Category: Parenting and Childcare

Bringing up a child as a parent and taking care of them.
Handling day to day changes in a child’s behaviour

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Parenting and Childcare Travel

Sleeping Arrangements When Travelling with Twins

Are you a parent of twins and ruminating how you will manage globetrotting along with them? There are a lot of you who avoid hasty and long-distance travel just because your child twins are not used to it. Or, is too notorious and picky while sleeping. There might arise a few scenarios where you cannot avoid travelling. For instance, your better half might be serving in the army or a government post where transfers are frequent. There are a few tips for you while travelling with your twins hassle-free. Let us have a look at some of the most effective ones.

By using an Inflatable Air Mattress

This is an effective way to accommodate the twins while you are on the go. There are loads of blow-up mattresses available online on Amazon and a few other e-commerce websites where you can find comfy inflatable mattresses. These are pretty lightweight to carry anywhere and you can easily roll them up when not required. However, you must be skilled at training your twins beforehand for sleeping in these mattresses at home. They could find it tough to adjust to this in one go. Hence, if you are intending to use this during travelling, you must train your fussy toddlers beforehand. See how well they can adjust to this.

By using cribs

If the cribs are comfortable enough for your twins to fit in and have a sound sleep, this is a pretty effective way for you. Several toddlers have slept in these cribs for years. As a result, they want to fit inside as long as their size permits, regardless of their age. If the twins sleep well in it, you may carry it. However, you might find it bulky.

The one twin per parent formula

You might want to see if each of your two toddlers prefers to sleep with either of you. You can try this out for a considerable time at home before attempting it first up on the go.
You will be overwhelmed if they prefer this kind of sleeping method. This will save your money in buying different sleeping stuff for them as well as the time when you make beds for them. Also, the children who sleep with their parents up to an age share a better camaraderie with them. This is scientifically proven in many kinds of research.

By using fold-able tents

There are a few flexible and foldable tents available online which work well for your child. However, you must carry their favourite blankets along with this, lest they will find it a bit tough to adjust. There are tents which come pre-built with flashlights as well. This makes it an exciting option for you.
There are loads of options available in the market. You have to figure out what works best for your child. The most comfortable of options for a particular child might not work for the other. See what best fits your case.

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Parenting and Childcare

How to Deal with Saying ‘No’ to Your Child

Are you caught in a dilemma if you want to refuse your child anything or not? Do you fear that your child will retaliate aggressively after you say no to them? Will you mind succumbing to every demand he/she makes?

You are at the right place to deal with these complex problems effectively. Today, we are going to have a detailed look into the most effective means of saying no to them.

Some tips on saying no to your child

Here are some of the most remarkable yet simplest techniques to try for parents.

Substituting ‘No’ with some other phrases

According to research, children tend to retaliate if you say no to them very often. This word has a psychological impact on their brains in the long run. Hence, you can subtly replace no with phrases that suit the situation. Ensure that your child understands the message you are trying to convey. Also, the subtle phrase must have an equivalent impact on your child. For example- If your child eats too much chocolate ice-cream, do not say no directly. You can tell them that your teeth will get rotten. Instil a sense of fear that will prevent them from repeating this.

Let them have other options to choose

Your child does not want to be restricted a lot. They enjoy their freedom and their growth thrives when you provide them with this freedom. Hence, the next time you intend to say no to them, have an alternative ready in your mind.

For example- Let your child be adamant on having their favourite foods in unfavourable circumstances. Give them an option to eat the same foods which are home-made. This will ensure that the nutrition value is intact. Therefore, your child will not develop the habit of eating out a lot.

Assent with their demands putting certain conditions

The next time your child is too adamant on having something, you can simply tell them that they have your assent. However, this must come with a condition that they must fulfil before they get what they want.

For example- You can agree to buy their favourite superhero toy set. But, they must secure certain threshold marks and behave like a good child. This will help them understand their priorities well as they grow up.

Logical reasoning

This is one of the most effective tools to substitute the no with a better alternative. If your child wants to have a Dairy Milk chocolate before lunch, tell them that their stomach would fill up.

