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Baby Gates For Stairs – What You Should Know

  • Posted on July 2, 2009 at 7:15 am

When it comes to baby gates for stairs, it seems like you have an endless array of choices. There are all kinds of different child safety gates, but the truth is, in order to protect your child you need to buy the right type of gate.

Many parents don’t realize the importance that a baby gate that is installed properly can provide. Thousands of babies and toddlers are injured or killed each year from accidents such as falling down the stairs. Sadly, the vast majority was preventable.

When you are at the point of needing baby gates for stairs, be sure you buy a hardware mounted safety gate. Do not rely on a pressure-mounted gate. Here’s why.

A pressure mounted baby gate is perfect for room-to-room use. It keeps your toddler in one area and gives you peace of mind. But it does not provide strength when pressing up against it. Around the stairs your child could be leaning up against it or trying to climb it when all of a sudden it gives way. Don’t let that happen to you.

A hardware mounted baby gate has the screws and brackets to permanently attach itself to the wall or frame. The added strength means you won’t have to be as concerned about it giving way. If you have an odd sized opening you can purchase installation kits that will help with mounting. There are also extension kits that will allow you to secure a much larger opening.

One other tip when using baby gates for stairs is to always keep an eye on your child. Yes, the gate will protect them, but as they get older they will undoubtedly try and climb it. Double check that the gate door is latched closed as well. You would be surprised at how often it’s not.

Next, go to this website at Baby Gates For Stairs where you will find information, reviews and ratings on every kind of baby safety gate. http://www.BabyGatesForStairs.com

Article Source: Baby Gates For Stairs – What You Should Know

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How To Deal With A Child’s Tantrum

  • Posted on July 1, 2009 at 9:06 pm

Even the best behaved toddler has an occasional temper tantrum. A tantrum can range from whining and crying to screaming, kicking, hitting, and breath holding. They’re equally common in boys and girls and usually occur from age 1 to age 3. Some children may experience regular tantrums, whereas for other children, tantrums may be rare. Some kids are more prone to throwing a temper tantrum than others.

Toddlers are trying to master the world and when they aren’t able to accomplish a task, they often use one of the only tools at their disposal for venting frustration – a tantrum. There are several basic causes of tantrums that are familiar to parents everywhere: The child is seeking attention or is tired, hungry, or uncomfortable. In addition, tantrums are often the result of children’s frustration with the world. Frustration is an unavoidable part of kids’ lives as they learn how people, objects, and their own bodies work.

Tantrums are common during the second year of life, a time when children are acquiring language. Toddlers generally understand more than they can express. As language skills improve, tantrums tend to decrease.

Keep off-limits objects out of sight and out of reach, which will make struggles less likely to develop over them. Distract your child. Take advantage of your little one’s short attention span by offering a replacement for the coveted object or beginning a new activity to replace the frustrating or forbidden one. And choose your battles: consider the request carefully when your child wants something. Is it outrageous? Maybe it isn’t. Accommodate when possible to avoid an outburst.

Make sure your child isn’t acting up simply because he or she isn’t getting enough attention. To a child, negative attention (a parent’s response to a tantrum) is better than no attention at all. Try to establish a habit of catching your child being good (“time in”), which means rewarding your little one with attention and praise for positive behavior. This will teach them that acting appropriately makes mommy and daddy happy and proud, and they’ll be anxious to do it again and again.

Visit the Free Tips Online website to learn about babysitting tips and potty training tips.

Article Source: How To Deal With A Child’s Tantrum

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Free outdoor fun for Kids

  • Posted on July 1, 2009 at 9:06 pm

Keeping the kids entertained can be hard work – and expensive. Here are 7 great outdoors ideas to help you spend quality time with your kids – from toddlers to pre-teens – for free. Enjoy!

1. Go on a welly walk

Ages 2-10. Great for wet weather.

There are few things kids enjoy more than being allowed to jump in puddles and get wet. So ignore the weather, pull on your old clothes and boots and get outside and do some puddle-jumping.

2. Take photos

Ages 5 and up. Great to inspire their creativity.

Go for a walk and let your kids loose with a digital camera.

Let them take snaps of anything they want while your out. If they’re having trouble, maybe point out some good opportunities for them as you go.

You never know, you might unearth a real talent for it.

3. Get on your bike

Ages 5 and up. Great for family bonding.

Not only is going for a family bike ride a lot of fun, it’s also a great way for all of you to stay active.

Make sure everyone is wearing helmets and visible clothing and if at all possible, steer clear of big roads. Go for parks and woods as the main part of the ride.

4. Wild in the country

Ages 2-12. Great for nature lovers.

Go looking for nature with a romp along some public footpaths or nearby woods.

Looking out for animals and insects is always fun for kids and if they spot free food in the form of berries, then it’s often pretty exciting.

