Children brought up without good dental habits are often subject to frequent visits to their dentist later in life, whether it is for extra teeth whitening or other forms of cosmetic dentistry. Some children never visit a dentist until they reach school age, while others spend their entire childhood never stepping foot inside a dentist’s office.

Each of my children had their first visit to the dentist within a few weeks of cutting their first tooth. Dentists agree that around six months of age is a good time to schedule the first visit. Children who visit the dentist from an early age have fewer problems visiting the dentist later in life, especially if they’re required to undergo forms of cosmetic dentistry, like orthodontics to fix crooked teeth.

Here are 7 things you can do to promote good dental hygiene for your own family members:

1. Dental hygiene begins when the first tooth is cut, and parents can promote good dental hygiene by letting children chew on soft, clean teething toys. Parents can also wipe their children’s teeth with a soft cloth, and begin using a child-sized toothbrush once the molars cut through.
2. Brush your teeth together. When children see their parents enjoying the act of brushing their teeth, they will learn to enjoy it as well. Be sure to talk about how good it feels to have a clean mouth and how fresh-smelling it leaves their breath after.
3. Monitor toothpaste use because using too much toothpaste can be as bad as using too little, especially if the toothpaste is fortified with extra fluoride. Fluoride helps make teeth strong and fights cavities, but too much can stain teeth and cause them to break down. Because small children sometimes swallow the toothpaste, only use a dot about half the size of an adult fingernail.
4. Flossing is difficult for small children because they do not possess the hand dexterity to hold the floss in the proper way. Because of this, sealants are a good option, as they provide a protective coating over baby molars that are hard to reach. A good gauge of when children are ready to try flossing is when they begin writing legibly without assistance. Because children should see the dentist regularly, you can always ask the office’s dental assistant to show your child the proper way to hold floss for use in cleaning teeth.
5. Select toothpaste for kids, because grown-up toothpastes often have a strong, minty flavor. Even some brands for children cause the inside of the mouth to sting. While it might be trying to go through the trial and error of finding toothpaste that fits the needs of your family, or having several types on-hand for multiple family members, it’s a small price to pay when compared to the value of a healthy set of teeth.
6. Kid-friendly dentists are imperative when developing your children’s good dental habits. One bad experience during childhood can lead to a lifetime of dental phobia. Avoiding the dentist’s office has potentially serious consequences, especially if a problem arises that isn’t caught in time for proper treatment.
7. Good eating habits are also part of good dental health. Children taught from an early age to foster a love of fresh fruits and vegetables, almonds, and drinking plenty of water over unhealthy choices such as sugary sweets and soda pop are more likely to have whiter smiles and healthier teeth and gums.

Consult your family’s dentist for more tips about good oral hygiene and ways to naturally brighten your smiles. You may be able to prevent your children from needing cosmetic dentistry later in life. If anyone in your family has pain, sores that refuse to heal, loose adult teeth, gums that bleed, or any kind of growth inside their mouths, then it’s time to pay a call to the dentist as soon as possible.

This is a guest post by Becky James-Muth, a freelance writer whose interest in dental health for families was inspired for her own family’s dental habits. For her current series of articles on kid’s dentistry and healthy dental tips for families, she sought the help of Dr. Diane Bird, a Vancouver BC dentist. Becky also enjoys bowling, traveling, and gardening.

Photo by newsusacontent

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• 5 Ways to Nurture Family Relationships Through Your Pets

Having a pet in our home is something that enriches our lives in many different ways. Pets in general provide us with a sense of physical as well as emotional well-being. When a pet joins your family, it is not hard for you to realize that a change occurs in the lives of you and your family members, and in most households, pets are treated as part of the family. At least that’s the case at our house.

The Pleasure of Bonding with Your Pet

It is easy to see that pets encourage love and compassion among human beings. Sometimes we tend to be too mechanical in our relationships with other people, and forget the value of them, but our animals do not. We can spend little or no time with our family and friends when we have busy schedules, but when we have a pet that totally depends on us, things will change. Pets rely on us to care for them, and through this dependence, the bonding between your pet and your family begins.

Pets Cherish Relationships

As you care for your pet, providing for their needs can bring you closer together as a family. Sharing responsibilities can create special feelings with your spouse and children. You also make decisions together about your pet, whether it’s determining what is the best diet for the cat, where the litter box should go, or deciding if cleaning the dog’s teeth at home is right for you. Making these kinds of decisions can be educational and fun.

5 Ways Pets Can Nurture Relationships Within Your Family

1. When you first bring the puppy or kitty cat home, everybody will be excited and want to hold or play with the newest member of the family. Be sure that each person has time with the animal so they can get to know each other. This may be a good time to even ask for volunteers in taking care of certain things that your pet will need: feeding, giving fresh water, cleaning the litter box, or changing puppy pads.
2. Proper training of your pet is crucial for both the animal and the family. Everyone can share in learning how to puppy pad train a puppy using wee wee pads, or teach them to go outside to potty.

   They can also participate in puppy education classes, and learn the important commands and a few tricks. To graduate from our class, our dog had to correctly respond to two commands and then one trick. We all worked with him, and thankfully, Ranger passed. It was fun practicing, or at least it was for Ranger–he got lots of treats!

3. Walking your dog or going to a dog park is another way to build relationships. We meet people who have similar interests and always enjoy sharing stories about the kids–both 2-legged and 4-legged ones. We have so many small dogs and kids that live on our cul-de-sac, we can’t decide if we are out there to catch up on the children or the critters!
4. Get outside and exercise as a family as well. Plan fun games or activities that can include the dog, like throwing a Frisbee, kicking a soccer ball, playing chase, or practicing commands like ‘fetch’, ‘drop it’, ‘come’, or ‘roll over.’ Sometimes the kids enjoy the commands as much as the dog. (We constantly work on the ‘come’ command when I am calling them in for the night.)
5. You can even participate in shows and events that are in the area. Most communities have shelters or pet stores that will sponsor a dog or cat show for good causes. You’ll definitely meet interesting people and their pets, and may even come away with a prize from time to time. That activity could go on the “family bucket list.”

There’s no more special bond than the one between a child and a pet that grow up together. For those of us who love animals, we have special memories of times spent with our pets, sometimes alone and sometimes as a family. I still have pictures of my first dog, Lady, in the backyard sitting next to me in one of those small inflatable kid swimming pools. I tried to get her to get in with me, but she was content to protect me from dry land!

These special relationships are not just in the movies–they are actually real life and we are better people for having loved a pet, and receiving their unconditional love in return.

Photo by jjgwarren

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Unfortunately, though, you can’t really leave the entire meal preparation to the children, at least not until they reach a certain age and are able to cook on their own. What you can do, however, is get your children involved in the process of meal preparation and teach them basic cooking skills.

The Benefits

Why do this, and what are the benefits for you? Here are some quick ways in which getting your kids to help cook can help you:

• If your child is a fussy eater, then getting them to help cook will mean they’ll be happier to eat whatever is being prepared, especially if you let them choose some of the ingredients.
• It can be a great way to encourage healthy eating. If you ensure that the dishes you prepare contain enough vegetables and healthy foods, it will set a good example.
• It can save you time. At first they may be “more of a hindrance than a help,” as the saying goes, but after a while if you are able to trust them with certain parts of cooking, it can really help to speed things up.
• You will be teaching your children necessary skills for when they grow up, from a young age.

Teaching Then the Tools of the Trade

What is the best way to get your children to cook? Unless your child has a natural flare for cooking, they may not necessarily enjoy it, so it may seem hard to get them to take part, especially if they are not used to helping out around the house.

