365 First Time Parenting Tips

Now for Sale: Infant Edition: How to Survive the First Year

2007-03-15T13:36:00.000-07:00

Buy it today for $9.99!

Wish your baby came with a manual? Here it is. A day-by-day guide to surviving the craziest year of your life - your first child's first year.

You can learn from our hands on experience of being first-time parents. It's the next best thing to going on a dry run at having a baby.

From day 1 to day 365, you'll find answers to real questions that you thought there wasn't an answer to or were afraid to ask:

How do you eliminate a nighttime feeding

What should you do if your baby has a fever?

How do you raise a smart baby?

Should you breastfeed when you're sick?

What should you be feeding your baby as they grow?

What do you do with a picky eater?

How do you help your baby sleep through the night?

What are the symptoms and remedies to common sicknesses like ear infections, the flu, pneumonia?

Is it O.K. to switch brands of baby formula?

Plus the answers to many, many more typical parenting questions

You'll find the answers to all these and more, based off my experience, inside.

You can read a tip every day and discover something new as your baby grows, or you can read them all while you're waiting for junior to arrive.

Makes a great gift for moms and dads expecting for the first time!

365 First Time Parenting Tips is Moving!

2007-02-21T19:33:00.000-08:00

A full year is over and we're all grown up! Not really, actually, toddler years are staring us right in the face.

This blog has outgrown it's space here, and it's moving to a new domain. So update your feed readers, your rss subscriptions and bookmarks.

You can now find us at http://365parents.com.

Update your subscription using any feed reader.

And be sure to update all your bookmarks at the new site.

Day 365 - Back to the Beginning

2007-02-20T19:26:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Remember where you came from to get where you're going

Day 1 - Today's Tip - Have an OB that you like, trust and knows your wishes.

Even though its common sense to trust your doctor, its even more important to like them and to know without a doubt that they're looking out for your best interests. My wife and I chose an OB/GYN with 5 doctors, and for pregnancies they all rotated both office visits and hospital coverage. Of course, we had two favorites, one we disliked, and two we didn't know that well.

When the time came to suggest a C-section to my wife after 13 hours of fruitless labor, we were both relieved that our favorite doctor was on to talk us through it. Had it been one we didn't like or didn't know that well, we probably would have fought the C-section. But we trusted him, and even though we didn't like it, we knew he would only suggest it in our best interests. Turns out it was the right call, our baby was very big, 10lbs, 23.5", he was sideways in my normally 114 pound wife and he had the cord wrapped around his neck.

That was the first post I made a year ago today when my son was first born. Looking back over the posts I've made has taken me back and made me realize how far my wife and I have come as parents.

In the beginning, as you can see from the post above, my tips were general and short. We were happy just to be surviving. As time wore on we felt like maybe, in some strange universe, our son might be lucky enough to survive our bumbling attempts at parenting for another month or so. Then we got in a groove, and most things because natural.

The posts at the end of the year were more specific. Less about making it through the day, and more about making it better.

And when I look back at videos and pictures of my son over the year, I can see how much he's changed too. I remember how fragile and completely dependent he seemed when he was first born, wailing his head off and clutching my hand because he had no idea what was going on. Now he's walking all over the place, figuring things out for himself and still clutching to his mom or his dad when he feels scared.

It's been a year unlike any other, and I hope I've helped some other parents out there. The great thing about the age we live in is that it's so easy to share information, and you never have to feel alone.

If you're a first time parent and are scared, don't be. Everyone has been along the path you are about to journey down. There are lots of other people out there with experiences similar to yours.

Enjoy the ride.

Day 364 - Can You Do This? Month 12

2007-02-19T19:22:00.000-08:00

Today's First Time Parenting Tip - Track your baby's milestones to make sure they're developing correctly

Its important to make sure that your infant doesn't have any developmental problems, but if he or she seems slow in one area, don't worry about it too much unless they're way behind or your pediatrician seems concerned. Everyone loves to compare their accomplishments to others, but the fact is some babies are fast in verbal development, but slow in the physical department, or vice versa. If you're worried about it, ask your pediatrician. At the end of the twelth month, your infant should be able to:

Pull up to a standing position from sitting
Drink independently
Stand alone
Give a high five or play ball
Walk for a step or maybe two
Put objects into a container

Probably will be able to:

Say a word other than mama or dada
Stand well by themselves
Walk for more than a few steps
Understand and respond to the word no sometimes
Gesture for an object that they want without crying

Taken from What to Expect the First Year

Parenting, Verbal, Physical, Development, Emotional

Day 363- Switching from Formula to Milk

2007-02-18T19:28:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Switch your infant from formula to whole milk gradually.

If you've got a good natured baby that takes well to change, switching from formula to whole milk for their second year of life cold turkey might be a good approach. But if you've got a fussier baby or one that's more resistant to change, going gradual might be a good strategy.

Here's how to do it:

Start with the middle of the day, and work out. Most infants will resist giving up their morning and bedtime bottle the most

Mix 2 parts formula and 1 part whole milk into a sippy cup for the first few days. If your baby doesn't want to drink out of the cup, then try just focusing on the whole milk part.

Add more and more milk in three day increments, until your infant is drinking a whole serving of milk

Replace another feeding and give it another three days or so. By the time you're done, your child should be drinking 16-20 oz. of formula

Serve the milk how you'd drink it yourself. Cold milk might put off some children, but you also don't want to be warming glasses of milk up for the rest of your life either. Try it both ways and see what happens

If you've successfully made the switch and your baby starts to refuse milk, don't go back to formula. Try other dairy products like cheese or yogurt.

What's your success story with making the switch?

Parenting, Milk, Formula, Switch, Whole

Day 362 - Fingerpaints with No Mess

2007-02-17T18:23:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Try Crayola Color Wonder Fingerpaints and Coloring Book if your baby likes to color but you don't want a mess

Coloring might be your infant's thing. If you let him mess around with crayons or fingerpaints every once and awhile, you know how much of a mess they can be. Especially fingerpaints. They have a way of getting on and staining everything, no matter how washable they say they are.

Enter Crayola Color Wonder Fingerpaints and Coloring Book. Your baby simply touches their finger to the non-toxic "paint" cups, and then they touch the wonder paper, and they're off! The color appears right before there eyes.

The great thing is, the special "paint" only leaves a color on wonder paper. So if some does get in the carpet or on the wall, its pretty easy to wipe off. Plus, it's less messy than fingerpaints.

The only thing I don't like is that you can't color outside the lines. I'm big on teaching kids to think non-linearly, and coloring inside the lines (even though you can make a purple sun or a blue lamb) seems kind of restrictive. All in all, a fun toy. I think my wife had a great time with it too.

Parenting, Paint, Color, Crayola, Finger, No, Mess

Day 361 - Track Your Baby's Growth Visually

2007-02-16T14:13:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Track your baby's growth with yearly pictures and an object

Want to track your baby's growth, but don't want to mark up the doors in your house? Try what my wife and I are planning on doing.

Every year, we'll take a picture. The idea is that he'll be wearing the same kind of clothes (I think we both like jeans and a plain, red shirt). In the picture we're also going to have some kind of object that will show how much he's grown.

I want to do a ball. My wife wants to do an adult sized belt (He'll wear the belt and it'll be ridiculously large until he's 10 or 11).

After you do this you'll have a great record of how your baby grew and changed his appearance over the years. And they'll love looking at it in the end to see how far they've come.

Parenting, Growth, Track

Day 360 - 1st Year Round-Up - Top 5 Things to Do

2007-02-15T19:41:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Let your baby do his favorite things often

Routine and repetition are good for babies, so if he wants to read that story for the 15th time or wants to sing "Mary Had a Little Lamb" for two hours in a row, it's actually a good thing. It helps them build memory and cognition.

So as part of the yearly round-up, here are my son's top 5 favorite things to do.

Go to the aquarium

Read books

Watch cars and trucks drive by

Dance and listen to music

Play with the cat

Honorable mention - Crawl over Mom and Dad

Parenting, Favorite, Activity

Day 359 - 1st Year Round-Up - Top 5 Favorite Foods

2007-02-14T19:48:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Give your baby his favorite, healthy foods and encourage him to try new ones

It may take up to ten tries for a baby to learn to like a food, so when you get success with one it's tempting to serve that up every time. It's always good to have some old, reliable comfort food you can count on him to eat, but it's also good to introduce new foods to give him a wide, varied palate.

The eating habits you set up in the first two years are the one's they'll have for the rest of their lives. So my son will probably enjoy these 5 foods well into his adult years. They're all pretty safe, but if your infant hasn't tried them yet, give it a whirl.

Bananas

Cheerios and Goldfish

Eggs with and without vegetables

Spaghetti

Yogurt

Honorable Mention - Wheat Bread

Parenting, Favorite, Food

Day 358 - 1st Year Round-Up - Top 5 Favorite Toys

2007-02-13T07:50:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Bring out your baby's favorite toy as part of play time

Is there a toy in the toy chest that your baby goes for every single time? You should have some time scheduled every day for active and quiet play, and toys can definitely be a pert of that. While there are lots of great ones out there, they're no substitute for the imagination and the fun games the two of you can come up with together.

As part of the 1st year round-up, here are my son's 5 favorite toys. Try them and see if your baby loves them as much as mine did.

Lamaze Chime Garden

Baby Einstein Discover & Play Color Blocks

Playskool Busy Ball Popper

Colorama Blue Ball 7in

LeapFrog Phonics Radio

Honorable Mention - Giant stuffed grinch (this wasn't in the top-five only because he sees it so rarely at Grandpa & Grandma's house)

Parenting, Favorite, Toy

Day 357 - 1st Year Round-Up - Top 5 Favorite Books

2007-02-12T08:14:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Read your baby's favorite stories to him every day.

When it comes to developing memory and learning to associate words with objects, there's no better tool than books. Every time you read them, the words and images are the same. If your baby loves a certain book, he could read it at least 15 times. And that's a good thing, because he'll be committing all the words in the book to memory.

As part of the 1st year round-up, here are my son's 5 favorite books. They're all great stories and a lot of fun to read with your baby.

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

The Zebra's Stripes by Gabby Goldsack

Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle

Millie Moo Touch and Feel Picture Book (Touch and Feel) by Roger Priddy

Parenting, Favorite, Book

Day 356 - 1st Year Round Up - How Much Should Your Baby Drink

2007-02-11T19:55:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - At 12 months, your baby "should" be drinking about 2 cups of milk or formula

As part of the first year round up, I'm going to look at taking stock of where your baby is at. Keep in mind that these are averages, and they could fall above or below these ranges and be perfectly fine. The numbers are meant to give you a general idea of what your baby should be doing.

Even though they may be eating a hearty share of fruits and vegetables (how much is enough?), your baby still needs a good portion of his diet to be good old breastmilk or formula.

About 2 cups a day will do the trick, and you can add in yogurt and cheese as some additional dairy foods in their diet. If your baby drinks more or less milk from day-to-day, don't sweat it too much. You should be looking at your baby's diet from a week-long perspective at this stage to make sure they're getting the right amounts and a good variety.

Parenting, Formula, Average, Milk

Day 355 - 1st Year Round Up - How Much Should Your 12 month old be eating

2007-02-10T19:45:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Serving sizes for a twelve month old are different than adults

As part of the first year round up, I'm going to look at taking stock of where your baby is at. Keep in mind that these are averages, and they could fall above or below these ranges and be perfectly fine. The numbers are meant to give you a general idea of what your baby should be doing.

Your baby's eating patterns have probably changed quite a bit over the last year. They went from all breast milk to fruits, veggies and crackers in no time. So how much is too much? At this age, your baby is still probably too young to eat just for the sake of eating.

If he's hungry, he'll eat. If he's not, he'll stop. If you think your child has a weight problem, first take stock of what you're giving him. Is it unhealthy foods with lots of fat and sugar? Or is it healthy fare, like veggies and fruits.

If that's not the problem, your baby could just be naturally bigger. You should never underfeed your baby or try to put them on a diet. At this age, they still need a high-fat diet for brain development, so consult your pediatrician before making any diet changes.

Here's how much your baby should be getting from each food group:

3 oz. of grains (1 slice of wheat bread = 1 oz, and 1/2 cup of cereal or pasta = 1 oz)

1 cup of raw or cooked vegetables

1 cup of fruits or fruit juice

2 oz of meat/beans (2 tablespoons of lean meat is 1oz, and one egg is an ounce

Parenting, Food, Average, Vegetable, Fruit, Diet

Day 354 - 1st Year Round Up - How Much Should Your 12 Month Old Sleep

2007-02-09T19:35:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - At 12 months, your baby "should" be sleeping 11-13 hours at night, with one or two naps during the day

As part of the first year round up, I'm going to look at taking stock of where your baby is at. Keep in mind that these are averages, and they could fall above or below these ranges and be perfectly fine. The numbers are meant to give you a general idea of what your baby should be doing.