Also, tell them that you will not become healthy if you do not eat this. Let them picturise the repercussions of their demands before they agree with whatever you say. This will prove to be a very effective tool provided that you use it wisely.

Playful acts to divert their attention

Does it happen that your child wants to use your brand-new iPhone? You can playfully divert their attention to some activities that will make them forget about it. You can opt to indulge them in their favourite toys without saying no in this regard. 

These tips will surely help you in dealing with these situations. We hope you liked reading this article. Thank you!

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Parenting and Childcare

What Parents Can Do About Their Children Lying

Have you ever ruminated why your child lied about anything to you? Analogous to most other parents, does this continue bothering you a lot? Well, you just landed up at the perfect place to know what you can do about it by handling it properly. According to several kinds of research, children tend to commence lying at a tender age of around three. However, this trait peaks at an age ranging from six to ten. Your child might lie to you in order to accomplish a task, maybe he/she is an attention seeker, to observe your response and actions or some other reasons as well. Today, we are going to have a look at how parents can deal with this effectively.

Dealing with children who lie

Here are a few things that you can try in order to solve this issue-

Focus on the solution rather than yelling

Often, parents tend to do this mistake of yelling a lot at their that they get encouraged to do this stuff again and again. As a repercussion, parents fail to focus on the solution of the problem and rather tend to vent out their unnecessary emotions on their children. Try to stay as calm as possible and ensure that your child follows the solution that you have provided. Also, ensure that the child knows the consequences he/she will have to face if they fail to co-operate. 

The role model theory

You must be a good role model for your child in terms of speaking the truth at all times. This is because children tend to follow their parents a lot while growing up. If your child catches you speaking lies, he/she is bound to repeat that no matter what.

Help your child in identifying the perils of speaking lies. You can connect the dots with some favourite fictional character of your child. For example- If your child loves Iron Man, convince him/her that he is a superhero only because he speaks the truth and if you do not follow him, you will be treated like a villain in everybody’s eyes. Children tend to emulate their favourite characters. Use this to your advantage.

Reward honesty

Help your child earn some rewards each time they speak the truth. For example- It can be a penny dropped into their piggy boxes or a favourite toffy which they earn after collecting a number of truths.

You can also lure by saying that if you exceed let us say 1000 truths, we will buy you your favourite toy. But you must not lie otherwise there will be consequences that are pre-decided by you. Let your child understand the importance of honesty.

Engage your child in social activities

Many researchers observe that fussy toddlers lie just because they want some attention or are apparently low in self-esteem. They just want you to focus on them. If this is the case, be a keen observer and engage them in activities where they make a lot of new friends boosting their self-esteem and confidence. Also, by observing many strangers speaking the truth, they will want to follow them and garner more attention. 

These are a few points you must keep in your mind while dealing with these things. Surely, you will see the change after some time. Good luck parents!

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Parenting and Childcare

What You Say Might Affect Your Child’s Temperament

Does your child defy the majority of your orders, as you continue to ruminate why he/she does it? You ought to revisit how your tone and language was when you talked to your child. Yes, this might seem like a petty thing, but fixing it might bore the fruits you were yearning for. According to multiple studies, even a slight error on the parents’ part while talking to their children affects the child psychologically, emotionally, mentally and physically to a large extent. Let us have a detailed look and delve deeper into this topic.

The Psychological Effect

Reminisce the yelling tone of yours while talking to your child? That affects him/her to a great extent. If you curb their freedom for petty reasons without understanding them properly, it will affect them psychologically both in the short and long run. If not dealt with properly, the child will have a timid response and often grow up as someone who either becomes an outrageous rebel or submissive. On the other hand, a softer tone while understanding the child’s behaviour will help them obey you while their freedom is preserved. They will share great camaraderie with you as well.

Emotional Effect

If you constantly yell at your child, whether it is necessary or not, you are in for some trouble when they grow up. Their emotional quotient might show it as well and outsiders might even take unprecedented advantage of them when they grow up to be adults. Also, such children will not respect you surely and if this continues in their teenage, they might suffer from anxiety and depression. All they want is their parents to understand them without any judgement. Try this – Talk to them in a softer tone and see them grow emotionally at an unprecedented rate. They will understand you and themselves better too.