This is the first thing you have to change. If you introduce the idea of them helping you in the kitchen, eventually it will become a customary thing and they won’t complain. This is especially try if you make it fun and interesting. By using their curious nature for learning, it shouldn’t be too hard to achieve if you go about it in the right way.

The second way you can do this is to get the right tools. While you can’t necessarily expect your children to figure out how to use certain tools straight away, especially if they are at all unsafe, you can at least introduce them to the tools. If you are using meat slicers, for example, by showing them the chefs choice meat slicer and other high quality products that you own, you can introduce them to the things they will be using in the future to make things easier. As they grow, they will also become more interested in what tools are available to them, and will be invested in knowing that they are using the best meat grinders and the highest quality tools in the kitchen. Through this, they will understand that it is important to use the best in order to make the best.

Increase the Fun

The third way to get your children active in helping to prepare family meals is also fairly simple–increase the fun they have. This may not necessarily be easy, but a good way of doing it is simply including more people in the process. If you have several kids, then this can be an ideal way of going about this. Simply get a child and their siblings together to make a meal. This way it should be more fun, and as we all know, “many hands make light work.”

Even if you only have one child, then this can still be easily done, and maybe even to a better standard, by getting friends involved. If you tell your child that they are allowed to invite a friend over to help cook, then this will make cooking even more fun for them, meaning they’ll be more than happy to help you in the future. All of this will add up, making it a great way to ground them in healthy eating.

Photo by akiko@flickr

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It is common for parents to spend most of the early weeks after birth discussing these issues with each other, with their own parents, with friends, with the friendly grocery store clerk (hey, anybody who will listen, right?), and with the baby’s pediatrician.

Somewhere in the midst of this cycle of worrying, sharing, questioning, and figuring out, parents often forget to set time aside for a very important but less-talked-about aspect of babyhood–play! In later months, babies will force the issue by reaching for, grabbing, and responding to everything in their environment; actions which will constitute their version of play. But younger infants need a little help from the adults they love and trust.

Play in all its forms is vital to infant development and the future abilities and skills that children will exhibit. Need extra motivation to find time between feeding, changing, sleeping, and worrying to play? Read on.

Activate the Senses

Just being a baby is the definition of sensory overload. Playing in ways that enhance sensory development can help baby focus and learn from their new sensations. Playing with any bright object or an object with contrasting colors and patterns really engages a baby’s sense of sight.

If that object has an interesting texture, even better–guide baby to touch and feel the fabric or surface at the same time. Rattles and the human voice are excellent ways to employ a baby’s hearing. Move the object to encourage her to follow the sound while playing on her back or tummy.

Boost Brainpower

Parents are the first to notice the ways in which their baby exhibits intelligence, and each new sign of their increasing “smarts” is a serious thrill. Play is such a boon to this kind of development. Toys that teach cause-and-effect, like a toy that makes noise when you pinch or squeeze it, encourages children to see what happens when they take action.

Form Relationships

Most play that young infants are capable of requires a ton of interaction with their caretaker(s). Whether sitting on a blanket with a big sister, hanging out on dad’s lap, or taking a bottle with Grandma, babies start to form relationships early on through play. Making funny faces and interesting, high-pitched sounds will be interpreted by your baby as an invitation to play.

Watch the baby’s reactions for a smile and to see which faces baby starts to try and mimic first. Play peek-a-boo during clothing changes, with pillows at bedtime, and behind stuffed animals, books, or anything else in the nursery. Babies who get to play with their families feel loved and important, which is a bedrock quality in developing relationships in the future.

One thing I myself did was carry my baby around the neighborhood in a baby carrier. When my daughter was old enough to hold her head (about 3 months), I had her face outward (and yes, it was the same carrier made famous by The Hangover!) That way, not only was she able to see everything near my level, she could also interact with adults by watching their faces and reactions, something that’s hard to do in a stroller, where the baby can only see the knees of adults!

Teach Her to Communicate

Language isn’t just learned–it is absorbed. Although many parents make a concentrated effort to teach words and phrases to babies as soon as they can distinguish the first consonant from their little one, some don’t realize how many valuable language lessons can emerge from simple play.

Singing with your baby is a great start. Repeat songs often so that baby comes to recognize and enjoy both the tune and the subject of the music. Remind older siblings that their baby sister or brother loves to hear their voice and wants to know what they are thinking, seeing, and doing. The more people who talk with and engage the baby, the better her exposure to the language will be.

You don’t need the latest gadgets or videos to help your baby learn from the earliest stages. All you need is bright, contrasting objects, having friends and family interact with them, letting them see the outdoor world form your vantage point, and singing to them–these are all the things you’re probably doing anyway. So relax, and let them play!

Photo by jvnunag

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• Teaching Our Children the Basics of Responsible Dog Ownership

Growing up, I was the child who frequently begged for that doggy in the window, only to have all dreams shot down with one ‘no’ after another. So when my daughter asked for her first puppy, those painful memories came creeping in, likely impacting my reasoning for saying yes! But influenced or not, that yes came with an expectation–she had to learn responsible dog ownership and understand the lifelong commitment that came with it.

And so began my efforts at helping my daughter learn what it meant to have a puppy.

1. Understanding a puppy’s needs. The first step was to help my daughter understand exactly what a puppy needed to stay healthy and grow strong. As with most parents, we can list off reasons left and right and most of the time our children will even say ‘okay’, but do they really understand?

   Instead of “telling” my daughter, I decided to show her through volunteering at our local shelter on the weekends. We were allowed to come in during feeding time and assist with the morning meals, giving puppies baths, and cleaning up the messy kennels. My daughter was given permission to play with the puppies in the outdoor run as a reward for her hard work. After a few weeks of volunteering, I had no doubt that my daughter truly understood the work involved in owning a puppy; including cleaning up those nasty messes!

2. Understanding how to train in preparation for a dog. The next step, and quite possibly one of the most important things for children to understand, is the importance of properly training your new puppy so it will grow up obedient and friendly. We researched several dog training websites and talked about the various areas our dog would need to be trained.

   Then, we sat down with what we learned and decided on rules and what we both expected from a dog in the house. We had learned that everyone needed to have the same expectations if any kind of training was going to be effective. Then we talked about the supplies we would need to have on-hand for teaching our puppy from the very first day of his or her arrival.

   My daughter’s active participation in this conversation gave me confidence that she was ready to put forth the effort required to care for a dog through thick and thin.

3. Selecting the right dog for us. The next thing we did was really break down various characteristics of different dog breeds and what they brought to the table. She mentioned that we liked to sit around the house a lot and maybe shouldn’t get a dog that wants to run all day. I mentioned that she has lots of little toys she treasures so we might want to consider a dog that won’t chew so much after they get older.

   Back and forth we outlined traits that fit with our family and traits that did not until we finally narrowed down the breeds that best fit out lifestyle and expectations.

4. Choosing a training method. The fourth thing we considered was how we planned to train our new puppy. Considering time availability, my daughter’s social skills, and my level of interest in bringing someone to my home, we decided on utilizing dog training forums instead of bringing a person in one-on-one.

   In our time volunteering at the local shelter, my daughter had the opportunity to work with the trainers there and we were both very confident in teaching our new puppy all the basics of good manners.

5. Getting our puppy! We spent about 6 months preparing for this moment, and I have to say, my excitement was just as big as my daughter’s. I had helped her understand how important it was to provide proper care and how to teach her puppy good manners. Now it was time to get our puppy and for us, we knew right where to look–the local shelter!