Sleep is a tricky thing. Too much, and your baby might seem lethargic or inactive. Too little, and they'll be cranky. If your baby falls outside this range or sleeps irregularly and they chronically seem unhappy or lethargic, they might have sleep problems.

My son sleeps 10-11 hours at night and takes two, hour-and-a-half long naps during the day. So he's on the low side, but he seems to be happy and he's pretty regular, so I'm not worried.

Your baby's sleep patterns could also change based on any new stress they might be experiencing, or they may sleep more if they're sick or going through a growth spurt. The important thing is to keep an eye on patterns and consult your pediatrician if you see anything irregular.

Parenting, Sleep, Average, Rest

Day 353 - How to Treat Frostbite

2007-02-08T19:25:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Use your own body heat or water a few degrees warmer than body temperature to treat frostbite

We just escaped a bitter cold spell here in Chicago, but it's still February and I'm not holding my breath. Even though your infant probably isn't outside that much if its bitter cold, if temps are chilly and they're outside for what seems like a short time, their fingers and toes can get frostbit.

Frostbit skin looks white to yellowish-gray, and is often cold to the touch. If you think your infant has frostbite, you should get them to the hospital as soon as you can. Until you can get there, you can start the gradual warming process.

First off, get your baby out of the cold and into a warm room. Don't place them next to an oven or another heat source, it can actually burn the skin and cause more damage.

The best way to gradually warm them up is by using your own body heat. Hold their skin against your skin, or cup the frostbit fingers or toes in your hands. If you want to submerse the affected area in water, make sure it's a few degrees above body temperature and no more. Heat the water back up as it cools down past 98 degrees.

Day, Frostbite, Cold, Cool, Damage

Day 352 - Sign Up for Preschool Early

2007-02-07T19:17:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Sign up for preschool around your baby's first birthday

I know it sounds crazy, and it is, but around Chicago, if you don't sign up for daycare or preschool early, you're sunk. We called at least 60 day cares and only found 1 that was taking infants. Guess who were sending him too.

Supposedly it's just as bad for preschool. Waiting lists for all the "good" ones fill up fast. What makes a school "good" isn't how expensive a building they have or if they have an Xbox 360 for the kids or even how much they charge. A good preschool is only as good as the teacher, and you can find some great ones that don't teach at the popular preschools.

Even so, you should lock up your spot as early as possible. If you don't send your baby to daycare, preschool becomes even more important as it teaches kids how to learn and play with others before they get into a more academic grade school setting.

Of course, if you don't know where you're going to be living in the next few years and there's a chance you could leave the area, you've got another factor to add to the mix. We're definitely in temporary housing, so we're going to hold off a little longer. If it comes down to it, we might just have to plunk down a deposit and maybe lose it if we have to move farther away.

Parenting, Preschool, Sign, Up, Day, Care

Day 351 - Yearly Budget

2007-02-06T18:59:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Look back on the past year's expenses to figure out your new budget

If you're the budgeting type, chances are you made one to account for the new expenses you knew would be associated with having a baby. Chances are, you were way off. Now that the year is up, it's a good time to go back, look at your expenses, and figure out a budget for the second year.

There will always be things you can't account for, but if you set aside money for medical expenses and Christmas, knowing that you will have to spend money on them, it can make December a whole lot easier to get through.

To help you out, here's what we spent last year on baby expenses. Take them for what it's worth.

Formula, food and Diapers - $100 a month
Day Care - $3000, this was for about 6 months of part-time care. Yipes!
Health Care - An extra $145 a month for health insurance, and about $500 in out-of-pocket costs
Christmas - $50, we went light
Misc - About $500. This is all the baby gear and miscellaneous stuff you need
Clothes - We got a lot of clothes for the baby shower, and then when he grew out of those it was Christmas time, and we got a bunch more, so we really didn't spend much this year. Next year I'm guessing we'll spend around $500, but we'll see.

If you get paid by the hour, you might have to account for lost wages since I missed work 4 times because my son was sick, and my wife missed work twice. Add in time off for 4 well-visits to the pediatrician as well.

Parenting, Budget, Yearly, Money, Spend

Day 350 - Family Traditions

2007-02-05T18:48:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Be sure to have some family traditions, they're the things memories are made of

If you asked me what I remember most about growing up, I'd tell you I remember the yearly family vacations. I remember the way the excitement I felt every year when we'd go up north to Sleeping Bear Dunes Lakeshore for a day every year. I remember walking to the ice cream store down the street with my grandma and grandpa and getting peanut butter cup flurries.

A co-worker remembers the snack of cheeses and caviar his parents would have out so well, he named his blog after it. Think back on your childhood traditions. You probably remember them fondly, and they're probably some of your best memories.

Now that you're a parent, it's time to create you own traditions. It's the routine and familiarity that being with family provides that makes traditions so memorable. Come up with a couple that are unique to you, and your child will look back on his childhood and smile.

Some ideas for traditions are:

Pizza night

Game Night (every week one family member gets to pick the game)

Big birthday or Sunday breakfast

Pajama Day

Family outing day (zoo, museum, etc.)

Story time

Camping trips out of town or in the backyard

Water balloon wars for Father's Day

Beach trips

Smores night

As you can see, you can turn just about anything into a family tradition.

What traditions does your family have?

Parenting, Family, Tradition, Memory

Day 349 - The Decadent Birthday Treat

2007-02-04T19:58:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - If you're OK with your baby having sweets, try making cupcakes with this special fluffy frosting

Some parents are alright with their babies having a sweet treat on a special occasion. Some even want it. There's nothing wrong with it at all, so don't let health nut parents make you feel poorly just because you gave your kid a piece of cake on his birthday. There's healthy treats for them too.

Instead of a cake, try making cupcakes instead. They're great for taking to day care or school and are easy for kids and adults alike to just grab and go. And, you can make a special fluffy frosting that let those enjoying your dessert frost it themselves, which is fun for kids.

Cupcakes - Cupcake recipe modified from About.com

INGREDIENTS:

* 1/2 cup cake flour
* 2/3 cup powdered sugar
* 6 large egg whites (about 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons)
* 1/8 teaspoon salt
* 3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
* 1/2 cup granulated sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

PREPARATION:
Line 18 muffin cups with paper muffin cups.

Sift the flour and powdered sugar together 3 times; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, beat or whisk egg whites with the salt until frothy. Add the cream of tartar; continue beating to soft peaks.

Add granulated sugar, about 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form.

With a spatula, fold in about 1/3 of the flour and powdered sugar mixture. Fold in another 1/3, then finish with remaining mixture. Gently fold in the orange zest and vanilla.

Using a small ice cream scoop or large tablespoon, fill muffin cups about 2/3 to 3/4 full. Bake for about 15 to 17 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool for 5 minutes in pan on rack. Remove cupcakes to a rack to cool completely.
Frost with Orange Frosting or a fat-free Fluffy Frosting.

Frosting
1 1.5 oz package chocolate Jello pudding
1 tub whipped cream
2 cups cold fat-free milk

Mix the pudding powder and the milk in a bowl as you normally would. Once the mixture is smooth, whip together the pudding and the whipped cream until you're able to form peaks with the mixture.

Chill the frosting until the cupcakes are ready to serve. Enjoy!

Parenting, 1st, Birthday, Snack, Treat

Day 348 - The Healthier Birthday Treat

2007-02-03T19:49:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Try serving fruit smoothies for a healthy birthday snack

It's almost 1st birthday time, so what are you going to serve for dessert? Some day cares allow you to bring a treat for a birthday, and if you're throwing a party, you'll probably want something sweet and tasty to finish off a meal.

But for the parent trying to keep things healthy, what can you do around birthday time? If you want your baby to have a healthy birthday celebration, there's nothing wrong with that. If you think it can't be done, try these simple fruit smoothies. They're easy to make, tasty and guests at your party can "un-healthy" them up if they must with whipped cream.

Fruit Smoothies
1 part pineapple
1 part banana
1 part strawberry
1 part ice

8 ounces of each fruit and ice will make about 4 fruit smoothies, so expand or decrease the recipe based on how much you need to make. Just throw all the ingredients in a blender and blend until the mixture is relatively smooth.

Serve immediately or chill in a pitcher until they're ready to serve. For a sweet topping, throw on some whipped cream.

Parenting, 1st, Birthday, Snack, Treat

Day 347 - Your Baby's First Haircut

2007-02-02T19:43:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Whether you cut your baby's hair yourself, or have a barber do it, safety is number one

My son doesn't have a ton of hair, but even now after a year it's getting pretty shaggy. And when I think of him getting a haircut, all I think is - scissors...near the face...not a good idea.

But there are safe ways to do it. If you take him or her to someone else to do a haircut, make sure they're comfortable cutting young infant's hair. Hopefully they have a pair of safe scissors that won't poke or cut if your baby turns his head quickly or squirms (which they will). The person should also be very patient, because it'll take longer than a typical haircut.

Another option if someone else does it or if you do it is with an electric razor with a guard on it. This way you don't really have to be exact, and if they move around they won't end up poking or cutting themselves. It does make noise, which might freak out some kids.

Ultimately, if they're not going to let you do it, they're not going to let you do it. Nothing wrong with having a shaggy set of locks while they're young.

Parenting, Hair, Cut, Scissors, Safety

Day 346 - How to Buy the Right Size Clothes for Your Baby

2007-02-01T09:53:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Buy clothes for your baby based on weight, and buy a size up

Here in the States, the size standard for baby clothes goes by month. We've never been able to use this system because our son was so large when he was born. He was into "6 month" clothing right out of the gate!

A better way to buy clothes if you've got a baby on the heavy or light side of the spectrum is to buy based on weight. Sometimes stores like Target have a handy chart right there in the store, sometimes they don't.

In case they don't, here's a chart for you to take to the store. And within this, sizes can vary from brand to brand. And if your baby is closer to the next size up than he is the next size down, you might want to buy a size bigger to let him grow into it. Chances are at this age that he'll outgrow it before he wears it out.

See the Chart

Parenting, Baby, Clothes, Size, Infant

Day 345 - What if Your Child is Gifted?

2007-01-31T19:54:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Encourage your child to explore their natural talents - stress free.

By the time your baby is almost a year old, he might already be excelling in certain things. For instance, my son can walk around, kick a ball and pick up things I'd never guess a baby could pick up.

Could your child be gifted? Every parent would like to think that their child will excel in something in ways no one else has. Keep in mind that all children are gifted in different ways, and at this age, all you need to do is cultivate that natural talent in a way that's enjoyable and stress free.

Your baby probably won't end up being a star athlete, super genius or musical virtuoso. But what you can help them achieve is success that makes them happy. If they are good at what they do and they truly enjoy it, then they have a gift that many people in the world never get to experience - happiness.

So if your baby can keep a beat, get him a toy drum or a kiddie guitar. If your baby can throw like a champ, get him a few balls. But if somebody comes along claiming your child is gifted and they need to join this club and that team and take this class or they'll never be any good, they're probably trying to take your money and don't care about your baby's happiness.

After all, he's less than a year old. Shouldn't he at least be having fun?

Parenting, Gifted, Smart, Athletic, Music

Day 344 - What to Pack in the Diaper Bag

2007-01-30T19:32:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Keep only the essentials in your diaper bag

We got two diaper bags when our son was born. One was a gargantuan that was more like a duffle bag, and the other was a smaller, easier to carry version. It also has sequins and a woman shopping on the side of it, so you can imagine I love carrying THAT around.

Guess which one we use more? The smaller one. We can fit all the stuff we need into it, and we don't have to spend an hour packing whenever we want to go somewhere.

Here's what every diaper bag should have for those daily trips out of the house:

Small first aid kit

Small kit with a thermometer, dropper, scissors, squeegee

Changing pad

5 diapers

Baby wipes

1 change of clothes

1 feeding of breastmilk or formula and 1 jar of baby food (if on solids)

1 cloth diaper

Needed prescriptions or medicine

Diaper rash creme, if needed

1 book

1 small toy or rattle

Card with pediatrician, poison control and emergency contact numbers

Bib and spoon if your baby is on solids

1 ziploc baggie of Cheerios or Goldfish

If you've got this, you should be covered for most situations you run int when you're around the neighborhood.