Insecurity

If you as a parent continuously keep torturing your child, he/she will be bound to feel insecure around you. As they grow up, they will keep secrets from you and let themselves suffer from things that they normally should tell you. However, your behaviour and language make them think that you are of little help to them. This insecurity translates into rebellion, a lack of attachment, lack of respect and very little camaraderie with you. On the other hand, if you make them feel secure by the way you talk with them, they will consider you as a pal from school or college and speak their heart out to you. This will ensure that they share great chemistry with you and be the bulwark of your relationship.

Attitude

Children whose parents constantly yell at them or talk in a way that displeasures them often end up having a pessimistic outlook about life. They develop a rebellious attitude and want to defy all the curbs that people intend to put on them. They tend to undervalue qualities such as care and affection that people show for them. 

Physical Effect

Your bad behaviour towards your child while talking to them can translate to perilous physical effects on them such as constant headaches, body weakness, dizziness and a few others. There is no way that they can sustain physical strength and endurance if they are mentally ill in any way. This also affects their performance in academics and co-curricular activities that are a vital cog for their overall growth. The ball is in your court as a parent. 

A sense of fear

Children who have experienced constant mental torture from their parents tend to develop fear even for the simplest of situations. They fail to deal with it effectively and it results in long-lasting repercussions making their lives tougher.

Hence, it is important that parents learn how to talk to their children, lest it will have major harmful effects on them. 

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Awareness Parenting and Childcare

Child Safety: Identifying the Common Signs of Sexual Abuse

Signs of child sexual abuse could be emotional and/or physical, with physical symptoms being less common. Emotional signs can vary from “too ideal” behaviour to depression, withdrawal, or unexplained anger. It is vital to remember that some children may show no signs at all. There are also red flag behaviours you can recognize if you know what to look for to assist intervene in the grooming process.

Emotional Signs

Emotional and behavioural changes or signs are more common than physical signs and can include:

  • Depression and anxiety
  • Change in eating habits
  • Sleep disturbances, including night terrors or nightmares
  • Unusual fear of certain places or people; unwillingness to be unaccompanied with a certain person
  • Withdrawal; runaway behaviour
  • Changes in mood include aggressiveness towards pets, parents, friends, siblings, and anger
  • Frequent unexplained or health problems such as stomach aches or headaches
  • Alteration in attitude towards academic or school performance; no interest in sports, friends or other activities
  • Poor confidence; avoidance of relations
  • Self-mutilation or change in body discernment, such as thinking of body or self as bad or dirty; suicidal thoughts
  • Unusual behaviours, for instance, thumb-sucking or bedwetting
  • Abnormal knowledge or sexual behaviours of advanced sexual behaviours and language
  • Too “ideal” behaviour or overly compliant behaviour
Physical Signs of Abuse

The physical signs of sexual abuse are not usual. But, when physical signs are present, they might include bumps, bleeding, bruising and redness, or scabs around the mouth, anus, or genital. Sexually transmitted diseases, urinary tract infections, and penile discharge or abnormal vaginal discharge are also warning signs.

Other indirect physical signs comprise:

  • Headaches
  • Wetting or soiling accidents unrelated to toilet training
  • Chronic stomach pain
  • Chronic or relentless pain during stool movements or while passing urine
  • Sexually transmitted diseases
Symptoms that a person may be harming a child

Keeping children safe can be as hard as numerous perpetrators who abuse children sexually are in positions of trust. Keeping a kid away from the perpetrator may indicate major changes in your own life.

Be cautious of an adult who spends time with kids and exhibits the following behaviours:

  • Does not admire boundaries or listen when anyone tells them “no”
  • Engages in touching a child inappropriately
  • Tries to be a kid’s buddy instead of filling an adult role in the child’s life
  • Does not seem to have age-appropriate relation
  • Discusses with children about their relationships or personal problems
  • Spends time alone with children outside of their role in the child’s life or makes up justifications to be alone with the kid
  • Expresses bizarre curiosity in the sexual development of the child, such as sexualizing normal behaviours or commenting on sexual uniqueness
  • Offers gifts to the kid without reason or occasion
  • Spends a lot of time with your kid
Taking action is not easy, but it is vital

It is not always easy to recognize child sexual abuse—and it can be even more demanding to step in if you believe something is not right. If a child informs you that a particular person makes them feel embarrassing, even if they cannot tell you everything, pay attention.