Many woods also have education centres which will teach your kids even more fun stuff about the trees and what lives in them. The Forestry Commission has more information with their Woodlands for Learning programme.

5. Get some animal magic

Ages 2-10. Great if you don’t have a pet but they want one!

As we spend more time in towns and cities, our kids spend less time in the country and close to nature.

There aren’t many kids who don’t enjoy petting and stroking animals and there are lots of city or school farms up and down the country that are free. Your kids can even sign up to become a volunteer if they love it.

6. Make stencils and rubbings from nature

Ages 3-10. Great to get them thinking differently.

Take a piece of paper and a coloured pencil or crayon and go out into the garden, or on a walk in the park.

Find something that will make a nice pattern with a textured surface, tree bark, letters on grave stones, leaves, concrete paths, and get the kids to put their piece of paper over it and colour in with their pencil.

When you get home you can talk about the patterns they’ve made. You could even use the art work as wrapping paper or as presents for friends and family.

7. Make mud pies and magic mixtures

Ages 3-7. Great if you want to leave them to it.

If there’s a spot in your garden you don’t mind the kids digging in, give them a bucket and some water and leave them to it! Children can spend hours pretending to be witches, cooks, mums…

You could also set them up on a plastic sheet in the garden with a big bowl of flour and some water. If you’ve got any food colouring knocking about, it can add a whole new level of fun to the game!

Beth Ivory
Good to Know

Good to Know’s family section features lots of parenting advice.

From tips on conceiving a baby and how to enjoy the pregnancy, through what to do in those first few months, advice for controlling toddlers and coping with your children as they reach school age and puberty.

Article Source: Free outdoor fun for Kids

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Potty Training Girls – Is it Much Different Than Potty Training Boys?

  • Posted on July 1, 2009 at 9:05 pm

I’ve been potty training girls – and boys – for the last three decades I can tell you with great confidence that there is very little significant difference between the two. In fact, the approach is exactly the same.

For instance, you’ll need to make sure that your daughter is chronologically and developmentally ready. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that most normal, healthy toddlers are ready for potty training between 16 and 27 months (18 months is the average).

However, experts are also careful to point out that developmental maturity is a much better indicator of readiness than is chronological age.

Following are several signs that your daughter is ready.

She might:

* Recognize simple words and phrases such as, “pee pee,” “poop,” “potty,” etc. * Demonstrate awareness of her body parts (and others’) – especially genitals * Imitate others – especially Mom, Dad and siblings

* Dress or undress herself

* Express her need for independence – For instance, I knew my granddaughter, Sevy, was “there” as soon as she starting saying, “Sevy can do it!” many times a day. (As a matter of fact, she said it so often I told her that her name should be “Sevy-Can-Do-It”!

As I indicated, these are just a few of the many clues you’re likely to witness. However, if you have questions regarding this, I suggest that you consult with your pediatrician or take one of the many potty training assessment quizzes found on the Internet.

Once you’re sure that it time to potty train your little girl, you’ll want to arm yourself with a solid plan of action – in other words, a potty training system that will help you achieve your goal (no diapers!) successfully, joyfully, and completely.

Fortunately, achieving great results with any potty training system is not dependent on fancy potty chairs, toys, or dolls. They’re simply not necessary. However, there’s certainly no harm in providing a few extras, if you’d like.

Here are a few “nice-to-have” potty training tips specifically for little girls.

1. Outfit your daughter in dresses during potty training. Why pull down pants, undo buttons, or unzip zippers when your little one has to use the potty? Instead, use potty training as an opportunity to make your little girl feel pretty and make it easier on you to get them to the potty on time!

2. Allow your daughter to choose her “big girl” underwear. Why not celebrate this wonderful rite of passage with a shopping trip to your local department store for pretty underwear? Your little girl will love picking out her favorites and you’ll have a natural opportunity to talk with her about potty training. Everyone wins…

3. Consider purchasing potty books specifically developed for little girls. There are many great potty books and DVDs available on the Internet and in stores – some are quite general, while others are strictly for girls. Are these books mandatory? No – at least not in my opinion. However, if you’re set on purchasing one, it makes sense to buy one that comes closest to what your child will experience.

Bottom line – Potty training girls is identical in methodology to potty training boys. Yes, there are several minor differences, but the approach, support, timing, and need for consistency are all the same. I wish you great success and joyful potty training!

Mary E. Eule, BA, MS is a professional writer and researcher who has spent the last three decades helping parents potty train their children in 48 hours or less. She is the developer of the BRIEFS potty training system and author of the e-book, “The Official BRIEFS Potty Training Guide.” Visit her website: http://www.AskThePottyTrainer.com to purchase her e-book, download her free potty e-course or to get more free information about potty training girls.

Article Source: Potty Training Girls – Is it Much Different Than Potty Training Boys?

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