Parenting, Diaper, Bag, Pack, Essential

Day 343 - How to Survive a Long Car Trip with Your Baby

2007-01-29T19:19:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Plan ahead if you're taking a trip longer than an hour or so with your baby

Unless you've got a very well-behaved infant, car rides can quickly turn from a pleasant, relaxing ride into a screaming journey into Hades. Some babies fall asleep in the car and will stay that way until you get them out. Some don't like being restrained. Regardless, you should be prepared. Here are some tips you can use next time you've got to drive somewhere.

Try to travel at night. If you leave right after your baby goes to bed, chances are they'll sleep the whole way. Of course, this doesn't work if you're not spending the night

Leave extra time to get where you're going. You never know if you have to stop to feed him or change a diaper.
Bring a toy, their favorite blanket and a book. This was you've got a variety of attention getters if they do get fussy

Bring music and your singing voice. Our son usually calms down when he hears music or our singing

A bottle of breastmilk, formula or juice. Most of the time, when our son gets fussy, it's because he's hungry.

A change of diapers. Somehow, the smell of bowel movements does not make a ride with a screaming baby any more enjoyable.

A change of clothes in case he spills his food or he has a diaper blowout

Dress your baby to be comfortable at room temperature. If you're going to be in the car for a while, don't have him all bundled up as if it's 0 degrees out. Take off a layer once he gets into the car.

Parenting, Travel, Essentials, Pack, Road, Trip

Day 342 - How to Help a Choking Infant

2007-01-28T19:03:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Use 5 back blows, then 5 chest thrusts to help a choking infant.

Your baby is chowing down on some cut up pieces of fruit when all of a sudden you see them try to cough and their eyes go as big as saucers. They're choking - what are you going to do?

The important thing is to not panic. Commit the following steps to memory so you can spring right into action.

If they are not breathing and have something lodged in their throat, have someone call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number. If you're alone, do one set of back blows and chest thrusts, and then call the emergency number as you are starting the second set (speaker phone comes in handy).

Hold your baby face down, lengthwise on your forearm with their head pointed towards your hand. They should be pointed down towards the ground, sit down or brace your arm against your thigh if you have to.

Using the palm of your hand, firmly give 5 back blows between your baby's shoulder blades.

If your baby doesn't cry or start breathing, flip him over to the other arm, face up. Give him 5 chest thrusts using two fingers. Place your fingers in the middle of his chest between his nipples.

Check to see if whatever it is he is choking on is in his mouth. If it is, sweep it out using your pinky finger like a hook. If it isn't, repeat the back blows, chest thrusts and check until your baby starts breathing again or goes unconscious.

If your baby loses consciousness, begin baby CPR. This is a topic that really requires a hands on approach, and you should see a certified CPR instructor to learn. A good place to start would be your local Red Cross.

Parenting, Choking, Infant, Conscious, First, Aid

Day 341 - Brush Up on Your First Aid Class at Least Once a Year

2007-01-27T18:53:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Brush up on your first aid skills every year

Way back on Day 150 I blogged about taking a first aid class. I never posted any first aid tips specifically, and I definitely know I could use a refresher.

Daycare and child care providers are required to take a First Aid class every year because they are responsible for the well being of children. Since you're a parent, so are you.

It's a good idea to bone up on your first aid skills once a year by retaking the class, or by simply re-practicing the techniques on your partner (not for real of course). If you have to use these skills even one time in your life, it's money and time well spent.

A good time to schedule this refresher is around your child's first birthday. You'll never forget the date, and it's the perfect time to protect the life that you're celebrating. If you have more than one child, perhaps you could make it around mother's or father's day. Pick whatever date you'll remember to dust off those first aid materials.

Parenting, First, Aid, Class, Safety

Day 340 - Early 1st Birthday Gift - A Chime Garden from Lamaze

2007-01-26T20:19:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Get a Chime Garden from Lamaze for your baby, our son loved it

Our son's first birthday gift arrived in the mail from his aunt and uncle down in Louisville, Kentucky. It's a great toy that I can't say enough good things about, but the biggest vote of confidence comes from my son himself. He hasn't stopped carrying it around the apartment.

The Chime Garden from Lamaze is a group of five flowers that play melodies when they're batted or pressed. The faces on the flowers are friendly and colorful. What sets this apart from other baby toys that make noise is that the sounds it makes are actually pleasing and at a reasonable volume level.

If I could sum it up in a word, it would be "sweet". The way it looks, sounds and feels is very child-like and cute. It seems to be pretty durable too, my son's already dropped it on the hard floor in our kitchen a dozen times and it's none the worse for wear.

Parenting, Toy, Chime, Garden, Fun

Day 339 - Use a Sippy Cup with A Screw Cap

2007-01-25T20:14:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Get a sippy cup with a screw cap

Maybe they make better sippy cups with snap on lids than the ones we just bought. But this was my experience with them.

I filled the cup up with formula. I took extra care to make sure the cap was on tight, knowing that my son would drop it and squeeze it and turn it upside down. Everything seemed fine. Then I handed it to my son and the top came right off and milk spilled everywhere.

Lesson learned. We went right out and got ones with screw on tops. Anyone else out there know of a good sippy cup with a snap on lid?

Parenting, Sippy, Cup, Drink, Spill

Day 338 - How to Teach Your Baby to Use a Fork

2007-01-24T19:40:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Use patience, imitation and a baby-safe fork to teach you infant how to use flatware

Giving your baby a spoon seems a lot more natural and safe than giving them a fork. After all, the spoon doesn't have sharp tines they can poke their skin or eyes with.

But you can teach them how to use a fork safely if you get them something like the Easy Grip Fork and Spoon Set. The tines on the fork have been blunted and a little more flexible materials were used to make it safe for you baby's exploration.

Just like feeding with a spoon, imitate the right motions with your fork so they know what to do. Let them learn at their own pace, the normal time for children to master the fine art of eating with a spoon and fork doesn't happen until well into their second year.

Parenting, Learn, Fork, Teach, Eat

Day 337 - 9 Things You Can Do For Free with Your Baby

2007-01-23T19:34:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Take advantage of the freebies you get when your baby is young

What's the best part about having a baby? Is it the unconditional love? The innocent laugh? The hugs?

Nope! It's all the freebies you get to take advantage of because your baby is under 2. Kids only get more expensive with age, so cash in while you can. There are lots of fun activities, and practical ones, to do with your baby free of charge.

Fly on an airplane
Take the train or bus
Visit a theme park or water park
Go to the community pool
Stay at a hotel
Eat at some restaurants
Visit a museum or aquarium
Go to the Zoo
Go to a sporting event (and usually get some kind of swag)

What else do you know of that you can do for free if you're still in diapers?

Parenting, Free, Stuff, Activity, Save

Day 336 - Pampers Vs. Huggies

2007-01-22T19:28:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tips - Pampers are the best kind of diapers for preventing bowel blowouts. Every bit as disgusting as it sounds.

Usually I'm pretty brand agnostic. If there are two biggies out there, like Coke and Pepsi, or McDonald's or Burger King, I switch between the two pretty freely. There's rarely a discernible difference that makes me want to pick one over the other.

Maybe you're thinking the same way about diapers. Which one to choose? Huggies or Pampers? Both probably the same, right?

Wrong. We bought a box of Huggies instead of the usual Pampers (we usually buy based on coupons or sales, and Pampers just always seems to be cheaper). We've never had a problem with bowel blowouts (no explanation needed), chafing or discomfort before.

Once we threw those Huggies on, we got all three. Stuff would leak, his legs would be red and raw, and sometimes he just seemed generally uncomfortable. I don't know why it was or what's different, but there was a definite change from one brand to the other.

Now he's back in Pampers, and he's back to normal. So if you're trying to choose between the two and want a recommendation from me, I say Pampers.

Anyone else had a similar or different experience?

Parenting, Diaper, Pampers, Huggies, Nappy

Day 335 - Say Your Please's and Thank You's

2007-01-21T19:22:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Say please and thank you to your infant when they do what you want them to

How many times have you seen a parent at the grocery store ask their kid to be quiet or to stop doing something, and then once the kid does what's asked of them, the parent just turns away and ignores them?

Now, everyone has bad days and no one says please and thank you all the time. But now is a good time to get in the habit of asking your child politely to do something and showing genuine gratitude when they obey.

IF the reward for being quiet or for behaving is being ignored with no acknowledgment, it's really no surprise if the kid keeps misbehaving.

Plus, your baby will soon pick up on the fact that when someone does something for you, you say thank you, if you want something, you say please. And the only way they're going to pick that up is if they get it from your example.

Parenting, Please, Thank, You, Manners

Day 334 - Can You Do This? Month 11

2007-01-20T19:21:00.000-08:00

Walk or "cruise" on furniture
Correctly identify "mama" and "dada"
Respond to their name

Probably will be able to:

Pull up to a standing position from sitting
Drink independently
Stand alone
Give a high five or play ball
Walk for a step or maybe two
Put objects into a container

They might also be able to say a word other than mama or dada, stand well by themselves, walk for more than a few steps, understand and respond to the word no sometimes or gesture for an object that they want without crying.
Taken from What to Expect the First Year

Parenting, Verbal, Physical, Development, Emotional

Day 333 - First Birthday Ideas Part 4 - The Thank You

2007-01-19T19:59:00.000-08:00

Part 4 - The Thank You - Part of the First Birthday Series

Today's first time parenting tip - Make easy, hand made "thank you's" by your baby

The party's over, the food was a hit, everyone had a blast and you got some great, practical and fun gifts for your baby. What's the best way to say thank you to the special people who came to his 1st birthday?

You can easily help your baby make hand made "thank you" cards that mean a bit more than just paper and ink. Here's how you do it.

Buy enough blank thank you cards to send one to every guest. Don't just send one to the people who brought gifts, send one to everybody who showed up. They made your baby's day special just by their presence, and that deserves thanks enough.

Get some non-toxic paints. Remember the ones we used for Valentine's gifts?. Those will work here too.

Put your baby in a high chair or the bathtub in just his diaper (you don't want paint on his clothes) and put some paint on each of his hands. Give him the cards one at a time, letting him put his prints all over the cards.

Repeat with a couple different colors if you want to, or keep it simple with one. Once they've dried, write a simple, short note thanking the person for coming, and for the gift if they've brought one.

As an added touch, you can include a picture of your baby playing or using the gift they got from that person.

Parenting, 1st, Birthday, Party, Thank, You

Day 332 - 1st Birthday Ideas Part 3 - The Gift

2007-01-18T19:07:00.000-08:00

Part 3 - The Gift - Part of the 1st Birthday Ideas Series

Today's first time parenting tip - Get your baby something fun, and something practical for their 1st birthday

Your baby is turning one, and especially if he's the first baby in the family, he's going to get spoiled. How do you keep people from going overboard and inundating your baby with gifts.

There are a couple ways you can go. When you send out the invites, you can specify that no gifts be brought. That way its all about spending time together and not about who can get the most or the biggest gifts for you baby.

But now that they're a little older, part of the fun is watching them get all excited ripping off wrapping paper. It doesn't matter what's inside, infants just seem to love ripping things apart regardless.

Another way to handle gifts is to specify that gifts are optional and limited to one fun gift, and one practical gift. This way you won't get a million plastic toys that they'll never play with.

Clothes, savings bonds and other baby necessities go a long way still. Those types of gifts will probably get a lot more use, and your baby isn't old enough to feel gypped that he got another sweater for his birthday.

And this way you also let people show their fun side and really search for that perfect fun gift.

Parenting, 1st, Birthday, Party, Gift

Day 331 - 1st Birthday Ideas Part 2 - The Fun

2007-01-17T19:06:00.000-08:00

Part 2 - The Fun - Part of the 1st Birthday Ideas Series

Today's first time parenting tip - Throw fun games centered around your baby to keep people entertained

You've got the food for your party...now what will people do after the meal is over? This is where parties can get very extravagant, very fast. I've heard of some parents getting limos and a hotel for the 1st birthday, which seems a little too much like a case of "keeping up with the jones'."

If your creative, you can have a lot of fun on a small budget. My wife and I are planning to play a game where we print off lots of pictures of our baby's 1st year of life with the people who are going to be at the party. Then everyone has to guess how old he was in each picture.

A friend of mine had one of those big moonwalk inflatables at her daugther's first birthday, which was great because there were lots of other little kids there and her daughter was old enough to take part and have fun. Plus I think it was only a hundred bucks.