Teaching our children responsible dog ownership in a way that sticks doesn’t have to be a mind-grilling task. With a little creativity, you can gauge your child’s interest and motivate them to learn.

What are some other ways you can think of for teaching responsible ownership? Perhaps you’ve recently brought home a new pet as well. I’m curious to hear what you think.

Photo by terrie.zeller

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As a mom living in suburbia, though, I’m not always sure at what age to assign chores and which assignments to give. However, I’m learning that even very young children can contribute. I’ve noticed that my young kids, more than anything else, just want to be near me. If I’m dusting the furniture, all I have to do is give them a dust cloth and they’ll “help.” I finally bought a small, functional vacuum that was light enough for my children to use because they always wanted to help vacuum.

As children get older, their enthusiasm for chores wears off, and it’s tempting to let them off the hook. Not a good idea. I used to think it was my duty to give my kids a comfortable, easy life. I’ve since learned that it’s my job to train them to be responsible, contributing adults. As Dear Abby once said, “If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put some weight on their shoulders.”

A Few Chores Kids (of All Ages) Can Do

Ages 3 to 5

• Begin making their bed
• Dust the furniture
• Feed and water pets (with supervision)
• Put away laundry
• Take non-breakable dishes to the dishwasher

Ages 5 to 8

• Run the vacuum
• Rake and bag leaves
• Take care of/train the dog (use the best puppy training pads to make house training easier)
• Wipe kitchen counters
• Put silverware away (take the knives out first)

Ages 9 to 12

• Load dishwasher and clean kitchen
• Sweep and mop the floor
• Walk the dog; help with cleaning the dog’s teeth
• Clean bathrooms and toilets
• Fold laundry
• Clean windows

Ages 12 and up

• Cook simple meals
• Help with the lawn mower
• Do laundry from start to finish
• Care for younger siblings

Of course, every child is different and you’ll need to make decisions based on your individual child. Teach children how to accomplish each task and don’t expect perfection for a while. Express your appreciation sincerely, and point out how hard they worked. The goal is to help children develop pride in themselves for a job well done, rather than expecting an external reward.

Photo by jjgwarren

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Personally, I am growing weary of all the commercial stuff that they play with for a few minutes and then set down. Have you ever noticed that when kids are really young, they are often more entranced with the box your gift comes in rather than the toy itself? It’s because they are tapping into their imagination. Children are full of imagination. If they are playing with the box more than the toy, it’s probably because they can and want to create.

They can also do this with music.

The Gift of Music

Music can be a lifelong gift. For instance, if they learn how to play piano, they can play now as they learn and also as an adult to unwind from the daily stresses. The same can’t be said about a toy truck.

Most kids already have an appreciation for music long before we encourage it. I agree with William Stafford who once said, “Kids: They dance before they learn there is anything that isn’t music.”

Before my son could walk or talk, he paid attention to certain commercials when the TV was on. I soon realized it was the music of particular commercials that turned his little head and captivated him. This was true for both of my children, so I know Mr. Stafford is spot on with his assessment.

While it appears that children have a knack for introducing themselves to music, I believe that we have the responsibility to officially introduce them to it, if we want them to learn.

Introducing Music

I have done some research on how to introduce my children to music, because I see the value in it for various reasons, such as:

• Improves concentration
• Instills discipline and structure
• Increases learning skills
• Lifelong enjoyment
• Stress reliever

Any one of the reasons listed above is enough for me to want to expose my children to music, and encourage them to learn a skill within it.

One way to introduce them to the joys of music is to simply listen to it often. Turn the TV off and put in a CD they would enjoy. This is a great time to do some arts and crafts, something fun that they can relate music to, rather than homework or chores.

You can also dance when you put some fun music on. Just last night my son and I danced together, and he loved it. He started singing while we were dancing, and it all stemmed from turning the music on and taking a break from cleaning up after dinner.

Keeping the Interest Alive

If you want to keep this gift alive, there are some tricks that I believe can work. First, find out what instruments they are drawn to, such as piano, flute, or guitar. If they are preschool age, buy them a toy instrument of whatever is drawing their interest.

Next, try to find a spot in the house that can be a dedicated ‘music room.’ Decorate it in their favorite musical items. For example, if they really like a certain musician, get some posters.

Also, let them play the music they like when practicing. It will help to hold their interest much longer, rather than a song they have no desire to play again.

I recently read something from Mrs. Rufina Gorin, Musical Director of the Gorin School of Music, which I completely agree with. She stated, “Any study requires focus, discipline, and consistent practice, and if a child does not possess these qualities and is not willing to develop them on their own, the result should not be ‘to drop the study’ but to help the child to develop them. These are qualities that will lead to success not just in music but in many other realms of life.”

Choosing the Instrument

If your child is older, then let them choose their own. You could lightly encourage them, but if it’s chosen for them it just might backfire.

However, if the children are young, bring instruments into the house. I am thinking of doing this now, as my kids are still too young to make that choice. So, I am leaning towards a piano, which is something the entire family can use.

I am hoping that as I learn to read piano music and play, they will pick up on it as well. At the very least, it will introduce them to music, as well as an instrument.

The piano is a wonderful instrument for the entire family for the following reasons:

• It’s an instrument that can be shared with others
• It provides a source for relaxation
• The entire family can join in with singing along for parties
• Two people can play at the same time
• Great introduction to other instruments

Piano happens to be my favorite, so this is an easy choice for me. If my children appreciate it and want to take it up, it’s already there. If they choose something else later on, I will also encourage that.

If you are unsure, just pay attention to what your kids are drawn to and talk to them about it.

I believe that music is very important to a child’s development. So, I hope I have given you some ideas on how to best introduce your child to a wonderful, lifelong gift.

Photo by LauraReaux

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Teachers and Other Caring Adults

My son had a fabulous student government teacher that believes high school is about more than algebra and college application essays. He believes that high school teachers can, and should, teach students lessons in integrity, service, and community involvement. Instead of asking continually for donations and pledges from community business owners, he constantly looks for opportunities for the students to serve the community.

Students are expected to complete at least 30 hours of community service on their own. Additionally, they complete several service projects every year as a group. The highlight of the year is the Make a Wish fundraiser in connection with Homecoming. Last fall, students hosted a barbecue and concert that raised over $2,000 so a child in the community who has leukemia could go with her family to Disney World.

But not every service should be highly visible or rewarded with praise. After we have bad weather, this teacher texts his student government students and issues an assignment: find a neighbor who needs some help and help clean up their yard.

This attitude of service has become so ingrained in my son that he doesn’t wait for a text from his teacher anymore. Bad weather or a snowy day means more than just a day to sleep in. He’s up and putting on his boots and gloves without any reminders.

This is just one example of how children’s lives have been blessed by caring adults. My neighbor hires my son to care for his pets when he goes on vacation, and doesn’t shrink from teaching opportunities. The first time my son watched the dogs, he did a less than stellar job and my neighbor kindly told him so. He hired him again, though, and my son improved, learning how to care for dogs and use training puppy pads on days when it was hard to take them out. My neighbor rewarded him with positive encouragement and a nice payment. Lesson learned. Later on he even taught him more about taking care of his dogs, including dog dental care. I hope that made an impression on my son, who thinks very little about his own oral hygiene!

