Playing with children

  Every new parent approaches their first summer with a certain level of anxiety. With so many things to be wary of, combined with the natural anxiety of being a new parent, it can be challenging to be confident about one’s capabilities.  As any parent will tell you, a certain amount of trial-and-error will come into play.  Conversely, a little common sense will also go a long way. While it is natural to want to keep your babies skin covered, parents must be careful not to overdress the little one.  Yes, it is good idea to keep baby’s skin protected from the sun.  Just be sure that your baby is not overdressed.  Make an effort to wear clothing made of light linen or cotton, and make sure to always put on a big, big hat to cover the little one's head. During the summer, staying out of the sun is almost impossible. Instead of applying sunscreen and letting their children run free, many parents choose to keep them out of the sun. This is a very thoughtful approach, but not always practical.  Be sure to use a high quality sunscreen, with an SPF rating no lower than 30, when you are in the sun with baby.  And don’t forget that the little one will need sunscreen when in the pool, too!

 Insects are another consideration, especially those pesky mosquitoes!  In the past they were more of an annoyance than a health concern, but in recent times there are some valid concerns regarding West Nile Virus.  Aside from the standard mosquito prevention techniques advised by the public health authorities, there are a few alternatives available.  As a parent, I would not feel comfortable applying DEET to may baby’s skin.  DEET is an extremely poisonous and toxic chemical designed for the military, not for babies.  Try using scented oil such as tea tree oil or rosemary.  These are safe, natural alternatives.  If you plan to spend time in the wilderness, ensure that baby is dressed in lightweight clothing that covers most of their skin. If your little one is old enough to ride a tricycle, be sure that you have a good quality helmet for him or her to wear.  Every year, hundreds of children are rushed to the hospital for easily avoidable injuries.  Play it safe, and make sure your child always wears a helmet when playing with any moving toy with wheels.  For smaller children that are just learning to walk, why not consider using a baby harness?  This way, you can let your child run free without having to worry about scrapes and bruises!  Have a great summer, and play safe.