Keep any entertainment simple, with as little set up and tear down hassle as possible. Do something your baby will actually enjoy. A field trip out to the zoo for their 1st birthday would be a wonderful idea too. Anything that gets your baby happy and excited will keep your guests happy, because after all, your infant is the one they came to see.

Anyone else got some fun ideas for a first birthday party?

Parenting, 1st, Birthday, Party, Entertainment

Day 330 - 1st Birthday Ideas Part 1 - The Food

2007-01-16T18:48:00.000-08:00

Part 1 - The Food - Part of the 1st Birthday Ideas Series

Today's first time parenting tip - Pick foods that are easy to prepare, easy for baby to eat and that can be made ahead of time

The 1st birthday is right around the corner! Are you going to plan a birthday bash for your little one? They may not be big enough to remember yet, but you and everyone who attends will. That's why its important to keep the day as stress free as possible so you and everyone else can enjoy it.

First, what will everyone eat? Since you've got a lot to deal with just getting your baby ready for the party, you'll want something easy to make that allows people to serve themselves. And you'll want the baby to be able to eat with everyone too!

Here are some food ideas:

Fruit tray with bananas, apples, strawberries, kiwi with some low fat yogurt dip

Vegetable tray. Unless you cook these, this'll probably be an adults only tray

Cheese and cracker tray

Bread and hummus tray
Finger sandwiches with meat, cheese and lettuce. Mustard and mayo optional

Taquitos or Flautas. These rolled up Mexican appetizers taste great and are easy to make

Macaroni and cheese. Not the kraft kind, but the kind you make with noodles, real cheese with bread crumbs sprinkled on top

Birthday cake of course. Cupcakes are also another excellent way to go

You get the idea. With a menu like this, it already starts to feel like a kids party and it will remind your guest of the parties they had as a kid.

What kind of food do you serve at your kids' birthday parties?

Parenting, 1st, Birthday, Party, Food

Day 329 - Babyproof Your Toilet

2007-01-15T21:24:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Babyproof your toilet. Yes, your toilet.

When our son discovered there was water he could splash around in the toilet bowl, it was over. Whenever the bathroom door is open, he makes a beeline. If my wife or I are taking a shower, he'd crawl over hot coals to play in the water. He just loves water, bottom line.

Now, the toilet isn't the most sanitary thing in our house. Even when he couldn't lift up the seat, we'd throw a towel over it if he was in there so he couldn't come into contact with all the germs living all over it.

But now he's figured out how to get past our defenses and is strong enough to actually lift up the seat. Luckily, there are toilet seat latches out there to keep him from playing in the water.

I wouldn't have thought of this on my own until he proved to me that he can get into anything. Is there something your baby gets into that you never would have thought to worry about?

Parenting, Babyproof, Toilet, Safety, Health

Day 328 - Ten Super-Nutritious Foods for Your Baby

2007-01-14T20:30:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Feed your baby these ten foods and you'll be giving them some great nutrition

Kiwi - More vitamin C than an orange, it also comes with a good amount of fiber and potassium. Plus, according to a study by Thorax, it helps prevent asthma.

Apricots - Vitamin A and dietary fiber. These were my son's favorite flavor of baby food

Raisins - Packed with the all important mineral, iron. There's a reason all baby formula and food is iron-fortified.

Bok-Choy (Chinese Cabbage) - This veggie has calcium for your child's growing bones

Wheat Germ - Bread, bagels and cereals made with wheat have even more vitamins and minerals for your baby, especially vitamin E. Serve them exclusively.

Yogurt - Lots of calcium and the active bacteria in yogurt helps prevent yeast infections in a dark, wet diaper.

Raspberries - Another great source of vitamin C

Mango - Filled with vitamin A and vitamin C

Pinto Beans - A little Mexican flare is a good source of protein for your baby

Breastmilk - Hands down, the best source of nutrition for your baby

Always, always make sure these foods are small enough to not be a choking hazard, and watch for food allergies.

Parenting, Nutritious, Food, Nutrition, Healthy

Day 327 - What to Do if Your Baby Has Excema

2007-01-13T20:15:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Moisturize your baby's skin to fight off excema

Red, itchy, dry skin. It's all part of excema, a skin condition where the upper layers of skin become inflamed. If it becomes severe, the skin can crack, blister and even scar.

The best way to treat excema yourself is to keep the skin moisturizes. Excema is a form of dermatitis, which drys out the skin. Keeping it moisturized with a cream or ointment will help the skin retain its natural moisture and help the affected skin heal.

In addition, you should also stop using detergents or soap that dry out the skin. Look for soaps and detergents have an oil or fat base and that are unscented. The milder, the better.

If your baby is constantly itching his skin, he may be damaging it. In this case an anti-itch cream might be a good idea to help protect him from scratching and itching.

Parenting, Excema, Treatment, Itch, Dry, Skin

Day 326 - How to Wean Your Baby Off the Bottle

2007-01-12T19:41:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Wean your infant off his bottle when you're good and ready

There's no right or wrong time to wean your baby off the bottle. And your way of attacking it can be as gradual or as cold turkey as you want. My advice would be to go with as stress free a method as possible.

The bottle is often a comforting device for babies, so the more they're stressed out, the more they're going to want to go back to that comfort device. Your baby will let you know what they prefer. If your son is easy going and adaptable, you may be able to just hand him a cup and he's off to the races. A fussier baby might need a more "hands-off" approach, where you simply offer a cup as an alternative and let them explore on their own.

Here's our plan.

We've been letting him drink from a cup in his high chair since he was 6 months old. Once he started walking around, we keep a sippy cup with water or diluted juice out for him so he can graze and sip as he wants. Now that we're trying to wean him off the bottle, we have day care give him a sippy cup of milk at each meal.

He eats enough food and will drink enough out of the cup that he doesn't need his usual follow-up bottle. We still give him one in the morning and at night, the wake-up and bedtime bottles are probably going to be the hardest ones to kick.

Once we do try tackling those two bottles, we'll start off with a cup and move to the bottle if he gets to fussy. Hopefully he drinks more and more out of the cup and less and less out of the bottle. Keep you posted as we go.

Parenting, Wean, Bottle, Cup, Milk

Day 325 - Sing in the Car

2007-01-11T19:39:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Use 'silent' moments with your baby as an opportunity to sing and learn

How many times have you been driving in the car, stuck in traffic, with your baby in the back seat and the only sound in the car is the radio?

Turn this 'silent' time where you're seemingly separated and unable to interact with your infant into a fun learning time by singing. Any time there's a commercial on the radio, I sing the alphabet song to my son.

Whenever we're stuck in traffic, I count in a sing song voice until we start moving again. One of these days he'll start singing back and I won't get so many weird looks from my fellow commuters.

As an added bonus, if your baby is upset or cranky in the car, the sound of your singing voice (however off-key) just might catch their attention and soothe them.

Parenting, Verbal, Sing, Development, Learn

Day 324 - Safe Alternatives for Dangerous Things

2007-01-10T19:04:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Rather than just saying no, give your baby a chance to play with a safe toy as an alternative.

We don't have a ton of baby toys, but we've got a good variety of ones our son likes to play with. Yet all he seems to want to do if play with the stuff he's not supposed to. Plugs, cell phones, sharp pointy objects. You name it, he's grabbing for it. And he howls when we don't let him have it.

Rather than just saying no, we try to give him something else to occupy his time. Here are some safe alternatives to dangerous things.

Plugs and cords - There's just something about them that draws my son's attention even when they've got the baby safe guards on them. To satisfy his need to pull on something, I find a toy with a 6-8 inch string (so he can't strangle himself).

Climbing on chairs - We've got a chair in our apartment that tips over easy, so of course, this is the one he loves to spend time in. So instead I pile up some pillows next to an air mattress and chase him all over this safe, soft obstacle course.

Hot stove - When we're in the kitchen, he's in the kitchen. The attraction of the stove is that it's got a door that can open. So we've got a cabinet that's just for him - all it has inside is tupperware. He can open and shut it to his heart's content.

Plastic bags - The seductive crinkle of plastic seems like fun, until it goes over his head. So I give him an old magazine with no staples. He loves crumpling and ripping it up.

Sharp objects - For some reason, our forks and knives look like excellent playthings to him. When he wants one, I give him a baby spoon or a toothbrush. He can put both in his mouth safely, he won't poke out an eye and one even cleans his teeth to boot!

Parenting, Safety, Baby, Proof, Safe

Day 323 - How to Make Sure Dogs and Your Infant Get Along

2007-01-09T20:00:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Use patients and a calm attitude to get dogs and infants to co-exist by establishing pack dominance.

If you've had a dog for a few years and add a baby into the mix, things can get hairy. Before the fur flies, you should do everything you can to get them used to each other, so that someone doesn't get bitten.

Before your baby becomes mobile, most of the issues you'll have to deal with are pet jealousy. You can help alleviate those by reading my post on the subject.

Before they start moving, there are more things you can do to help them get used to each other. Establishing pack dominance will teach your dog where he stands, and to defer to the baby. You can do this by.

Feed yourself and your baby before you feed your dog

Take your child through doors before the dog

Don't allow your dog to sleep in your bed

When you do feed your dog, hold the bowl near your face and the baby's face (standing up, away from the dog in case he gets aggressive). This is another way of 'eating first'

Play with your infant and dog together. Don't roughhouse. You want to teach both the dog and the child to be gentle with each other. Show your baby how to gently pet the dog. We taught our son to pet the cat nicely by always petting him with an open hand and saying 'gentle' every time.

When you scold your dog, roll him onto his back without hurting him. This is the natural position of submission

By doing these things, you're recreating the natural way dogs determine who is the alpha dog in the wild. Even though yours might be tame as tame can be, their instincts are very powerful. Use that to your advantage and train your dog to see you and the baby as alpha dogs.

Parenting, Dog, Baby, Behavior, Safety

Day 322 - Symptoms of Croup

2007-01-08T19:51:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Learn how to spot the signs of croup in your baby

A co-worker was telling me the other day about how his daughter ended up in the emergency room because of croup, and it made me hop online to check out the symptoms to make sure I was prepared.

Croup is a viral infection that causes swelling of the airways. From what another co-worker tells me, it causes your infant to bark like a seal with they cry or cough. Doesn't sound like something you could easily miss.

In addition to the cough, your infant might be having trouble breathing, or they may make a high pitched squeaking noise while breathing really fast. This is when it's serious and you should get medical attention immediately.

You can treat croup with a cool mist humidifier. You can also try to take your baby outside if it's cold (with a jacket, hat, mittens - the works). Breathing in cold, moist air will help with the swelling of the airway.

If you aren't able to treat the croup on your own or it gets serious, get medical attention. This is one you want to monitor closely, so if you're sleeping separately, conside spending the night in the same room.

Reference - Kid's Health

Parenting, Croup, Symptoms, Treatment, Cough

Day 321 - Turn Ripped Out Pages into a Memory

2007-01-07T19:41:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Save the pages your baby rips out of books for a collage

I don't know why we give my son books with paper pages in them. Most of the time, he likes to look at the pictures, on his own or with us. If it's an animal book, he'll make lion roars or monkey noises.

But every so often he gets in a destructive mood or turns the page too hard and RIP! out comes the page of one of his favorite books.

Are the books ruined? Should you throw them away? Nope. If you want to preserve the books, buy cardboard ones. If he's already ripped up a few paper ones, keep those books out. What's the worst he could do, rip out another page?

You can turn all those ripped pages into a lasting memory. Keep them all. Once you've got a good stack, here's what you do.

Make a nice collage of all the pages. Since baby books have lots of colors and different looks, you should have a good variety to put together. Glue them down to some cardboard or posterboard.

When you're done, you can buy something like Hasbro Puzzle Saver to preserve your creation until the end of time. Then you can frame it up and have a great piece of artwork for their room.

Parenting, Books, Rip, Art, Craft

Day 320 - Give a Gift Made By Your Baby

2007-01-06T19:26:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Have your baby paint some heart magnets and give them to family members for Valentine's Day

It's right around Valentine's Day, and grandparents are probably going to use this time as an excuse to shower your baby with more gifts. It's about time your baby gave something back! Here's a fun idea my wife came up with that gets the baby involved and everyone will love.

Heart Magnets

What You'll Need
Two dozen small wooden hearts - pick them up at a craft store
3 jars of non-toxic paint (any color works)
Two dozen small, dime sized magnets
Superglue
Camera

What to Do
Divide the hearts up into three groups.

