored. Do not give them any attention until they stop. Once they are calm, explain to them in firm words why you cannot buy the toy for them. Never promise that you will buy it at a later time.

Children beyond the age of 6 are already considered as within their “school years”. They are now capable of logical understanding as well as recognizing the importance of responsibilities. They begin to assert their independence through logic and reasoning, although in some cases, the child may show defiant, obnoxious or even abusive behaviors.

Usually, children who present with these undesirable behaviors are struggling with problems or stresses that they could not solve on their own. This is where effective open communication comes in. If your child seems troubled, encourage them to share their problems with you. Rather than give them a solution, guide them through logical thinking on how they could arrive at the same solution on their own. Do not permit violent behaviors like punching walls or kicking pets as a means to relieve stress. Instead, let them deal with their problems while at the same time impressing the need for them to take responsibility for their actions.

Don’t be frustrated when your toddler or kid starts crying or screaming in attempts to get their own way. Learn more tips on effectively parenting toddlers and kids today!

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Tips on Parenting Babies

Posted on 06/11/2011 by Jacaranda

Parenting babies is always a very challenging endeavor for all moms and dads, whether they are newbies or have had prior experience with their other kids.Because they could not speak, it could prove to be problematic when they start to cry and you have no idea what’s wrong with them. In fact, some moms have even been driven to tears because they can’t tell where their babies are hurting. However, there are ways by which babies communicate their needs to their parents. Moms and dads just need to follow certain tips so that they could be able to understand the “signs” that their babies are trying to convey to them.

First and foremost, establish close contact with your baby. This will enable you to establish a bond with the child as well as give them the reassurance that their mommy ad daddy is there to comfort them and keep them safe. Hugging and cuddling your child will also help attune you to possible physical problems. Some parents were actually able to detect the existence of certain diseases in their infants, such as the stomach gurgles and passing of wind that accompanies colic, irregular breathing, and irregular heart beats, heart sounds and bluing of the skin that are seen in congenital disorders of the heart.

Secondly, crying is the way by which babies convey that they need you. Crying should never be considered as acts of manipulation or annoyances. Instead, try to determine what is making the baby uncomfortable. It could be a dirty diaper, teething, the nursery is too hot or too cold, or he or she is being bothered by gas and other causes of abdominal pain.

Next, avoid “baby talk”. By talking to them normally, it will be easier for them to pick up and actually understand the meanings of certain words. This is very important especially if you want your child to communicate with you effectively, even at a very young age.

Allow your babies to explore their little world. Babyproof your home instead of keeping them cooped up in a playpen. Spread out their toys on the floor or mat to encourage them to crawl. It is highly advisable to join them during these periods of exploration and play. By doing so, you will be able to pick up certain gestures or body language that you baby uses to try and communicate with you.

There will be a few moments when you can’t understand why your baby just won’t seem to stop crying despite taking all the measures to assure their comfort. Don’t let baby wear himself or herself out by crying themselves to sleep. Carefully examine them. Do they feel hot? Are they suffering from loose bowel movements? Are they passing out smelly gas? Do they cry when you touch certain parts of their body?  If you suspect something is wrong, take your baby immediately to your doctor for a check-up. Never procrastinate. Many parents have lost their infants to treatable illnesses because they did not bring them in time to their doctors.

Find out the many effective ways by which parenting babies can be achieved!

 

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