The baby sling has been used for centuries, and has recently gained great favor among modern mothers. A sling gives a small child more privacy, and it's especially helpful for nursing mothers. Actress Keri Russell calls her sling her baby's "paparazzi shield!" There are several important things to consider when choosing a sling or front carrier. First, check the sling to see what size / weight it is rated for. Is the sling padded? Padding is a great way to protect the delicate legs of a toddler. When debating between baby carriers and baby slings, keep in mind that front carriers are designed for infants from 8 to 25 pounds, while baby slings can be used for preemies all the way up to toddlers at 35 pounds. For soft carriers, make sure that it’s washable and has adjustable straps. This allows you to keep the same great fit as your baby grows. Your baby should fit snugly, and have good head support, and their weight should be evenly distributed. Only use a carrier to move the baby about when you are walking. Never use it to transport the baby on a bike, in a car, or any other means of transportation. Check the carrier from time to time for any damage: things like a ripped seam, a missing or loose snap or strap, or a place where the fabric has worn through and a sharp edge is protruding. Some car seats convert to lift-out-and-carry baby carriers. While these can be heavy and bulky, some mothers prefer them to traditional carriers. Many are designed to snap into a car seat base, or into a stroller. Only use those types of models together. Never take a base from one model (maybe that someone has given you) and try to rig up something to hold your carrier in it. In an accident, the carrier will break free, and your baby will become a projectile! If you own a new car, never put your baby’s carrier / car seat in the front. In the event of an accident, the airbags could cause serious injury to your child. In the case of a backpack carrier, consider getting one that can be worn on your back, side or front. It gives you more options depending on the age and temperament of your child. Some carriers provide a sun shield (which doubles as a rain guard) as an added bonus. Remember, the heat of the sun is much more damaging to an infant’s head than an adult’s. You want your baby’s weight evenly distributed, so get a backpack carrier that’s adjustable. Make sure the fabric is washable, and easy to remove; filthy cloth is a breeding ground for germs. Follow these tips, and your baby will stay safe and healthy and so will you. You will need to begin gathering the things your baby will need, now that you got the news that you are expecting a bundle of joy. You may feel overwhelmed if this is your first baby with all the decisions that need to be made. Deciding on the type of stroller you will use for your baby is one of the biggest decisions you will need to make. You need to determine your budget first before you begin choosing from among the many different types of strollers. The cost of strollers can range from $10 to $400 and higher. The lower end strollers are generally the lightweight umbrella strollers. Easy folding and storage give these strollers an advantage. High prices for a stroller could indicate greater quality and better features. You ought to know which one of the many features of strollers is most important to you. Which would you want a convertible travel system or a stroller and a car seat? An infant carrier or car safety seat is attached to a stroller frame in a travel system's stay in the car base. These are wonderful especially for your newborn baby. A play tray that has places for a bottle or juice cup come with strollers. Many strollers come with canopies that have vinyl windows to let you keep an eye on the baby. Easily applied foot brakes that are attached to both rear wheels and a wrist strap brake that can be used together are included on most strollers. While you have the strap on it gives you extra safety while you are stopped because the stroller can’t roll away. Strollers are now coming with a parent tray that fits over the handle bar as well as a large storage basket that fits under the seat(s). It has a holder for a cup of coffee or a soda, your cell phone, snack, and your keys. Reversible handlebars that can be moved from front to rear or vice versa and are height adjustable are now on most strollers. The reversible handlebars can help you to see your baby while he rides if necessary and the height adjustable feature is a great back saver. Next to be considered is the seat. Will the seat recline enough, if it reclines, to allow your newborn to lie almost flat? Will the seat be comfortable for your baby and well padded? Can the seat padding be removed so it can be washed? Blankets that can be attached with snaps to the seat come on most upper end strollers Your baby’s stroller becomes like a bunting on wheels with these blankets. Your baby is protected from wind and harsh sunlight with the use of these detachable rain hoods. Another twist comes with your decision about a baby stroller. You can have for free a stroller that is almost brand new from your friend. She promises to get the stroller ready for you and cleaned. Is purchasing a used stroller safe for your baby? Before you place your baby in it you will need to look over some things and it could be a very good choice for you and your baby. No gaps, dents, or cracks should be found in the frame. Bolts and screws must all be in place. If it were anything less your baby could be seriously hurt in an accident. Are there any sharp spots on the frame? Can your baby be cut by screws sticking out or are there loose screws? Is the frame and handle bar properly joined? Do you need to look over the wheels for leaks in air pressure or are they solid? The wheels; are they worn? Do the wheels need replacement? Are the wheels turning appropriately? Are the axels crooked? Are the brakes holding when applied and working properly? No matter if the seat is in straight us position or reclining position, does the seat hold? Your baby could be seriously hurt if the seat does not hold the position well. Is the seat lining fitting the frame properly and is it clean? Strollers have a variety of options, types, and styles. Multi-seated strollers are available for two children or more. There is a variety of seating arrangements including tandem and side by seating as well as stadium seating which a variation of tandem seating where the rear seat is higher than the front allowing the second child to see more than just the back of a head. Jogging strollers have a triangular wheelbase with one large one out in front and two in the rear. Jogging strollers also come with multiple seating. Used or new enjoy your outings with your baby or children.

The first thing that most new parents think about is a bassinet or a crib.  A bassinet is very small and is designed for babies, while a crib is designed for babies and toddlers.  The main concern with a crib is that some children may find themselves wedged in between the bars, so pay close attention to the spacing if selecting a crib with your new baby furniture.

 For those restless nights, a rocking chair is a must have.  This is generally placed next to the bassinet or crib and is for one of the parents to spend time rocking their child back and forth, either to relax them or to help them fall asleep.  This is an essential piece of baby furniture and must be well constructed in order to avoid any mishaps.  If the chair is assembled upon purchase, double check its stability prior to use.

 Another important piece of baby furniture is a changing table.  Changing diapers, cleaning up after the baby, and even dressing the child all require this. It is important to keep the babys clothes in one of the changing tables compartments or right next to the unit in a drawer.  The reason that this is so important is so that your hand never leaves the child while on the table, so all clothes must be within reach so that you can safely reach for them while holding onto the child.

 A baby bathtub is another essential piece of baby furniture and is designed especially for the little ones comfort.  These are found at any baby specialty store or in the newborn department at a local retail store.

