Being a parent can be a difficult task in itself. Parenting involves time, care, love, and discipline, all rolled into one major job. This article will provide you with a number of tips to manage your parenting abilities, and keep yourself sane and happy while your children stay calm and well-behaved.
If you’re away on a trip without your child, make sure you call them at least once a day to tell them you miss them. This lets the child know that you love them and haven’t forgotten about them. You don’t want your child to feel like they’re not as important as your friends or your job are.
When traveling with small children, consider booking two rooms with an adjoining door. This will allow you to have your child sleep in a separate room without being too far away from you. It also provides more space to unpack without baby going through the suitcases. Be sure to double-check when you make the reservation that the rooms are physically connected with a door, not just next to each other.
If your baby or young child has diarrhea, make sure to give them Pedialyte and lots of fluids. Just like adults, babies and young children get dehydrated after they have had excessive diarrhea, which can cause severe health problems. If your child has diarrhea for more than a few days, bring him or her to the doctor.
If your child has figured out how to unzip their pajamas at night, buy the kind without the feet on them. Put them on your child backwards. He will not be able to reach the zipper, so he will not be able to take his clothes off. This will lead to a better night’s sleep for everyone in the family.
A great rainy-day project to do with your little ones, is making macaroni masterpieces. Take pieces of construction paper, elbow macaroni, child-safe glue, and crayons and lay them out on the table. Let your little one color the pieces of construction paper, and then help him glue the macaroni to his drawing. He will be proud to see his own macaroni masterpieces hung from the refrigerator for all to see.
If you have a baby that is not easily soothed, consider rubbing a bit of lavender essential oil on the back of your neck. The baby will smell this when you are rocking her and it will have quite the soothing effect on her. You may even want to put a couple drops of lavender baby lotion on your baby’s blanket.
A great parenting tip is to restrict how much time your child can watch television or play video games. Watching too much television or playing video games too much can promote laziness and can possibly lead to an attention disorder. It’s best to limit how much time they spend with these activities.
To soothe a fussy or colicky baby, try babywearing. Using a wrap, sling, mei tai or other carrier keeps your baby snuggled close to your body, and he or she can feel your movements and hear your heartbeat. Your baby may even nap in the carrier, allowing you to do housework or have your hands free for other tasks.
When disciplining your children, ensure you are NOT angry. Words said out of anger can last a lifetime with your child, hurting them in ways you can’t imagine. If you get mad, walk away for a bit until you calm down, then deal with your child. This will make your relationship less contentious.
As was stated at the beginning of the article, parenting can be an arduous task. Understanding the best way to raise your children can make your life much easier. Following the advice given in this article can help you be on your way to being a better parent, and having well-behaved children.