Consult with somebody who can assist you find out if this is something that must be reported, such as a staff member from your local sexual assault service provider.

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Health Parenting and Childcare Sleeping Habits

Soothing Activities to Help Your Baby Sleep

Some babies sleep much more whilst a few sleep pretty less. For instance, a few sleep through the night and some do not, for a long time. Your little one will have their pattern of sleeping and waking, and it is not likely to be similar to other kids you know. It is not going to fit in with your necessity for sleep. Try to sleep when your baby sleeps. If you are breastfeeding, in the initial weeks your little one is likely to sleep off for short periods during a feed. Continue feeding until you think your baby has completed or until they are completely asleep. This is a perfect opportunity to get a bit of rest yourself.

Soothing activities to help your baby sleep.

Teach your infant that night-time is different from daytime. During the day, play games, open curtains and do not worry too much about daily noises when they sleep.

At night, look out for tired signs and put your baby to bed as soon as they have been fed. You might also find it useful to not talk much and keep your voice low. Keep the dim lights on and do not play with your baby

Babies will show signs when they are getting tired such as frowning, yawning, grimacing, sucking, grizzling, staring, jerky movements, snuggling in, becoming overactive, rubbing eyes, clenching fists, crying or fussiness. Replying early to these tired signs stops your baby from becoming distressed and makes it easier for them to sleep.

Set-up schedule with a newborn

Newborn babies will sleep on and off all through the day and night. It could be useful to have a pattern, but you can always alter the routine to suit your requirements. For instance, you can try feeding your baby just before you go to sleep so that he/she can get sleep for longer hours.

Know how to settle your babies

In the initial six months, you can hold your newborn in your arms till they fall asleep. Utilize mild rocking, rhythmic patting, talking, stroking, or singing softly before placing your baby into the cot. These reiterations signal recreation and sleep.

You can also try placing the baby in the cot awake but drowsy and calm and gently stroke or pat them till they fall asleep, comforting them with mild sounds. If your baby becomes distressed, lift them for a cuddle until quiet or asleep before putting your baby back in the cot. Stay with them till they doze off.

Preparing a bedtime schedule

You might be prepared to start a bedtime schedule when your baby is approximately three months age. Getting them into a soothing, simple bedtime schedule can be useful for everyone and can assist to stop sleeping problems afterwards. Here are some things to try.

  • Changing into nightclothes and a fresh nappy
  • Reading a bedtime story
  • A warm bath before bedtime
  • Putting them to bed
  • Singing a lullaby or having a wind-up musical mobile that you can turn on when you have put your baby to bed
  • Dimming the lights in the room to create a tranquil atmosphere
  • Giving them a cuddle and goodnight kiss

As your child grows older, it can be useful to keep to a similar bedtime habit. Excessive stimulation and excitement just before bedtime can awaken your baby up again. Use some time relaxing and doing some quieter things, such as reading.

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Parenting and Childcare Travel

Tips on How to Manage Jet Lag in Kids

Nothing can be compared to the bad jetlag suffered by kids, from not being able to sleep throughout the night to being ill-tempered and losing their hunger. As adults, we adjust and discover a way to beat it, but small children who follow routines find it very difficult to come around.

Typically parents suffer for days trying to get them back into bed at the right hour. Jet lag is a physical condition in which a person’s internal body clock is interrupted because of travelling among time zones. Jet lag influences patterns of eating, waking up and sleeping.

Here are some tips that you can refer to when managing jet lag in kids:

Think about the age of your child

According to doctors, jet lag may not affect kids from all age groups. Infants who are in the age group of 0 to 2 months have not yet started a diurnal cycle, so jet lag would possibly not influence them. For kids in the age group of 2 to 5 years, time-zone varies begin to cause deterioration. Infants who have learned to sleep through the night already may have more night wakening. Older kids will possibly respond likewise to adults physically but maybe less driven than adults to stay wakeful in attempts to adjust to the schedule.