 Not necessarily classified as baby furniture, but necessary nonetheless is a baby stroller for taking your newborn for a short walk.  In addition, a diaper bag with diapers and an extra change of clothes (for both you and the baby) should be taken along.

 When selecting baby furniture, it is important to consider quality above all else.  This is the furniture that stands between your child and the floor, so make sure that it is sturdy and secure.  In addition, pay close attention to recalls on any baby furniture or accessories.  From time to time, certain types of baby furniture may be involved in a recall by the manufacturer.  If this is the case, the manufacturer typically offers to either provide a repair, replacement or refund for the baby furniture in question.

Do you remember playing with toy planes as a child? How if you used your imagination, rather than running, you were flying right alongside your toy airplane. This is a wonderful way to teach your children about your childhood. If you enjoyed this activity as a child, why wouldnt you want to share this with your children? Often as parents, we are afraid our children wont like the same things we did, because there are more technologically advanced things on the market today, and yet our children will get all kinds of toys with bells and whistles at Christmas time and still have more fun playing with the wrapping paper and boxes than the gifts filling them. Think about this when you wonder about your cherished memories being too lame or old fashioned. After all, how long have cardboard boxes been around? I always make a point of showing my children the things that had a large impact on my childhood. Whether they enjoy them or not is entirely up to your child, but you can build memories simply through the act of sharing those things. We live in a world where time is such a precious commodity, how could you possibly better spend your time, than sharing fond memories of your childhood with your children, especially the memories of good clean fun. Toy planes today are far more sophisticated than they were when we were children and yet the old-fashioned wood and rubber band airplanes still exist. And the most amazing thing is that both of them are good sellers even after all these years the traditional toy plane is popular among children and parents as a bonding experience. Toy planes represent freedom, wings, what more beautiful thing can you give a child to play with?

You are aware that there is a wide selection of baby strollers to choose from. Your choice of strollers will be affected by how many children you plan to use it for, how you are going to use the stroller and where, and finally your budget. All things aside your babys comfort and safety will also influence your choice. Lets take a look at some of the types of strollers available to you. One child can fit in a standard stroller, which comes equipped with play trays, parent trays, fabrics, and handlebars, among other features. Many strollers now have height-adjustable handlebars, which are great for saving your back. Double strollers have two seats. Double strollers can be sat in a number of different ways. The traditional double seat is one behind the other – tandem style. Tandem seating has the first child with a good view and he one in the rear seat sees the back of the others head. A variant of the tandem seating is stadium seating. Think of bleachers where each seat is raised slightly above the one in front of it allowing those in the rear to see whats going on. There is side by side seating as well as face to face seating. Jogging strollers are very popular because they enable you to bring your child along on a run. The jogging stroller has a triangular wheel base with two large wheels in the rear and one wheel in the front. They have a lot of appealing features. An added safety feature is a wrist strap on the handle bar. This is worn so that when you stop, the stroller doesnt roll away from you. As always whenever you stop your stroller the break should always be applied. The wrist strap is added protection. Jogging strollers are available for multiple seating as well. For triplets or three children, triple strollers are ideal. Seating arrangements can be side by side but most have tandem seating or stadium seating. When the stroller is full of kids and you are pushing it will help you achieve your goals of fitness. Convertible multiple strollers are available where they can be made into double seater’s with additional seats and a transverse bar. You might want to check if this option is available for the particular stroller you are considering. Umbrella strollers are very inexpensive. They are generally easier to fold and unfold. They are very lightweight and store easily in a car trunk. They are terrific for short trips to the Mall or short walks. They do not work well on all terrain. They do come in multiple seating as well. The only drawback I had with umbrella strollers is that if anything was hung on the handle it caused the carriage to tip backwards. Light weight strollers are slightly heavier than the umbrella strollers and slightly less than the standard stroller. They typically fold in a single hand motion. They also resemble the standard type stroller. They also come in a variety of seating options. Carriage Strollers are convertible strollers in that you can change them from a carriage (a bed on wheels) to a stroller. This is great for infants that are unable to sit up yet. The handle is reversible so you can turn it into a stroller which is great for children who are sitting up. Bike strollers or trailers are installed by attaching it to the rear wheel. There are two seated models available. They can be converted from a trailer to a stroller with no tools. The restraint system is a five-point harness for each child.