Strip your baby down to his diaper and put him in the bathub.

Squirt a one of the colors onto his hands and let him go crazy on the wooden hearts.

Wash out the tub and him, and repeat, using a different color on each heart. Take pictures throughout the whole thing.

After your baby goes to bed, supergle the magnets to the back of the hearts.

Wrap them up with a picture of him 'painting' and give them as gifts from him. Everyone in our families thought they were a hit!

Parenting, Valentine, Gift, Paint, Idea

Day 319 - Get Out on the Town with Your Partner

2007-01-05T19:18:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Drop your baby off at a babysitter and do something you would have done before your married

Today at work we were talking about plans for Valentines Day, and one of the guys was making a big dinner with his fiance. Oysters, wine, steamed crab, the works.

Every single one of the married people there said "Ahh. Life without kids."

You don't have to sigh every time a young couple you know does something special. You can do it too. Make some time every month, or every other month at the least, for you and your partner to do something you could never do with the kids around. Go to a movie that's not animated. Spend three hours cooking together at home. Go on a day hike outside. Go to a spa.

The possibilities are endless. Chances are, you did things together as a couple before your had your baby. If you haven't done them in awhile, get back out there. Just because you have kids doesn't mean you should be relegated to spending every Friday night at home eating leftover pizza and watching Bob the Builder for the tenth time that day.

Parenting, Date, Night, Couple, Fun

Day 318 - Signs of Food Allergies

2007-01-04T19:00:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - As you give your baby more and more regular foods, keep a close eye out for food allergies

Your infant is probably getting to the point where he's trying all sorts of new foods at your house, at other houses, at a restaurant, at daycare, etc. Since you don't know how they are prepared or what foods may have been mixed with them, its important to keep an eye on your baby for food allergies.

Here's how to tell if your baby is having a reaction.

Wheezing or difficulty breathing

Itchy skin rashes

Hives

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Nausea

Stomach pain or discomfort

Swelling around the mouth and throat

A sever reaction is called anaphylaxis, and the symptoms include difficulty breathing , swelling of the airways and low blood pressure. In this case get medical attention immediately.

If the symptoms are less severe, call your pediatrician or the nurse at your local hospital for advice. Be sure to tell them what your child ate over the past 24 hours and how much they ate of it.

Parenting, Food, Allergy, Symptoms, Signs

Day 317 - What Chicago Sports Can Teach Us About Parenting

2007-01-03T18:46:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Parenting is a lot like Chicago Sports.

So this might be a bit of a stretch, but I noticed some uncanny similarities between Chicago sports teams and parenting today. Let me elaborate.

Chicago Bears
No matter how good a job you do, there is always someone out there to tell you what you're doing wrong.

Chicago Cubs
No matter what, there is always someone who will love you unconditionally (your baby)

Chicago Bulls
Being at home is always better than being on the road.

Chicago White Sox
Sometimes big achievements take a LOT longer than they're supposed to, and sometimes that's OK.

Chicago Blackhawks
Some people have no business doing it, because their hearts aren't in it.

Parenting, Sports, Chicago, Bears, Cubs, Bulls, Sox, White, Blackhawks

Day 316 - Wash Your Baby's Hands Often

2007-01-02T19:15:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - As your baby gets older and more active, washing their hands more often is more important

When your baby's idea of a good time was laying on their back for two hours looking at a ceiling fan, cleanliness wasn't as much of an issue. Now they're into everything, playing with and eating food, making messes and getting into all sorts of messy trouble.

And if they're going to day care or around other kids, that's a good eight hours in a germ factory. They'll touch anything and then stick their hands right in their mouth and not think twice about it.

So it's up to you to keep their hands clean. My son has a yeast infection right now, so we've got to be extra careful with our own hands and his so it doesn't spread to his mouth or eyes. He started scratching his eyes a bit last night and we were getting worried.

Most babies love to play in running water, so it should be easy to get them to cooperate. Put their hands under the running water and wash them up with a mild soap. You can sing a song while you do it or count, but a good 20 seconds or so should do the trick. Rinse them off and send them on their merry way!

At the minimum, you should be washing their hands before each meal.

Parenting, Wash, Hands, Cleanliness, Germs

Day 315 - Destruction vs. Construction

2007-01-01T18:43:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Encourage constructive destruction. I know that'll need an explanation.

Are you frustrated that all your baby seems to do is throw things down, knock over the buildings you build and try to rip all the pages out of his books?

Don't be. That's all my son does when he plays.

At this age, infants haven't developed the skills they need to be constructive. It's a lot easier to knock over a block tower than it is to build it. And most of the time, its a lot more fun too.

At this stage, they don't mean to destroy things to be mischievous, they do it because that's all they know how. Play with them, show them how to build things and encourage their exploration and they should grow out of it in due time.

Parenting, Play, Constructive, Destroy, Fun

Day 314 - So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish

2006-12-31T15:32:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Take your baby to the local aquarium and watch them be wowed.

Looking for a fun activity you can do on the weekend that'll keep your baby interested? Try taking them to the aquarium. Our son absolutely loved his trip to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.

Unlike the zoo, you can get right up close to the brightly colored fish. And unlike the animals at the zoo, they're usually swimming and moving around the aquarium. Our son was enthralled by the big tank they have with all sorts of fish swimming around in the same environment.

And most aquariums are very kid friendly, so you don't have to worry about being out of place. And it's definitely something adults can enjoy too. Our son loved it so much that we're going to do a fish theme for his first birthday.

Parenting, Fish, Aquarium, Fun, Activity

Day 313 - How to Teach Your Baby to Use a Spoon

2006-12-30T15:25:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Patience and imitation are your best friends when teaching your baby how to use a spoon

Using silverware is the next step for your baby after they learn how to eat with their fingers. Since it requires fine motor skills, balance and coordination, you can expect the process to take a little bit of coaching. Here are some important tips to remember:

Be patient. They won't get it right away, and getting frustrated won't help them learn

Teach through imitation. You can do this by eating with a spoon out of your own bowl or plate. If they're eating something you don't mind stomaching, you can even spoon up their own food to show them how

Let them experiment. There will be a fair amount of dumping food on the floor, their head, the cat, etc. It's O.K., your infant is exploring this new tool they've found.

Get a baby sized spoon. It's smaller and will be coated in a soft rubbery material that's easy on the teeth and easier for them to handle

Parenting, Teach, Spoon, Feeding, Food

Day 312 - Busy Fingers Love to Play with Buttons

2006-12-29T15:18:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Anything with a button or something your baby can press should be a big hit

Our son is getting to the age where he can actually start interacting and using his toys for what they were 'meant' to do. This will make them last quite a bit longer than if he kept picking them up and throwing them onto the kitchen floor.

We noticed that his favorite things to do were to press the buttons on our alarm clock, play with our cell phones whenever he could get his hands on them, and play with the volume control on his Leap Pad.

We've added a few more button-having toys to the mix and those are clearly his favorites. The big winner is a LeapFrog Phonics Radio that lets you flip pages AND hit buttons to hear letter songs AND play guess the letter. He's in baby heaven.

Parenting, Toy, Learning, Buttons, Fun

Day 311 - How to Keep Your Baby Out of the Cupboards

2006-12-28T15:12:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Keep one of your kitchen cupboards reserved for your baby to play in.

Once you've baby-proofed the whole house, to your baby it may no longer seem like a fun place to play. They might get frustrated and all the more determined to get back the cabinet locks you've put on all the cupboards in the kitchen. What's more, if you're working in the kitchen and they are in there too, they may demand to be in your arms where the action is, which makes it very hard for you to get things done.

So instead of locking all the cabinets, leave one open. Fill it with your plastic tupperware or mixing bowls. That way your baby will feel like he's got his own area, and he's got something fun to do in the kitchen. Our son loves opening the cabinet and pulling out the plastic pitcher and tupperware we've got in there.

When you do this, make sure they can't get to any other cupboards from the inside. Likewise, make sure there aren't any nails or sharp things in there either. You have to remember that they may crawl right in there from time to time.

Parenting, Babyproof, Kitchen, Play, Boredom

Day 310 - Make a Dentist Appointment for the 1 Year Birthday

2006-12-27T15:05:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Make your baby a dentist appointment for around their 1 year birthday

Your infant's first dentist appointment should be somewhere close to their one-year birthday. Your baby may or may not have all his teeth in yet, but the dentist should still check their teeth and gums to make sure they're healthy.

Like your pediatrician, you should be comfortable with your dentist, both in his bedside manner and his professionalism. The first visit will be fairly easy, the dentist will try to get comfortable with your child and check the teeth and gums for signs of bottle decay.

He'll also be able to give you advice on how to care for your infant's teeth, as well as possibly give you fluoride drops, especially if your tap water doesn't have this added already.

After this first visit, you should come back every six months for a cleaning and check up.

Parenting, Dentist, Teeth, Care, Dental

, Clean

Day 309 - Yeast Infection in Infants

2006-12-26T14:54:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Treat a yeast infection with an anti-yeast cream

So the diaper rash we thought our son had turned out to be a yeast infection. It's a little bit different from a diaper rash and it can also spread to their mouth as well. Here's how to tell if your dealing with a yeast infection:

Bright red rash

Small red pimples around the edge of the rash

Redness or irritation in the folds and creases of their skin

It's caused my the moist, dark diaper area that is constantly replenished by bowel movements. Yuck.

When treating a yeast infection, get an anti-yeast cream and use it with a diaper rash cream if you like. You should make sure to keep their hands and yours extra clean so you don't spread it to their mouth. You may also want to boil their bottles and nipples to get rid of any yeast that may be on them.

If your baby has an oral yeast infection, they will have milky crusts on their tongue or gums that won't scrape off. You need to treat this as well.

If there are yellow, puss filled bumps or the symptoms don't go away after 3 - 5 days, call your pediatrician. And if they begin to develop other symptoms like a fever or fatigue, take them in as well.

Reference: Web MD

Parenting, Rash, Yeast, Infection, Diaper

, Cure

Day 308 - Play Kick Instead of Catch

2006-12-25T14:49:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Play kick the ball rather than catch the ball

At 10 or 11 months, your baby probably won't get the hang of playing catch. Our son mostly just watches the ball come towards him as we roll it along the floor, it'll hit him, he'll laugh and then pick it up. He enjoys it quite a bit, but what he loves even more is to kick the ball.

Since he can walk around pretty well and cruises on furniture like there's no tomorrow, he likes to walk with the ball in front of him and follow it all around the apartment. Another fun game we do with him is pick him up by both arms and swing him low to the ground so his legs whack the ball all the way across the room.

Just like his soccer playing mom, he likes kicking better than catching. And it's another great way to help him develop physical coordination and work those big motor muscles. And if he ends up like David Beckham, 250 million would put us in a pretty nice retirement home.

Parenting, Kick, Game, Large, Motor

Day 307 - Play Hide and Seek with Your Baby

2006-12-24T19:57:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Play games of hide and seek with your baby

Want a good way to have fun with your infant, develop their memory and improve their understanding of objects in the world, all in one shot?

Playing hide and seek games with your child is the answer. By showing them an object or a person, and then hiding it somewhere to let them find it, you're improving their ability to understand the physical presence an object has in the world.

Here are some fun games you can play:

With people. Hide behind doors and furniture. Peek out at them and watch them laugh

With cups and a ball. Hide a ball under some opaque cups or bowls and have them guess which one it's under

With your infant. Playing peek-a-boo is always a classic

With some sheets and some toys. This is a little more advanced, but you can put some toys with a unique shape under some sheets and ask them to find what you ask for.

Parenting, Play, Hide, Seek, Learn

Day 306 - Let Your Baby Take the Wheel

2006-12-23T19:45:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Let your baby interact with the world as much as possible

As your baby gets older, he's going to want to do more and more of the things you do. While you might be in a rush to go and get on your way, you should slow down and let your infant try to do the things you do.

You may get things done faster and more correctly, but making mistakes and trying new things is a huge part of the learning process.

Whenever we leave the apartment, we let our son hit the "down" button on the elevator. Then, when we get inside, let him hit the "close" button (if we let him he'd hit all the buttons). Sometimes he gets it, sometimes he has to try a couple times, but he loves doing it. And we can use the numbers and directions of the elevator for more learning.

Today on the bus, rather than holding him or keeping him in his stroller, I let him sit on the seat next to me, just like a big kid. He had a ton of fun looking out the window and hanging on for dear life as the bus stopped, started and turned.