Family and Community

Extended family members are a great resource for teaching kids lessons in character. We don’t have extended family close by, though, so I’ve had to create an extended family for my kids in my own community. Here’s a few of the ways we’ve found to create an “extended family” for our kids:

• Join a community church and become involved in youth activities.
• Get to know neighbors. We hold annual events, such as a Labor Day picnic, but the real bonding moments are every day happenings. We frequently sit on our neighbor’s porch visiting or inviting them to dinner. When my neighbor’s pipes froze, every person on the block was there with buckets, shop vacs, and towels. These types of activities unite a neighborhood, form strong bonds, and leave a lasting impression on kids. As P.D. James said, “What a child doesn’t receive, he can seldom give later.” Early opportunities to serve set a foundation for later community involvement.
• Regularly visit a senior citizen center. Most kids today are alienated from the older generation. We visit the local senior’s center to sing songs, help with a craft, or provide a meal. The kids were apprehensive at first, but they’ve learned to appreciate the stories and wisdom of their elders.
• Form friendships with people outside your regular circle. Most of my friends are people who I share similar interests with, but kids need to become acquainted with people from a variety of backgrounds, ages, and walks of life. I have a dear friend who is a widow that we regularly have dinner with. When my dog died, she was the first one at my door with a potted plant and a hug.

Photo by MZM-Photo

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• Have a realistic attitude about sleep. Sleeping isn’t a habit that you can force your baby into. Instead, it helps to create a secure environment that will help your baby to naturally fall asleep. Sleep should be a pleasant and secure state for your baby. Many sleep issues in children and adults start out as babies who have an unhealthy relationship with sleep due to anxiety or distractions.
• Try to remain flexible. Not every sleeping tip will work with every baby all of the time. But don’t give up hope just yet! If one method of sleep training isn’t working, then move on to another to see what works best for your baby.
• Find out where your baby sleeps the best. Some babies may sleep better in a crib in your bedroom, while other babies may do well in their own nursery. Try to tune into your baby’s needs to find out where he sleeps most comfortably.
• Start using sleep associations. The way that a baby falls asleep at night is the way that he will expect to fall asleep again when he wakes up in the middle of the night. If you rock your baby to sleep, he will need to be rocked back to sleep when he wakes up at night.
• Keep your baby peaceful all day long. If you hold and soothe your baby all day long, this peacefulness is likely to carry on into the night for a restful night of sleep.
• Use consistent nap times. Pick convenient times of day for consistent nap times for both you and your baby, like mid-morning and mid-afternoon. This will give you the opportunity to catch up on rest as your baby naps.
• Use a consistent bedtime routine. It is important to put your baby to bed consistently each night with a warm bath, lullaby, or by reading a book so that he will begin to expect to fall asleep.
• Use natural calming methods. The simple act of giving a baby a warm bath before bed will relax his muscles and his mind so that he easily falls asleep.
• Keep your baby active in the daytime. Once your baby learns that daytime is for activity, he will be more likely to fall asleep at night.
• Nurse your baby to sleep. After a warm bath, a warm bottle of milk or breastfeeding will help your baby to naturally drift off to sleep.

Photo by And3rei

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Don’t let the baby naming blues get you down! Whether you are totally stumped or just can’t come to a compromise with your spouse, here are a few tips that you can use to pick out the perfect name for your bundle of joy well before he or she born:

• What is your baby naming style? This could be where you and your spouse fall into a disagreement. Perhaps you are a traditional namer who likes Michael or Jessica. Your spouse, on the other hand, maybe a trendy namer who prefers newly popular names like Leonardo or Harper. Try to come to a compromise between the two by choosing a unique, classic name that you both can agree upon.
• Consider a gender-neutral name. If you are waiting to find out the sex of your baby until it’s born, why not consider a gender-neutral name for either sex? A gender-neutral name can be strong and unique and work for a boy or a girl. Examples include Robin, Evan, Ashley, or Reese.
• Think about your inspiration. Many people are happy to name their baby after a beloved family member, like a grandmother who has passed away. Or perhaps your religion can inspire you to name your child after a saint or after a character in the Bible. Baby names are often much more meaningful if they have inspiration behind them.
• Think twice about nicknames. Today, there are no rules when it comes to baby names. Many people choose a longer name specifically for its nickname, like Ben for Benjamin. But who says you have to name your baby a longer name first? More and more couples today are naming their baby a nickname instead of a longer name that will be shortened later. Examples include Bo, Jess, Jodi, or Katy. Think outside of the box and don’t be constrained to a longer, traditional name when you could use a shorter version instead.
• Consider an unconventional name. If you keep going back and forth between old favorites like Jennifer and Alexander, consider an unconventional name instead. It may be difficult for people to pronounce or understand an unusual name at first, but unusual names are easier to remember. Why not name your baby Ireland, Althea, Griffin, or even Selma?

Photo by ElisaVarelaT

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Developing into a tween can be a pretty difficult and uncomfortable time for any kid. Throw monumentally embarrassing into the mix and you’ll have my own tween years described in just a few words.

I distinctly remember several highly embarrassing moments from my tween years, and the only way I can think of describing that time in my life is by saying my brain and my body were not working together in harmony; in fact, they weren’t even close to meeting along the same wavelength. My brain was still a blissfully ignorant kid that didn’t have to worry about anything in the realm of cosmetic appearance. It was very content in running out the door every morning throughout the summer after throwing on whatever clothes happened to be laying around my room without a second glance in the mirror. My body, however, had warped into its own wildly out of control life form without letting my brain in on what was going on.

One summer afternoon while carelessly running around in my bathing suit and jumping in and out of the local pool, my father’s girlfriend, who had taken a very active role in raising me and my younger sister throughout my tween years, mentioned the word bikini line. That is the pivotal moment when my brain had a complete and utter freakout session of monumental proportions. It could no longer deny what my body was up to and it was officially time to soak up any and all advice my father’s girlfriend, as well as my grandmother and aunt, were willing to dole out.

The same goes for tweens when it comes to the topic of body odor. You smell it, every adult and perhaps even their friends are cued right in to the rampant hormones running throughout their bodies, but they may still be blissfully ignorant. Their kid brain is still very much running the show.

Unilever, the makers behind Degree, Degree Men, Dove and Suave deodorant products, has just recently released a pretty awesome resource for parents of tweens to help parents navigate conversations about even the stinkiest of tween issues. Don’t Fret the Sweat contains expert advice, tips and personal anecdotes from a variety of different moms, educators and physicians, including Rosalind Wiseman, an internationally recognized expert on children, teens and parenting, and New York Times bestselling author of the book Queen Bees and Wannabes, which was the basis for the movie Mean Girls.

You will also find answers to frequently asked questions regarding tweens and their body odor, like what to do when your child is using deodorant but it doesn’t seem quite strong enough. Perhaps one of the best resources Don’t Fret the Sweat has to offer is their product matchmaker which will help you and your tween choose the perfect deodorant that will work with them to keep them comfortable, dry and smelling fresh and clean throughout the day.

“Like” Don’t Fret the Sweat on Facebook to gain access to all of this information and more. Also be sure to check out the videos below that feature several moms just like you sharing their stories and tips with Rosalind Wiseman on how to help their tweens through this body-morphing time in their lives with ease.

This post was written as part of a blog campaign with One2One Network. No other compensation was received, and opinions are my own.

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Easter has never been more “egg-citing!” Wubzzy and his friends Walden, Widget and Daizy from the Emmy Award-winning Nick Jr. preschool TV series, “Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!” will give preschoolers and families even more to celebrate this Easter with a brand new, special seasonal DVD. In addition to the six “egg-ceptional” episodes, this DVD also includes holiday-themed coloring sheets and activity pages.

The winner of this DVD giveaway is Nicole Hatch

Congratulations!

If you didn’t win through this giveaway, “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter” is available in stores nationwide. You can also purchase it on Amazon for $14.99.