Prepare kids

Teach kids old enough to be aware of time changes and the consequences of jet lag, and what they can expect to witness. In the days before a trip, parents should make it real for the children by saying things like, “Now we are eating lunch, but at this time in that country, they are getting ready for bed.” Besides, make sure that the kids get ample sleep before departure. Moreover, it is important to keep kids hydrated and this can be done by asking them to drink lots of water before, during and after the flight.

Select the flight carefully

Choose on a flight that will assist the parent to manage the kid’s probable time-regulation issues in the best way possible. Few experienced parents say that it is better to take a flight that leaves evening or late afternoon, as it makes it simpler to rest during the air travel. If it is nighttime, you will have an easier time convincing your kid that it is bedtime.

Get Cozy

Bring travel pillows and cozy blankets to make it simple for kids to get some sleep on the plane. At the same time, do not feel frustrated if no one sleeps much. Do not force the kids to sleep on the plane as it is going to be hard. There are too much thrill and adrenaline on the tour, and the lights are on late.

Make your mind up if a Time Change is Worth it

Think whether it is worth changing your crew over to local time. If you are only spending a few days in a diverse time zone, it may just be simple to keep your kids in your home time zone. Any person staying at their destination for less than a week should not force the practice on the children. Remember that it is an extra effort to work hard on eliminating the jet lag when the habit will be changed again in less than a week.

Jet lag is a strong possibility when traveling through time zones with a kid. Expectation, flexibility, and communication among all players are key to managing the trouble of grumpy kids.

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Travel

Secrets of Easy Air Travel with a Baby

Air travel with a baby can be very stressful if you have not planned well for the trip. You probably have a checklist of what kind of clothes and essentials you should carry according to the baby’s age and needs. But here are other secrets that will make air travel with a baby easier for you.

Saving Travel Time

  • To save time, book your flights as follows:
  • Choose direct flights as far as possible.
  • If you need to change flights, try to use the same airline for the connecting flight so that check-in luggage is carried forward automatically.
  • Opt for online flight check-in and print out the boarding passes in advance.

Ensure that there is a layover of at least 3-4 hours so you can go across the airport at a leisurely pace. This will give some time to your delightful toddler to run around and play for a while before boarding. Hopefully, your little one will start feeling tired and sleep through the flight.

Potty Breaks

About 15-20 minutes before boarding, change your baby’s diaper. Your child might not feel comfortable in the tiny airplane lavatory. So, it makes perfect sense to take a short potty break before boarding time.

Elder Kid Arrangements

If you have an elder kid, book a separate seat for him. He will probably be restless and need plenty of space. Airplane travel for toddlers is not easy. Sitting in a cramped space with two kids is a recipe for disaster!

Low Price Alerts

Airfares are expensive, so it is economical to register on www.skyscanner.co.in to get notifications when prices of specific flights drop. With this tool, you can pre-set an alert for low price options to a particular destination. By booking when the prices are low, you can afford to buy a separate seat for the elder kid(s) so that everyone is comfortable.

Gate Checking baby gear

At the time of boarding, gate-check your baby’s stroller and other gear. Attach tags to each item. Leave the air travel accessories for your toddler at the bottom of the jet-way. The airplane staff will ensure that they are on board. Pick them up again once the flight has landed. Although one can rent baby gear at the destination, taking your own set of baby items is always preferable. Your child is familiar with his gear and is usually willing to sit peacefully in his car seat.

The Pacifier Effect

During flights, we often chew gum or sweets once the flight is airborne. At the same time, give your baby his pacifier. Chewing on the soother keeps his ears from popping and he is comfortable during take-off and throughout the flight. Carry a couple of spare soothers in the baby bag (cabin luggage).

Try these tricks and you will see that air travel with a baby is not so horrifying! In fact, it will motivate you to travel often and enjoy frequent breaks. These air travel tips with a baby will surely make your next trip easier and stress-free.