What can you do to let your infant experience the world today?

Parenting, Life, Experience, Mistakes, Learn

Day 305 - Can You Do This? Month 10

2006-12-22T19:12:00.000-08:00

Stand while holding onto something
Wave good-bye
Pick a small object up between their thumb and forefinger

Probably will be able to:

Walk or "cruise" on furniture
Pull up to a standing position from sitting
Correctly identify "mama" and "dada"
Respond to their name

They might also be able to drink independently, stand alone, play ball or give a high five, walk for a step or maybe two, say a word other than mama or dada or put objects into a container.

Taken from What to Expect the First Year

Parenting, Verbal, Physical, Development, Emotional

Day 304 - 4 Ways to Treat a Fever Naturally

2006-12-21T18:56:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Keep cool and treat a fever naturally

Your eleven month infant's temperature hits 102. You panic. What could it be? You'd like to think it's teething, but you're just not sure. It might be something worse.

Everything else seems to be fine. No change in behavior. Bowel movements are normal. Fevers are the bodies natural defense mechanism against infection. Ideally, they should be allowed to run their course without medication. If the fever spikes or comes with seizures, vomiting or other nasty symptoms, you should get medical help immediately.

But what if your infant is just running a little hot and you want to keep it down without Tylenol? Here are some things you can try:

Put your baby in a lukewarm bath. During the winter, make sure the air temperature is at least 72 degrees so they don't get chilled coming out of the water

Dress your baby in a light layer of clothing. If they get too cold, add another layer and subtract layers to make them comfortable

Make sure they drink lots of fluids. If they don't want to drink, this could be a sign of something else, and you might want to call your doctor.

Give them a teething ring from the freezer. A fever can be caused by teething. A cool ring will help them feel more comfortable and ease their gums

How do you treat a fever naturally?

Parenting, Fever, Treat, Break, Temperature

Day 303 - Fun Games to Teach Your Baby About Color

2006-12-20T12:54:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Name and call out colors for your baby 24/7

As early on as 1 month old, your infant can tell the difference between colors. And since the world is filled with lots of different hues, its a very easy thing to teach your baby about the world around them.

Here are some fun activities you can try to teach your baby the difference between red and blue:

Play catch with different colored balls. Call out their colors as you roll them toward your infant

Play peek-a-boo behind different colored sheets. Say "Peek-a-boo purple!" when you pop out from behind it

Spend an afternoon watching cars go by and saying the color each time

Have a coloring session where you only use one color to make a picture

When you're reading picture books, be sure to say the color of the things you see too. It's not just a duck, its a yellow duck

At the grocery store, as you put different items in hold them in front of your baby and say the color first

What color games do you play with your baby?

Parenting, Color, Learning, Development

Day 302 - Recipe for Veggie-Eggs

2006-12-19T19:34:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Mix vegetables in with eggs for a high-protein, high -vitamin breakfast for your infant

Having trouble getting your infant to eat their vegetables? Try mixing them right in with some eggs and watch them gobble it right up.

Ingredients:
1 large egg
1 heaping tablespoon green beans
1 heaping tablespoon peas

Directions
1. Puree the vegetables with the egg
2. Scramble or fry the egg over medium high heat
3. Cut up into bite size pieces and let set for a few minutes to cool

Parenting, Eat, Egg, Food, Recipe, Vegetables

Day 301 - 4 Ways to Get Rid of Diaper Rash

2006-12-18T19:26:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Try a variety of solutions to stop diaper rash

It's that red rash on a baby's bottom and the scream they let out when you go to wipe them that makes diaper rash a lot less fun than a picnic for both you and the baby.

Diaper rash is caused by the skin down there being damp for a long period of time. The skin gets red, irritated and your baby won't be happy when you wipe them. To help get rid of diaper rash you can:

Let them crawl or walk around diaper free as much as possible let the air down there do it's work. Of course, if they have to go to the bathroom...

Use baby powder or talcum powder

Use a diaper cream like Boudreauxs Butt Paste

Change their diaper every hour, and once in the middle of the night. This will keep them from staying damp for a long period of time

How do you get rid of diaper rash? Comment away!

Parenting, Diaper, Rash, Prevent, Cure

Day 300 - Improve Baby's Right and Left Brain

2006-12-17T20:51:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Cross your baby's arms to improve cognitive development

This one comes from my mom, a preschool teacher. As a person responsible for getting young minds ready for school, she's got a whole repertoire of activities designed to help kids socialize, develop, etc.

One easy one she told me last weekend was how she and her teaching partner work in different activities where their kids are touching the right side of their body with their left hand and vice versa. It's supposed to increase the communication between left brain and right brain, which in turn helps reading.

She also said if we play games with out 11 month old son and we cross his arms over, it'll help him out with his early brain development.

Interesting...I wonder if it works on adults too...

Parenting, Brain, Reading, Development, Learning

Day 299 - How to Keep Your Baby Interested

2006-12-16T18:34:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Rotate the toys your baby plays with to keep them interested.

I knew my son was getting bored with the toys he was playing with when he'd refuse to pick them up and instead tried to play with the computer, push over the boxes holding our clothes (we're still moving), rip pages out of magazines and cause general mischief.

Then he got some new blocks and we uncovered some books he hasn't ever read. Now he couldn't care less about the other things and loves to dump the blocks out and wants to play with the books all the time.

Babies are like adults. They want variety and excitement in their life. By rotating the toys they play with, even if its the same five toys, you can keep their play fresh. And, as an extra bonus, it helps them grow and learn much better than if they played with one toy for a long while and never really gravitated towards something else.

So every few days or so, bring out something that your baby hasn't played with in a while. See if that cures some of their boredom.

Parenting, Toy, Play, Development, Boredom

Day 298 - Keeping the House Clean with an Active Baby

2006-12-15T10:28:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Do a daily "partial" cleanup

When you've got a baby, toys, a short attention span and the urge to move everywhere, your house can feel a lot like a plastic jungle with toys, tupperware, books and clothes all over the place.

One of my son's favorite activities is to carry stuff back and forth across the apartment. And since he's only interested in things for five minutes at a time, you can see how the mess could pile up quick.

If my wife and I tried to have everything in its place all the time, we'd go insane. So instead, we pick up his mess once a day when he goes to bed. And "putting something in its place" is a pretty loose interpretation too.

Instead of having things perfect, we'll stack all the books on the floor, put all the small toys in a box and the bigger ones arranged along a wall. Since our son is just going to get them out when he wakes up, there's no sense making everything perfect.

This way we don't spend a ton of time cleaning up and don't get overwhelmed when all our hard work gets erased the next day. And half the fun for our son right now is pulling everything out and discovering his toys all over again.

Parenting, Toy, Clean, Sanity, Mess

Day 297 - Brush Your Baby's Teeth in the Morning

2006-12-14T15:04:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Brush your baby's teeth in the morning

By now your baby should have a couple teeth all the way in, with more on the way. Hopefully you've made a dentist appointment around his 1-year birthday (I need to get on that), and you're brushing his teeth with a soft bristled brush at least once a day.

I was of the mindset that it needed to be done at night, but our son usually is pretty drowsy after he's had his final bottle before bedtime. All it did was wake him back up and made it harder for him to fall asleep.

So we tried brushing his teeth in the morning after he's had a little breakfast. He's in a much better mood than at night, and he loves to help out and gum the toothbrush. And it doesn't interfere with his nighttime routine.

So if you're having trouble working a brushing in at night time, try doing it when dawn breaks. It may be easier all around.

Parenting, Teeth, Brush, Dental, Care

Day 296 - Tag, You're It

2006-12-13T11:08:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Play tag with your baby

Looking for a fun game you can play just about anywhere with your baby? They'll usually love tag, or any type of game where you come to get them. My son likes to hide behind the bedroom door, peek around and then run away once he knows I've seen him.

Games like this are great for social and physical development, and they usually get a big laugh and smile too. The best games are often simple, easy and don't have too many rules.

A fun variation on tag is to put soft obstacles like pillows around the room, and then to chase each other around them. As an added bonus, make them colored pillows and call out the color as you go by them.

Parenting, Game, Tag, Fun, Development

Day 295 - Stock Up on Savings

2006-12-12T20:02:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Stock up on savings bonds

If family members or friends are looking for "the perfect gift" for your baby, turn them on to the idea of savings bonds for babies.

While not as fun as a giant plastic playhouse, a savings bond is a gift that your child will appreciate far more than a plastic toy they won't remember playing with. It sits in a safe place for 18 years, quietly doubling or tripling in value.

Then, when your child is ready for college or for his first big expense as an adult, those savings bonds will come in very handy to soften the financial blow.

And since you've got time on your side, getting a bond that will be worth around $1000 bucks after 18 years is a bargain at around $300-350 (assuming a 5-6% return).

Parenting, Savings, Bond, Investment, Gift

Day 294 - Traveling at Night

2006-12-11T19:53:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - If you've got a long drive with your baby, make it at night

Once your baby is moving around, they probably don't like to be restrained very much. So long car rides can quickly turn from a Sunday drive into a screaming drive.

If your baby gets antsy when they're in the car for long periods, try timing your trip to begin right when they go to bed. Take them through their normal bed time routine, but instead of laying them down in the crib, put them in the car seat and head out.

They should have no problem falling asleep, and will probably stay that way (our son does) until their normal wake up time.

Of course, if you have trouble staying awake at the wheel during the night, maybe it's a good idea to have a screaming child in the car to keep you alert.

Another strategy is to try and time the trip to begin right after they wake, have some food and get a diaper change. That way they're as happy as possible and can amuse themselves by looking out the window or playing with something in the backseat for a while.

Parenting, Travel, Fussy, Screaming, Sleep

Day 293 - Bundle Up

2006-12-10T14:26:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Cover up all exposed skin in the bitter cold

If anyone else lives in the Midwest, you know that right now we're in the midst of a ridiculously cold spell. It's so cold that my hair, still damp from the shower froze solid when I went outside.

This kind of weather is dangerous, not only for adults but especially for babies. Skin can dry out and crack, colds and pneumonia can strike and little extremities can get frostbit.

While overdressing your baby is a danger, it never hurts to be too careful when there's a wind chill of negative 20. Your baby shouldn't be outside longer than it takes to get to a car. Playing outside and going for walks are out of the question.

To keep your baby safe in the bitter cold:

Warm up the car before you head outside

Dress your baby in multiple layers of clothing, so you can peel off and add as needed

Make sure your baby is wearing a coat, hat, shoes and gloves if they have to go outside

Cover their face with a blanket when outside to protect their face and lips

Parenting, cold, frostbite, protection, warm

Day 292 - Write a Letter to Your Baby

2006-12-09T18:42:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Write a letter to your baby at least once a year.

Time seems to fly by very fast. You're probably taking lots of pictures, keeping your baby book meticulously up-to-date, etc.

As the years go on, this will probably subside. Not for lack of love, but just because all the new things that seem to come daily now will become more routine. How do you want to remember your child's life?

A great way to do this is write a yearly letter to your child. You know how some people send out Holiday cards with a summation of the family's year? This is essentially what you'll be doing for your baby.

When they're 18 and moving out of the house, you'll have a nice little chronology of their lives. It'll be fun to look back on everything that happened from birth to adulthood, and your child will probably love reading back on it and learning about what their life was like before they could remember.

Your yearly letter can include, but isn't limited to:

What they did that year

What happened in the world that year

Anything you feel about their past, present or future

Things that happened in your life

Heather over at Dooce writes a monthly letter to her daughter on her blog. This is a great option to because you can share it with family, and it might be more fun for you to keep up a blog for your baby. You can make it private too, so no one can see but you.

Parenting, Memory, Letter, Milestone, Child

Day 291 - Quick Reference

2006-12-08T11:57:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Create a quick reference card with all your baby's important numbers

If you've ever had a prescription denied at the pharmacy or had to fill out a form for daycare, you know how many random numbers you need to know regarding your baby. Between social security numbers, health insurance numbers, day care numbers, etc. It can be mind boggling.

To make things easier, take a 3 x 5 index card and write down all the important numbers. That way when you're at a new daycare and you need to fill out your pediatrician's phone number, your health insurance member number and your baby's social security number, you won't have to call your spouse or come back later.

This card should include:

Child's social security number. You may want to create a code for this, or leave it off. That way if someone finds the card or you lose it, you don't have to worry about identity theft.

Health, Dental and Vision insurance member numbers

Pediatrician's Phone Number and Address

Day Care Phone Number and Address

Parenting, Pediatrician, Reference, Note, Remember

Day 290 - Pack Pen and Paper to the Pediatrician. Whew.