Disclosure: Grand Communications provided me with a promotional copy of “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter” in order to write a review, as well as the opportunity to host this giveaway.

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We have had the awesome opportunity to spread the Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! love with Woman Tribune readers since last summer. After giving away a copy of the back to school special, “Wubbzy Goes to School” and the Valentine’s Day extravaganza, “Wubbzy Be Mine”, we’re back again with a review and giveaway for a brand new, Wubbzy holiday DVD release, “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter”.

Easter has never been more “egg-citing!” Wubbzy and his friends Walden, Widget and Daizy from the Emmy Award-winning Nick Jr. preschool TV series, “Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!” will give preschoolers and families even more to celebrate this Easter with a brand new, special seasonal DVD.

All the kooky action of Easter in Wuzzleburg comes to life in six “egg-ceptional” episodes featured on this DVD. In “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter”, Wubbzy and his pals celebrate the first day of spring with a game of kickity-kick ball and discover new ways to decorate eggs for the annual Easter Egg Hunt. And when the holiday is suddenly cancelled, it’s up to Wubbzy to save the day!

For even more cheer, “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter” includes holiday-themed coloring sheets and activity pages.

This charming new release is the perfect answer for families on the “hunt” for affordable Easter gifts and it is a great way for families to celebrate spring together–the Wubbzy way–with relatable, age-appropriate life lessons and lots of heartfelt humor.

“Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter” is available in stores nationwide. You can also purchase it on Amazon for $14.99.

If your child is a huuuge Wubbzy fan, there is an awesome sweepstakes going on right now that you will definitely want to check out. The “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter” Sweepstakes is going on from now until April 10th, 2011, where you can enter to win a piece of original artwork from the creator of the show, Bob Boyle.

Giveaway

I not only had the pleasure to review this delightfully fun and absurdly cute DVD, but I also have the opportunity to give one copy away to a lucky Woman Tribune reader.

Required Entry

Leave a comment on this post telling us what one Easter tradition your family has or you had a child growing up.

Extra Entries

Leave a separate comment for each additional entry.

• Subscribe to Woman Tribune
• Follow @WomanTribune on Twitter
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• Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post and details about “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter” DVD. (This entry is worth five entries, so leave five separate comments with the link to your blog post.)
• Tweet about this giveaway. Feel free to use the following tweet or write your own. (This can be done once a day, leave a link to your tweet in your comment.)
  

  Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Win a copy of “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter” from @WomanTribune http://ow.ly/4rHLg ends 4/7

This giveaway ends Thursday, April 7th at 11:59 p.m. ET. This giveaway is open to all U.S. residents over the age of 18 at the time of entry. The winner will be randomly chosen and contacted by email; they then have 48 hours (2 days) to respond to that email or another winner will be chosen.

Full Contest Disclaimer

Disclosure: Grand Communications provided me with a promotional copy of “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter” and the opportunity to host this giveaway.

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Cool Diaps are stylish and affordable disposable diapers, while functioning at the same quality, if not better, than most leading diaper manufacturers. They are available in three different designs, including peace signs, happy faces and zebra print. After spending a great amount of tireless hours making sure Cool Diaps functioned on such a superior level, these diapers have a surprisingly soft outer layer, the velcro is much stronger than most leading manufacturers’ and the double leg cuff leak protection has more gathers and closed channels, which means less leakage. Cool Diaps also have a cool “blue chip” absorbency located in the center of the diaper that extends up the front and back of the diaper to help prevent leakage so your baby has the protection they need throughout the day.

The winner of the Cool Diaps disposable diapers 5-pack is Mami2jcn who left comment number 8!

Congratulations!

If you didn’t win this giveaway, or are just learning about Cool Diaps, you can purchase Cool Diaps in select Babies R Us store locations and online at www.babiesrus.com.

Each package of Cool Diaps are priced at only $8.99, regardless of size or quantity. They are available in sizes small (6 to 13 pounds), which contain 36 diapers per package, medium (8 to 19 pounds), which contain 30 diapers per package, large (19 to 30 pounds), which contain 24 diapers per package and XL (over 30 pounds), which also contain 24 diapers per package.

Disclosure: This giveaway was made possible by Cool Diaps.

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Coupons may not be the first thing parents think of when they look into their child’s eyes, but frugality is creeping up the list of important life lessons.

Most parents may not coo, “Oh, sweetie pie! I can’t wait until we clip your first coupon!” Still, those colorful bits of paper can serve as learning tools to strengthen the fundamentals of reading, math, memory and organization. Even at an early age, children can play with coupons to learn colors, shapes and numbers.

Most importantly, coupons also can serve as an inexpensive way to teach your child the value of money and the importance of investing. You can use grocery coupons as a means of turning everyday shopping trips into great learning experiences that will last a lifetime.

Here are 13 benefits you may not have considered.

1. Becoming Frugal 101

Ask Warren Buffett: It doesn’t matter whether you’re a millionaire of a dollar-aire, being frugal is a key to financial prosperity. Teaching your children how to make the most of their money at an early age is one of the best gifts you can give them. Not only will it possibly keep them out of debt in later years, but they might just end up like Buffett, donating their zillions to charity and earning a special place in heaven.

2. Identifying Colors

The first two things many children learn are their colors and animal noises. Fortunately, the best coupons can be found in the colorful Sunday paper. Newspapers print in a limited number of colors, making it easier for children to identify and match colors as you thumb through the pages in search of good coupons.

3. Learning Math

After colors often come numbers. Use coupons as lessons to help your children first learn, then hunt for and recognize numbers. Begin with single digits then move on to double digits (a 1 with a 5 makes a 15).

After addition comes subtraction. Teach them to subtract the amount of the coupon from the price of the product. This strengthens their mathematical skills while helping them ascertain what makes a deal a good deal.

Once your child has grasped these basics, it’s time to introduce percentages and decimals. Use double and triple coupons to practice multiplication tables.

4. Improving Motor Skills

Remember how difficult it was to master scissors? Help your toddler develop this delicate motor skill with a child’s pair of scissors and a sheet of coupons. It may take a long time for them to cut out a single coupon, but it will give them a great sense of accomplishment. You might want to start with online printable coupons, so you can reprint them in the event of mishaps.

One tip: Avoid unpleasant scenes by making it EXTRA clear children must ask permission before using scissors and they’re only to be used for cutting paper.

5. Organizing

Coupons are just scraps of paper you’re going to lose unless you–or a helpful, short assistant–keep them organized. Make a game of it with younger children by having them match coupons by color, pictures or product type. As children grow older, ask them to file the coupons in an organizer by category (canned goods, cleaning/laundry, etc.)

As you shop, ask your child to match the coupon to the product. It will improve their identification skills while saving you a pile of aggravation.

6. Understanding Budgets

Discuss with your children why you use coupons. What is your food budget and why? What are your family’s goals and how do coupons help you reach those goals?

Avoid going too much into detail with children. You don’t want to frighten them into thinking your family will soon be living on the street, but you do want them to understand the importance of saving and spending widely.

7. Planning Meals

Involve your children in planning family meals by searching through your coupon and recipes files to create a grocery list. This will also help limit your impulse buying and keep you on a budget.

8. Selecting the Restaurant

Teach the value of budgeting by using coupons on your next dining trip. Let your child select the restaurant by searching through circulars and restaurant coupons. Set a budget for the meal and let them decide what to order off the menu using the coupons they found.

9. Understanding Story Problems

To the mathematically disinclined (let’s not always see the same hands), story problems make absolutely no sense on paper. It’s a lot easier to understand, however, when presented as a word problem during a shopping trip.

For example: Apples are $1 per pound. How much will it cost to buy 3 pounds? Give children paper and pencil to work out problems so they can replicate their work later in school.

10. Completing Financial Transactions

Begin by letting children participate by holding coupons and handling the money to the cashier. As they progress, allow them to purchase a single item, placing their purchase on the counter, giving their money to the cashier and receiving the change. If you’re worried about holding up other shoppers, shop at a time when the store isn’t busy or use the self-checkout lane.

11. Learning Computers

While nearly 90% of all grocery coupons are issued in Sunday newspaper inserts, retailers and manufacturers are increasingly using the internet to offer such updates as mobile coupons, group-buying coupons and much more. Use computers and search engines with your child to find online coupons and promotions.

12. Investing Savings

You can really get your kids motivated to help you by letting them share in the savings earned from coupons. Let them use their extra money to buy things they want and need. Urge them to stretch their money further by using coupons when they make their purchases.

If your child is interested in making a larger purchase, like an Xbox game, encourage them to open a bank account and agree to match their savings. This will teach them an invaluable lesson about investing, although it will cost you a few extra dollars.

13. Understanding Calendars

Coupons have deadlines, which requires the use of a calendar to monitor. Pick up a freebie calendar and show your child how to find the dates on the coupons and then in the calendar. This way your children can help you sort out coupons that are expiring.

Photo by Roebot

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We first wrote about Cool Diaps, an exciting new disposable diaper, back in early January. After seeing such an increase in “designer” diapers hit the market, it was actually pretty refreshing to hear from the husband and wife team that created Cool Diaps. For one, Paige Gillingwater and Holland Henton aren’t behind multi-million dollar companies without a face, nor are they noted fashion designers looking to break into the design for baby field. They are parents of four children themselves and champion diaper-changers, so they would know a thing or two about the need for quality and functional disposable diapers that don’t carry a hefty price tag because of a logo or brand of box you pull your diapers from.

Cool Diaps are stylish and affordable disposable diapers, while functioning at the same quality, if not better, than most leading diaper manufacturers. They are available in three different designs, including peace signs, happy faces and zebra print. After spending a great amount of tireless hours making sure Cool Diaps functioned on such a superior level, these diapers have a surprisingly soft outer layer, the velcro is much stronger than most leading manufacturers’ and the double leg cuff leak protection has more gathers and closed channels, which means less leakage. Cool Diaps also have a cool “blue chip” absorbency located in the center of the diaper that extends up the front and back of the diaper to help prevent leakage so your baby has the protection they need throughout the day.

The best part about Cool Diaps is, of course, the price. Each package of Cool Diaps are priced at only $8.99, regardless of size or quantity. They are available in sizes small (6 to 13 pounds), which contain 36 diapers per package, medium (8 to 19 pounds), which contain 30 diapers per package, large (19 to 30 pounds), which contain 24 diapers per package and XL (over 30 pounds), which also contain 24 diapers per package.

You can purchase Cool Diaps now in select Babies R Us store locations and online at www.babiesrus.com.

Giveaway

Cool Diaps has given us the opportunity to give away a 5-pack of these new disposable diapers to one lucky Woman Tribune reader.

Required Entry

Leave a comment on this post telling us what excites you the most about Cool Diaps.

Extra Entries

Leave a separate comment for each additional entry.

• Send in a Cool Diaps proof of purchase.
  The first 100 people to send in their Cool Diaps proof of purchase between today and Tuesday, March 8th will receive a $4.00 redemption in the form of a Toys R Us/Babies R Us gift card. Scan and email your proof of purchase to customerservice@cooldiaps.com and you they will send you your $4.00 gift card. (This entry is worth five entries, so leave five separate comments with the link to your blog post.)

• Follow @CoolDiaps on Twitter
• “Like” Cool Diaps on Facebook
• Subscribe to Woman Tribune
• Follow @WomanTribune on Twitter
• “Like” Woman Tribune on Facebook
• Tweet about this giveaway. Feel free to use the following tweet or write your own. (This can be done once a day, leave a link to your tweet in your comment.)
  

  Win a 5-pack of stylish, affordable @CoolDiaps diapers from @WomanTribune http://ow.ly/48JUN ends 3/12

This giveaway ends Saturday, March 12th at 11:59 p.m. ET. This giveaway is open to all U.S. residents over the age of 18 at the time of entry. The winner will be chosen via random.org and contacted by email; they then have 48 hours (2 days) to respond to that email or another winner will be chosen.

Full Contest Disclaimer

Disclosure: This giveaway was made possible by Cool Diaps.

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During back to school season, we hosted a great giveaway for children, specifically for children who would be entering school for the first time this year. Our “Wubbzy Goes to School” giveaway went over very well and we’re super happy to have the opportunity to give away another Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! DVD to one lucky Woman Tribune reader.

“Wubbzy Be Mine” is an irresistible compilation of three episodes from the Emmy Award-winning Nick Jr. preschool TV series just in time to Valentine’s Day, featuring the series’ well-loved characters, Wubbzy, Widget, Walden and Daizy. In “Mr. Valentine,” Wuzzleburg’s trusty mailman falls ill on Valentine’s Day and Wubbzy steps in to deliver all the valentines, but he soon discovers there are none for him. To Wubbzy’s surprise, his pals personally deliver his valentines, saving the best for last! In “Cupid’s Helper,” Cupid pays a visit to Wuzzleburg, but loses his prized bubble-blower. When Wubbzy finds it, he starts blowing bubbles bringing together some of Wuzzleburg’s oddest couples. And, in “My Speedy Valentine,” the third love-filled episode on the new release, Wubbzy and his pals try to find the fastest way ever to make their own valentines, but something keeps bugging Walden.

Giveaway

Thanks to Grand Communications, we are giving away one copy of “Wubbzy Be Mine” along with five packets of Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! candy hearts.

Required Entry

To enter to win a copy of “Wubbzy Be Mine” all you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling us what your plans for Valentine’s Day are.

Extra Entries

Leave a comment for each additional entry.

• Subscribe to Woman Tribune
• Follow @WomanTribune on Twitter
• “Like” Woman Tribune on Facebook
• Tweet about this giveaway. Feel free to use the following tweet or write your own. (This can be done once a day, leave a link to your tweet in your comment.)
  

  Win Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! DVD “Wubbzy Be Mine” for Valentine’s Day from @WomanTribune http://ow.ly/3TACL ends 2/12

• Leave a comment on any other Woman Tribune post and come back here and leave a comment telling us what post you commented on
• Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post and details about “Wubbzy Be Mine”. (This entry is worth five entries, so leave five separate comments with the link to your blog post.)

This giveaway ends Saturday, February 12th at 11:59 p.m. ET. This giveaway is open to all U.S. residents over the age of 18 at the time of entry. The winner will be chosen via random.org and contacted by email; they then have 48 hours (2 days) to respond to that email or another winner will be chosen.

Full Contest Disclaimer

Disclosure: Grand Communications provided me with a promotional copy of “Wubbzy Be Mine” and the opportunity to host this giveaway.

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Black Lab Products, the same company that made the amazingly cute and functional Spread Heads for toothpaste and condiments, have created a new line of disposable diapers, Cool Diaps, that feature both very cool designs and an awesome price tag.

Cool Diaps come in a variety of three different designs–peace signs, happy faces, and a zebra pattern–and regardless of the quantity you purchase these diapers in, they cost just $8.99. They are perfect for every day use, not just because it will take you a good, long while to even begin getting tired of looking at the vibrant designs, but also because of just how financially accessible they are for most parents.