2006-12-07T17:01:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Before you head out to the doctor, pack a pen and paper

Do you really want to forget the instructions your pediatrician gives you? Fixing it is easy, just take a pen and paper. Throw one in the diaper bag and keep it in there. There will be lots of times when you need to write down important pieces of information, not just at the doctors.

You can also jot down your questions for the doctor beforehand as well. So as you think of all the things you want to know in between well visits, you can create a running list of Q's you need the doctor to answer.

Then, when you're in their office, you've got your list and reference tool close by. It'll cut down on calls back to the nurse and your baby will be a whole lot better off with a medically informed parent.

Parenting, Pediatrician, Reference, Drug, Advice

Day 289 - Ready, Set Draw

2006-12-06T19:55:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Get out some non-toxic crayons and make some art

How early is too early to introduce your infant to crayons? I'd say go for it as soon as they learn how to manipulate object with their hands. (As in, everything doesn't immediately go for the mouth.)

Drawing is a great way for your infant to expand his creativity and connect his actions to an effect. Once he figures out that by putting crayon to paper he can make colors, look out!

Get some nice fat, non-toxic crayons that are easy to grab and play with. For the first few attempts, try cardboard instead of paper. It'll still take color, and it'll be less likely that your baby will get more interested in ripping what he's drawing on.

Help your baby draw his first few strokes. At first he won't know what's going on, but after a few tries (or sessions) he should get the idea. You could also try sitting across from him and drawing something too. Babies are suckers for imitation.

If your baby is old enough, have them proudly present their work of art to mom, dad or another family member. An appreciation for accomplishments and creativity will go a long way in boosting their self-esteem.

Parenting, Creativity, Drawing, Art, Crayon

Day 288 - Strangers

2006-12-05T19:52:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Teach your child to be smart about strangers

Everyone loves to make faces and talk to a new baby. My wife and I have had complete strangers (mostly well meaning grandma types) come up to us and fuss and try to hold our ten month old son.

This is mostly fine (as long as we get him back) but this raises an issue for later on. Does this teach our son that it's OK to go to strangers?

The blanket statement used to be "Don't talk to strangers." But it's not that simple. What if it's a family member they've never me or don't remember? What if there is an emergency and they need to be picked up by an unfamiliar face at daycare? What if there is a new daycare.

You can raise smart kids who know a helpful stranger from a harmful one. In general, you should teach your children to be wary of strangers by not talking to them and shouting for help if one does something they don't like.

To teach them what strangers are OK, use a simple hand sign. When you are with them, and they don't know if it's all right to talk to someone who is approaching them (like long-lost Aunt Sally), teach your children that you'll make a hand sign, like scratching the top of your head and then tugging your ear if the stranger is OK.

Likewise, tell them that anyone who tries to talk to them when you aren't there will give them the same sign, sort of like a secret code. That way they'll know you sent the person. And of course, its always OK to talk to policemen and firemen.

By doing this, you can use an unobtrusive, not embarrassing method to give the thumbs up for your child to talk. And both you and your child will feel safe when you can't be with each other.

Parenting, Stranger, Talk, Safety, Tip

Day 287 - Are Kids Welcome Here?

2006-12-04T19:42:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Don't be afraid to ask if you can bring your infant to an event

With wedding season getting ready to kick into full gear this spring and summer, you may be wondering whether or not it’s kosher to bring your little one along with you to events. How do you know if it's OK or not?

This isn't just restricted to weddings. My wife and I want to go to a friend's opening for her art show, but we aren't exactly sure if it's appropriate for children to be at those types of things.

As a parent, you have both sides of the story to consider. On one hand, you have your family, and you want to do lots of things together. And getting a sitter and arranging for a night out can be a hassle.

But you also need to understand that if you are going to someone else's event, it may not be appropriate to bring a small child. You wouldn't bring your infant to a bar, would you? I've been to more than one wedding where a talking/crying child seemed to pick the vows to pipe up.

Some people are perfectly fine with this and will be able to laugh at the moment. Some people want their day to go off without a hitch, and frankly, kids don't always stick to the plan.

A lot of times, it will say right on the invite whether or not children are welcome. If not, don't be embarrassed or think it's rude to ask if you can bring your kids. Make sure the person on the other end knows it’s OK for them to say no. And if you still feel weird about asking, try someone who is close to the host and can speak for them. They should be able to give you a good barometer for the host.

Parenting, Event, Friendly, Infant, Kid, Party, Wedding

Day 286 - Trick for Getting Your Baby to Eat

2006-12-03T15:24:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Feed your baby off your plate, or eat off theirs

Here's a quick tip if you're struggling to get your baby to eat food rather than play with it.

I've found our son sometimes doesn't want what's on his plate, but he'll scarf it down if he thinks it came from our plate. Or, he'll be more interested in what's for dinner right in front of him if he sees us eating it as well.

Try putting some of his food on your plate and eat a little bit of it. If he leans over or wants to grab at it, try feeding it to him. My wife had a salad and he ate nearly half of it.

Other times he thinks that fruit or cheerios are things to mash around and throw on the ground. If I start eating pieces off his highchair tray, he'll pick up a couple pieces and start eating. It only takes a few tastes of the things he likes to get him started, after that he's all about feeding himself.

Parenting, Food, Feeding, Difficulty, Eat,

Day 285 - Beat the Cold

2006-12-02T18:26:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Keep the baby's room around 70-72 degrees F

For those of us in the northern hemisphere, it's the middle of winter. That means biting cold, wind and perhaps the most discouraging of all - drafts.

No matter what you set the thermostat at, there always seem to be areas in the house or the apartment that are colder than others. If you've got a sleeping baby in the house, that could spell bad news. If the room the baby is sleeping in is cold, you'll have middle-of-the-night wake ups at best, hypothermia at worst.

Here's how you can keep your infant as comfortable as possible during winter.

Pick a room for the baby that has as few windows as possible

If the room has windows, cover them with heavy drapes or plastic

Use Styrofoam stuff window sills and drafty doors

Place the baby's crib as far from the window as possible

Put a space heater in the baby's room

Dress your infant in warm, full length pajamas

Use a crib pad to block any errant drafts

Keep the rest of your house around 70 degrees, even at night

Follow these tips and you'll be able to beat the best Jack Frost can throw at you.

Parenting, Winter, Cold, Temperature, Space, , Heater

Day 284 - Find Something Fun and Family Friendly

2006-12-01T09:16:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Find things to do near you at Parentography

The good folks at Lifehacker tipped me off to a new site for parents, Parentography.

The site is basically a way for parents to share information with each other about fun things to do in the area. Items like restaurants, attractions, activities, lodgings, parks, playgrounds and other family related activities.

All the reviews come from other parents, and the site is still in BETA right now, so things are pretty light. But as more and more people join, I can see this becoming a great tool when you're trying to plan some time out with the family.

I know whenever my wife and I want to go out to eat with the baby, its always a guessing game as to whether or not the restaurant has a family friendly atmosphere.

Another nice feature is the ability to create and view "excursions", which are combinations of family-fun activities that can range from a couple of hours to all-day trips.

This site will only be as good as the content people feed into it, so time will tell as to whether or not Parentography catches on. Things are also a little buggy right now, so I don't expect many people to latch on until they get the kinks worked out.

See the original post

Parenting, Resource, Activity, Restaurant, Review

Day 283 - How to Get Shoes On

2006-11-30T07:50:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Press down on the tops of your baby's foot to get them to flatten out their feet.

Infant's aren't exactly the most cooperative creatures when it comes to getting dressed. They're usually squirming all over the place and a fair about of "baby wrangling" is the norm for any trip out of the house, especially during the winter months.

Here's a trick my dad taught me for getting a baby to uncurl his toes while you're putting on shoes. Grasp their ankle so that your thumb rests on the top of their foot just below where it starts to run into their leg. Gently press down here, and their toes should uncurl.

This same trick can be applied to hands that are balled up into fists. If you gently press with your thumb on the back of their hand, you should see the fingers unfold.

Parenting, Clothes, Dress, Shoes

Day 282 - Lighten Up

2006-11-29T20:09:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Don't forget to have fun with your baby

The past few posts I've written have been advice geared towards doing the "right" thing with your baby. As my wife just pointed out to me, it makes it sound as if parenting is a no fun, do it by the book deal.

But of course it's not! There are tons of books, videos, blogs (this one included) that offer advice on what you should or shouldn't do for your baby. Don't get so caught up in it.

Throw out the rules every once and a while and just have fun with your baby. Today, I saw huge, tall hill with snow on it and no trees. My first thought was, "That's an awesome sledding hill." My second thought was "I want to take my son sledding."

Is sledding the safest activity in the world? No, probably not. You could argue that it's not safe for adults to do either. (When I was a kid we'd specifically sled down hills with trees on them. To an eleven-year-old, this was fun for some reason.) Will I take him?

Absolutely. I think he'd have a blast. We'll get him all bundled up, hop on the sled with him and take off down the hill. I'm confident enough in my sledding ability that I can stop us or bail out safely if we need to.

So take a moment, and do something fun with your baby today. Forget whether or not you're a good parent or not and just make them laugh.

Parenting, Fun, Laugh, Activity

Day 281 - Correct Pronunciation

2006-11-28T09:18:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Pronounce words correctly and praise your baby, even when he gets it wrong.

Our son is starting to learn his first words, between "uh-oh" and "da-da" you'd think there wasn't anything else to say. He can try other words, but he doesn't quite get them right. Things like a ball are "gall" and kitty ends up more like "tee-tee."

As parents and adults, I think the natural instinct is to say something like "No, it's ball." A better way to say it might be "That's right! It's a ball."

Your child's vocal chords and ability to make different noises is still in the early stages right now. By saying "no" to them, you're implying that they got something wrong in saying a ball was a "gall."

But in fact, he got it 100% right! He doesn't call anything else a "gall", and he always says it when he's bouncing it around. He understands the concept of a ball, but he just can't say the right word

By saying "That's right! It's a ball!" You're praising him for correctly identifying something, and at the same time correcting his pronunciation. As he learns how to make different noises, he'll start to make the correct sounds as you keep teaching him the "right" way to say things without confusing him and his ability to correctly identify concepts.

At the same time, you don't want to say "That's right! It's a 'gall'". This merely reinforces the incorrect pronunciation and you're essentially teaching him that the word for a spherical object is "gall".

Parenting, Development, Vocal, Language, Learning

Day 280 - Reading a book at their own pace

2006-11-27T14:16:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Let your baby read and explore his books at his own pace

As adults, our tendency is to read a book, left to right, beginning to end, cover to cover. Infants have no such tendencies. In fact, they no nothing about the "proper" way to read books.

But most adults (myself included) want to take over when babies want to skip ahead, close the book, or just merely turn the pages.

And at this point in their lives, that's more than fine. You should be letting them lead the reading if they want to, enthusiastically jumping around with them, discovering the different images and words of the book.

The most important benefits of reading at this age are the bonding that occurs between the two of you, the daily routine, the different words, images and sensations that come along with reading. The actual "reading", i.e. left to right, front page to back, etc. Are probably one of the least important aspects.

As your child gets older and his tastes get more sophisticated, he'll grow to love actual stories, one's that have beginnings, middles and endings. But until then, let your preconceptions go and rediscover books all over again with your baby.

Parenting, Reading, Learning, Development, Fun

Day 279 - Falling down is no big deal

2006-11-26T14:09:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Treat falling down like no big deal (unless they're really hurt)

Some babies handle adversity really well. They're the ones that are always into everything, constantly getting knocked in the head and falling over themselves as they tear around with their new found motions. Some start wailing at the smallest little things.

When your baby starts to walk, the latter kind of baby can be even more frustrating to handle. Every time they fall, even if it's three inches onto their butt, you'll need to pick them up to console them. To a certain degree, some parents cultivate this behavior by making a huge deal out of the slightest little thing.

Sometimes, the baby isn't hurt, they start crying because it seems to be expected of them and the parents are making a big fuss out of something small.

If you think you fall into that category, try making the harmless falls and slight knocks into something fun. Saying "Uh-oh!" and raising your hands as if to say "What happened?" should become your replacement reaction.

After a while, they'll start to imitate you! Our son cried when he dropped something and couldn't get it back, but we adopted the "Uh-oh!" tactic and now he says it all the time! When he falls down, drops something and even a few times when he's just saying it for fun.