These disposable diapers were created by Paige Gillingwater and Holland Henton, parents of four kids and champion diaper changers. They created Cool Diaps because they couldn’t find a disposable diaper that they wouldn’t mind looking at day after day; because they couldn’t find one, they decided to make their own.

Cool Diaps will not be available until January 26th, but when the time comes for them to be released, they will be sold exclusively at Babies R Us for a limited time. They will be available in sizes small (6-13lbs), medium (8-19lbs), large (19-30lbs), and Xlarge (over 30 lbs). The good news is that right now, you can get a free sample of Cool Diaps (located at the bottom of the page) to try out before going out to buy them when they go on sale.

If you try Cool Diaps, be sure to come back and tell us how they worked out for you and your baby!

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ABC talked to Dr. Jatinder Bhatia, who chairs the nutrition committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics and is also the chief of neonataology at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, among others. Dr. Bhatia claims that parents are putting their infants and 1-year-olds on diets because of history of obesity in one parent or another. ABC also described the diet one parent, Jodi Hasan, has put her baby on. The diet itself is fitting for any child, a well-balanced diet of fruit and vegetables and no junk food.

While the well-balanced diet is fitting and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it, the reason behind Hasan putting her child on a diet is a bit more troubling. She claims that she doesn’t “want her to have any of the problems that I had: the self-consciousness, health issues. I want her to have good self-esteem.”

All parents want their children to be healthy and happy; to have high self-esteem and to not have health issues at the hands of their daily diets. However, a child mimics the attitude and relationship that they see their parents having with food. If they see their parents obsessed with weight, and more-so, obsessed with the weight of their child, that child will also become obsessed with their weight and will have low self-esteem because of what they have picked up through their parents.

An extreme case of fat phobia in small children recently made headlines in Washington state. Parents Britainny and Sam Labberton were convicted of starving their baby out of fear she would become “fat” like her father. They were charged with criminal mistreatment after the infant gained just 1 pound in her first two months of life and the child’s bottle was found to contain traces of laxatives. After the child was placed in foster care and had gained weight, court documents showed that the mother’s reaction was, “Oh my God, she’s fat … I have a fat baby.”

While this is an extreme case and most parents wouldn’t think of putting laxatives in their infant’s bottles in fear of their baby gaining weight, the fat phobic fear is still very much there in even the milder cases where parents are vocal about the fear they have of their child being “fat.” It must also be noted that there is a very big difference between a baby being healthy and having those delicious rolls of fat on their legs and arms that we have come to collectively swoon over, and a baby being overweight for their age, or “obese.” Pediatricians are well-equipped to know the difference between healthy “fat” and obese and more parents should leave a diagnosis of obesity to their pediatrician instead of taking it upon themselves to determine what they are personally comfortable with.

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• Never let children carve pumpkins. Adults carving pumpkins should remember to use specifically designed carving knives, rather than kitchen knives, as they are less likely to get stuck in the thick pumpkin skin. Carve the pumpkin in small, controlled strokes, away from oneself on a strong, sturdy surface.

• Carving knives should be kept in a clean, dry, well-lit area. Any moisture on the tools, hands, or table can cause the knife to slip, leading to injuries.

• Should a pumpkin carver cut a finger or hand, make sure the hand is elevated higher than the heart and apply direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth to stop the bleeding. If continuous pressure does not slow or stop the  bleeding after 15 minutes, an emergency room visit may be necessary. Additionally, it may be wise to follow-up with a hand surgeon to make sure everything is okay and nothing needs repair.

• Be considerate of fire hazards when lighting jack-o-lantern candles or use non-flammable light sources, like glow sticks or artificial pumpkin lights. Alternatively, try painting pumpkins for a fun, creative option and remove the risk of carving.

• Halloween costumes should be light and bright, so children are clearly visible to motorists and other pedestrians. Trim costumes and bags with reflective tape that glows in the dark.

• Costumes should be flame-resistant and fit properly. Be sure the child’s vision is unobstructed from masks, face paint or hats. Costumes that are too long may cause kids to trip and fall, trim or hem their costumes as necessary.

• Children should wear sturdy, comfortable, slip-resistant shoes to avoid falls.

• It is important that children walk on sidewalks and never cut across yards or driveways. They should also obey all traffic signals and remain in designated crosswalks when crossing the street.

• Trick-or-treaters should only approach houses that are well lit. Both children and parents should carry flashlights to see and be seen.

• Be aware of neighborhood dogs when trick-or-treating and remember that these pets can impose a threat when you approach their home.

• It’s also a good idea to carry a cell phone while trick-or-treating in case of an emergency.

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Pediatricians, moms and authors, Laura A. Jana, MD, FAAP and Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP offer a wealth of “parent-tested, pediatrician-approved” advice in Heading Home With Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality, Second Edition (American Academy of Pediatrics, September 2010). Available on the American Academy of Pediatrics official Web site for parents, HealthyChildren.org. Also available in bookstores nationwide. Here they answer a few questions from fellow moms:

Question: The new recommendation for rear facing car seats is two years now, not one year. There are moms out there who say, ‘no you switch them as soon as they start kicking the back of the seat, because if there’s an accident they’re going to break their legs’ or ‘I don’t want my seat to get dirty’.

Dr Jana: I’ve actually spent several years as an Instructor in child passenger safety. So there’s almost nothing that we haven’t heard before along those lines. Specific to your question about breaking the legs if they’re going to touch the seat… crash dynamics tell us that when a car is in a crash, everything moves towards the point of the crash, which is usually the front of the car. If they’re in a rear facing car seat, their car seat presses their whole body into the car seat as it moves towards the front of the car. Yes, there is some rebound to the seat, but if you’re in a serious enough crash, even if your child is protected in a car seat, what do you want to protect more, their head and torso or their legs? That becomes a very easy choice in terms of why we keep rear facing longer. Technically the recommendation is to keep kids rear facing as long as possible within the limits of their seat. The bare minimum is 1 year and 20 pounds, and then I always add on; and I don’t know a parent, who when it comes to the safety of their child wants to settle for the bare minimums.

In Heading Home with your Newborn, even though we already had an extensive section on car seat safety in the First Edition, the field has changed so much that we did a huge update on that section of the book with the absolute latest in child passenger safety recommendations. In a book that is meant for new and expecting parents about newborns, we give parents an overview of car seats in general, knowing that it may be the last time that parents read about car seats. We obviously spent the most time on infant car seats and making sure your baby is secured correctly in an infant car seat, because we’re talking about newborns, but we give parents a perspective of what is in their future, because really parents should be dealing with car seats for the next 10-12 years.

Dr Shu: I think where parents might be nervous about something happening to the legs are mostly a theoretical risk. We really don’t see reports of damage to the legs from rear facing car seats, where we do get reports of whiplash and brain damage and death from babies who are forward facing.

Comment: Most instruction manuals should have a set height limit for rear facing.

Dr Jana: In fact you can find those limits on the boxes when you’re walking the aisles of the store. They all very clearly say, once you know what to look for, they will all say ‘rear facing height and weight limits for seats that are meant to be used, rear and forward facing’. The other thing for parents, and partly why we were committed to including that big picture view is, there are some seats that may say they can be used up to 80 pounds, but they’re talking about the entire life of the seat, but rear facing can only be used up to a certain weight, and then it has to be turned face forward. That is something that people want to take into account when they’re buying car seats. If they want to be able to use this longer rear facing, then one of the criteria is to buy a seat that has a higher rear facing height and weight limit.