Parenting, Behavior, Fall, Down, Cry

Day 278 - Getting Through Shopping

2006-11-25T20:52:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Let your infant pick out something to hang onto when he first gets to the store

If it hasn't happened to you already, it will. The screaming, wailing child at the grocery store. You'll have a full shopping cart and you'll be in the middle of the line when it hits.

What can you do to mitigate tantrums? Something you can try is to let your infant or toddler pick out something they want when you first get to the store. It should be something small and cheap, if you'll be doing this regularly. For instance, my son (who is 11 months old and frankly is very easy to please) was fussy until we let him grab an orange of the fruit stand at Trader Joe's.

That orange was his best friend all the way until halfway home when he dropped it sitting in his car seat. This may not work for all kids, but it's something to try.

By giving them a tangible reward at the beginning of the trip, you're making the prospect of a reward more real than just saying "If you're good, you can have a treat at the end." Without that treat in hand, children are more likely to act on impulse when they see something they want.

By having something already, it forces them to choose. "I've got this thing I want already, is it worth giving it up for that other thing I probably won't get?" You'll also teach patience and the ability to connect their good behavior with a good result. (Because it's in their hand constantly).

The downside to this is every time you go in the store, you'll have to get them something. After all consistency is key. That's why, if you try it, make the payoff a small treat like a piece of gum or even a healthy snack you bring in from the car.

Parenting, Behavior, Discipline, Tantrum, Prevent

Day 277 - Heartburn

2006-11-24T19:57:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - If your baby has some food that disagrees with him, a drink of formula or breast milk should do the trick

Tonight we had our son try pickles and a little bit of mustard with some turkey, bread and cheese, almost like he was having his own little sandwich. He loved most of it and gobbled it down.

Then about an hour after he went to bed, he woke up screaming and we couldn't console him at all. His abdomen felt firmer than usual and we were getting worried. So while I furiously looked up symptoms on the internet while my wife played with him and his toys (that seemed to calm him down), the symptoms he was having indicated that he was either colicky, constipated or had heartburn. (Hard abdomen, discomfort, no fever, no sharp pains or hurt when we pressed gently on his belly).

Since he's probably too old for colic and his bowel movements are disgustingly normal, we decided to try the remedy for heartburn that doesn't involve milk of magnesia - a drink of milk.

He sucked a few ounces down and seemed to feel a lot better after a couple of good burps too. He needed some cuddling to go to sleep, but as of an hour later, he's still sound asleep. I'll post updates as the situation progresses.

Parenting, Heartburn, Remedy, Treat, Symptoms

Day 276 - The Flu

2006-11-23T18:55:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - If your baby is between 6 - 59 months, get them a flu shot

It's the midst of flu season, and you're wondering if it's necessary to have your infant immunized against the flu. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the CDC say that children 6 - 59 months.

Children with diseases like kidney disease, diabetes, or asthma should get the shot, because influenza could lead to complications in high-risk situations like these. If your infant lives with someone who is over 65, you should also want to give them a flu shot to protect the older family member should your infant come down with it.

The flu shot can reduce the chances of getting the flu by 80%, and if your infant is getting it for the first time, they will get two shots, a month apart, probably in the upper thigh.

If your infant does come down with the flu, here's how you'll know:

Fever
Chills
Headache
Muscle aches
Dizziness
Loss of appetite
Tiredness
Cough
Sore throat
Runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Weakness
Ear infection
Diarrhea
Infants with the flu may simply seem sick all of a sudden or "just don't look right

If you think your infant does have the flu, take them to the pediatrician, because flu in infants can be serious. At home, you can help the symptoms by:

Drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration
Get plenty of rest
Take baby tylenol to relieve fever and aches (but do not give aspirin unless your doctor instructs you to do so)
Dress your infant in layers, they can become very hot or very cold quickly. This way you can dress or undress easily

The flu should be gone in a week or two after it runs the course naturally.

Reference link - Kids Health

Parenting, Health, Influenza, Flu, Sick, Vaccine

Day 275 - Shoeless

2006-11-22T20:34:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Take shoes off your baby while they are learning to walk.

Baby shoes could possibly be everyone's favorite part of a baby's outfit. Everyone oohs and ahhs over how small they are, how feet could possibly be so tiny, etc. etc.

But putting shoes on your baby while they're learning to walk can make it harder for them to get the hang of taking steps.

Usually, shoes have rubber soles that have no slip or give. That means that an unstable baby who may be shuffling his feet or sliding them around won't have that necessary give he needs to stay up. And that means he's going to bite the dust.

Shoes can also be big and clunky on your baby's feet, making it easier for them to trip themselves up.

So if your infant is walking around inside or doesn't need to be wearing shoes for appearances, make sure you take them off as often as possible. An alternative would be to opt for shoes with a leather sole, so they've got a little slip to them and won't trip up your baby.

Parenting, Shoes, Walk, Development, Learn

Day 274 - Say No to Soda

2006-11-21T20:58:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Don't give your infant soda for the first two years of their life

This tip seems pretty obvious to me, and hopefully to a lot of other parents. But I saw someone driving with their infant, couldn't have been more than a year old, and they were sucking down a bottle of Faygo orange pop in the rear-facing baby seat of their old Toyota Camry.

Call me a stickler, but I think you should teach a child how to eat right before they learn to eat wrong. And sugary, caffeinated and carbonated drinks don't figure into that mix.

The nutritional value is nil. The effects of being addicted to caffeine are real. And the weight gain throughout their childhood years can be real too.

The best way to make it easy to say no to soda? Lead by example. Don't drink it in front of your kids, and don't keep it in the house. The less access they have to it and the less they see you, the number one person they learn from drinking it, the better.

Providing lots of healthy alternatives like juice, water, milk, etc. is key too. A cold soda every now and again is fine, you don't have to be a warden, but be reasonable. And if their too young to remember kicking back a cold coke with their dad on a hot summer's day, then there's really not point in giving it to them.

Parenting, Soda, Pop, OK, Nutrition, Health

Day 273 - Recipe for Biter Biscuits

2006-11-20T20:31:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Make your own biter biscuits with fruit and vegetables rather than buying them at the store.

Have you seen biter biscuits at the store? They're hard biscuits that gradually dissolve away as your baby gnaws on them. They help them learn to chew and can help with teething to.

The trouble is, they're a mess. And my wife and I were looking for a way to incorporate fruits and vegetables into everything we make for our son because he's picky about eating them.

Lucky for me, my wife's creative in the kitchen and whipped up a recipe for homemade biter biscuits that's super easy and healthy.

Sandi's Better Biscuits

Ingredients:

1/3 cup mixed vegetables

1/3 cup banana

3 medium strawberries

1 egg - white only

3 tsp. brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 tbsp. oil

1/4 cup milk

1 tbsp. oatmeal

1 cup flour

1 tbsp. wheat germ

Mixing instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit/180 Celsius

Puree vegetables, banana and strawberries

Mix the puree, egg, vanilla, oil and milk in a medium bowl

Add the brown sugar, oatmeal, flour and wheat germ
Mix until you have a stiff dough

Roll out into a thin sheet and cut pieces about an inch wide

Bake for 15 minutes on an ungreased cookie sheet

The recipe makes about 2 baker's dozens. Our son loved his!

Parenting, Vegetable, Fruit, Biter, Biscuit, Recipe

Day 272 - Fruit and Vegetable Juice

2006-11-19T20:10:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Only give your child 100% fruit or vegetable juice, but don't give it as a substitute for the real thing.

Hopefully you've introduced a cup to your baby already, and he's well on his way to drinking out of it on his own. Now the question is, can you or can you not give your baby juice?

The debate of should or should not is as volatile as the debate between formula and breastfeeding. It seems to change with whatever society's prevailing winds are.

What does that mean? It's more or less up to you and what you think is right for your baby, under a few conditions.

Only give 100% fruit or vegetable juice

Dilute juice at least 1:1 with water

Don't use juice as a substitute for the denser nutrients of real fruit and veggies

Limit diluted juice consumption to less than 8 oz per day, more can cause diarrhea

Sometimes when you've got a fussy eater, they'll be more apt to drink juice. The way I see it, now my son is still getting a taste of the fruits and veggies he needs and some of the nutrients if he's being picky and not touching his carrots or apples.

Again, juice shouldn't replace real fruits, veggies, breastmilk or formula you feed your infant.

Parenting, Vegetable, Fruit, Juice, Drink, Nutrition

Day 271 - Fun, Educational Bath Toy

2006-11-18T19:34:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Check out foam letters and numbers from Little Tikes to make bath time fun and educational

Soon after my son grew out of taking baths on his back and really started playing, we realized we didn't have any tub toys for him to have fun with! We had a rubber duck and a washcloth, which was pretty much the extent of his entertainment.

So we went to the store and found Foam Letters and Numbers from Little Tikes. Our son LOVES them. They stick up on the wall and they're really big so he can grab onto them, throw them around and splash in the bath.

He even likes playing with them out of the bath too. We keep them in a big bucket in the bathroom and when he gets in there those are the first things he goes for. They'll be a great toy as he gets older and starts to learn letters, numbers and words. It's very easy to slap letters on the tub and make him laugh just by spelling a word.

Their site says these letters are for ages three and up, but they seem big and sturdy enough. Definitely keep an eye on your baby, and if you're not comfortable with him having a toy designated for years 3 and up, then give him a year or two and let the fun begin.

Parenting, Activity, Bath, Toy, Play, Fun

Day 270 - Play with Baby Toys

2006-11-17T17:12:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Play with your baby's toys so they can imitate you

There is a lot to be said for exploratory, solo play for infants. It helps them learn to do things on their own, entertain themselves and develop independence. Equally important is social play with not only other kids, but with you too.

You're going to have to get right in there with them. There are some great toys out there, but your baby isn't going to know exactly what to do. If you play with them every day, you'll find they quickly get "better" at playing with toys.

For instance, my son got a set of stacking cups for christmas. Set them in front of him, and he might knock over one or two, but then he's done. So I build a big tower out of them. He'll crawl across the room just to knock it over. Next thing I know, he's taking the cups apart and putting them back together. He knows small goes into big, and he still loves knocking over what I build.

The important thing is that while you can lead a bit, you can't force it. If your baby isn't interested or wants something else, follow their lead. But if you play right along with your baby, they'll quickly learn lots of things, and this is a good habit to carry forward as they get older too. Play games with them. Take an interest in what they're doing. You'll have a better relationship with them in general.

Parenting, Baby, Activity, Toy, Play, Fun

Day 269 - Keep a Log

2006-11-16T19:20:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Keep track of minor preferences and events in your baby's day-to-day, they could be significant.

There are so many different things to keep track of in your head when you're raising a baby, schedules, food preferences, medicine, doctor visits, day care, etc. And it only seems to get more complicated.

If you're looking for some order, or are wondering if there's a pattern to your baby's behavior, you might want to keep a little log of it. It doesn't have to be anything complex, just a little notebook and a pen. Write a short note with a date and time on it, and it's probably a good idea to keep the things you're tracking separate. i.e. All the notes about food preferences are together, all the notes about medicine together.

My wife and I just started our son at a home day care, and he came home today with a rug burn on his chin. The woman running the day care didn't mention it until we asked, and she said she didn't see it happen or hear him cry.

It could all be on the up-and-up, but we just want to make sure there's not a harmful pattern in this new environment. A rug burn here or a bump there isn't a big deal by themselves, but if we notice lots of them over time there's probably something going on.

That's what we plan on using it for. What are you going to track?

Parenting, Track, Activity, Food, Preferences, Organize

Day 268 - How to Treat a Rug Burn

2006-11-15T19:05:00.000-08:00

Today's first time parenting tip - Keep a rug burn dry, clean and give it air to speed healing

Your baby's been crawling around for hours without pants. He's been climbing up and down carpeted stairs with grandpa. Your other kids dragged your young one across some carpet while they were playing.

You pick them up and yipes! they've got rug burns. What do you do?

Rug burns are minor, of the first degree variety. The best thing you can do for a rug burn, or any 1st degree burn, is the following:

Cool it - Rinse the area with cool water for five minutes

Dry it - Gently pat the area dry with a piece of gauze or cotton

Watch it - Keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't blister or get worse.

Try to keep the burned area from getting rubbed or touched - all it will do is agitate

Baby or children's pain reliever may be appropriate if there is pain.

Creams, butter, grease or powder should NOT be used on the burn. Instead, aloe vera lotion is perfectly appropriate.

Parenting, Rug, Burn, First, Aid, Degree