Question: Are the latch limits in the car seat manual or are they in the car manual?

Dr Jana: You need to look at both, because cars can have limits. Every vehicle has its own individual uses and cannot use recommendations for the vehicle itself. We felt it was so important to include these as a substantial chapter of the car seats, because if you’re going to pick the single most important thing in terms of preventing unintentional injury to children, all the way up to the age of 14, it is going to be motor vehicle crashes.

Question: Do you recommend in your book that parents go ahead and go to the fire station or someplace where they can have their car seat checked out once they have it put together?

Dr Jana: Absolutely, and we tell people where to go on the website, to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to go find by zip code where your closest fitting station is.

If you’d like more information about caring for your infant visit Heading Home with Your Newborn at HealthyChildren.org.

*This post is sponsored by the Role Mommy Writer’s Network.

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Pediatricians, moms and authors, Laura A. Jana, MD, FAAP and Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP offer a wealth of “parent-tested, pediatrician-approved” advice in Heading Home With Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality, Second Edition (American Academy of Pediatrics, September 2010). Available on the American Academy of Pediatrics official Web site for parents, HealthyChildren.org. Also available in bookstores nationwide.

The following is an excerpt to help you navigate those first crucial weeks of parenthood and caring for a newborn:

The Many Colors of Poop

Long after adjusting to parenthood and your role as principal poop watcher and wiper, you may still find yourself fretting over changes in the color of your baby’s poop. In reality, once your baby has pooped enough to get rid of the tarry meconium, all the varying shades of yellow, brown, and even green are considered perfectly acceptable. Mustardy yellow is the color of choice for most breastfed babies, and yellow-tan with hints of green for those who are formula-fed. Being presented with a changing palette of colors is not uncommon, however, particularly later on down the road when your baby is introduced to such things as solid foods and snotty nose colds, both of which can add new shades and substance to the mix.

Black, White, and Shades of Red
There are a few colors of baby poop that, should you see them, always warrant discussion with your baby’s doctor.

Red. Seeing red can mean blood, especially in the newborn period when your baby isn’t eating or drinking anything red-colored that could be mistaken for blood when it comes out the other end. Blood should not signal you to panic immediately, but you should bring it to the attention of your pediatrician, who will be able to help you sort out the cause. It is possible for babies to swallow some blood during delivery that presents itself shortly thereafter–either in the baby’s spit-up or poop–but, nevertheless, any amount of bloody poop should be evaluated because it can also be a sign of a problem.

Black. Black-colored poop sometimes represents old blood because blood is known to turn from red to black over time in the intestinal tract. Remember that this black color alert does not apply to your baby’s first few meconium bowel movements, which you can fully expect to be black and tarry looking.

White. White poop is quite rare, but needs to be brought to the attention of a doctor ASAP because it can be caused by an underlying liver problem. The earlier it is addressed, the better–either for peace of mind or medical management.

*Book excerpt from Heading Home with Your Newborn (Second Edition/Copyright 2010/American Academy of Pediatrics).

The Heading Home with Your Newborn excerpts are sponsored by the Role Mommy Writer’s Network.

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The baby aisle of any store can be a bit intimidating in terms of the plethora of choices you will have when looking to buy what you originally thought was one, simple product. If you’re brave enough to walk into a infant, baby and toddler care specialty store, multiply the amount of choices you will have by a couple hundred, at the very least.

One of the simplest and fundamental products you will need when it comes to infant and baby care is diaper rash cream. Simple and fundamental! But again, so many companies have come out with their totally awesome, better than that other stuff cream that it is not a weird sight when you see parents standing amongst the shelves of diaper rash cream, maybe three or seven different boxes and tubes in their hands, reading the list of ingredients on the back trying to make up their minds on which will get the job done while, of course, not overspending for something that will probably do the same job. This simple and fundamental product, and others just like them where there is a severe case of choices, is one product I would ask for some input on.

I know, how horrible is that? “Hi, can you please tell me what your favorite brand of diaper rash cream is because I cannot make up my mind!” This is one of those times where I am oh so glad that I have a great group of other bloggy friends who aren’t shy when it comes to sharing their honest opinion on just about everything and one of the most raved-about diaper rash creams that seems to have delighted a great deal of parents across the board is Boudreaux’s Butt Paste.

Boudreaux’s Butt Paste was formulated by a pharmacist with a great deal of input from a respected pediatrician in order to provide an effective diaper rash cream. It has been seen on the Oprah Show, Today Show, While You Were Out on TLC, in People Magazine and many, many more. It treats diaper rash and soothes irritated skin and is made of 16% Zinc Oxide and Peruvian Balsam. It’s super convenient for all parents; it goes on and cleans off easily, it has a skin protectant, it has a pleasant scent and it’s available in handy travel sizes to keep in the car or in your purse or diaper bag in addition to the full size tubes and they also come in 16oz jars.

I know that I don’t go out on a limb when it comes to new products or products I’ve never experienced for myself before unless it has come recommended by someone I really, really trust and know I can take their opinion to the bank. So, you can get yourself a free sample of Boudreaux’s Butt Paste just by visiting their website!

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Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! is an Emmy Award-winning Nick Jr. preschool TV series that is super cute, engaging and encourages young viewers to embark on new, exciting adventures. Each episode has a lesson or teaches social skills like sharing, listening, compromising, helping and appreciating others and self-awareness.

In “Wubbzy Goes to School”, the cute and quirky bendy-tailed character is nervous about going to school for the first time and because he knows best, as all kids tend to think they do, he decides that he will learn everything he needs to know all by himself. Wubbzy realizes that he can’t teach himself everything and even worse, he has no friends to play with, he gives school a shot and realizes it isn’t so bad after all.

Because the first day of school–not to mention all the preparation leading up to it–can be an extremely hectic, stressful and downright scary time; especially if your child is just starting school and doesn’t know what to expect or even why they have to go in the first place, I was really happy to be able to host this giveaway and get this DVD out to someone who will undoubtedly get a ton of use out of it. So, the winner of our “Wubbzy Goes to School” DVD giveaway is…

pixie13 who left comment number 25!

Congratulations, pixie13!

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Practically everyone knows about Mom Central and the variety of blogs full of expert advice, opinions from real parents and of course, the amazing community run under their banner. We like Mom Central a lot, we participate in the community, in their awesome Twitter parties and write about them fairly often. Well, considering moms have been having a blast over at Mom Central for such a long time, it was only natural for them to branch out some more and have a little nook for all the dads.

Dad Central Consulting is a division of Mom Central just for all the dads out there who are pretty spectacular and eager to connect and engage with each other while building brands. On Thursday, August 26th from 12PM to 1PM EST (that’s tomorrow, folks!) join Dad Central for the Power of Dads Twitter party. The focus of the Twitter party will be discussing how becoming a dad has influenced what you buy, why you but it and who you trust for advice. As an extra, special perk for participating in the party, Dad Central will be giving away six $50 American Express gift cards during the party. To join in on the Twitter party, just search for and use Twitter hashtag #PowerofDads. Also, make sure you’re following @DadCentral and @MomCentral for the discussion and chance to win prizes.

If you’re a blogging dad and want to get involved with Dad Central, join the Dad Central Blog Roll. If you want to be considered for getting to test and review cool new products and take surveys for the chance to win prizes, join the Dad Testing Panel and if you’re on Twitter, join the Dad Twitter Team! If you’re on Facebook, you may also want to join the Dad Central Facebook page to stay up to date on all things Dad Central, participate in discussions and more!

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