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Thumb sucking is a concern many parents have. Toddlers suck their thumbs because it’s comforting and calming. It’s probably something they did before they were born and revert back to it when they are nervous, agitated, scared or ill. They may also use it to lull themselves back to sleep in the middle of the night.

Parents shouldn’t concern themselves unless it continues after the age their permanent teeth begin to appear, around six years old. Experts say that it’s the intensity of the thumb sucking and the tongue’s thrust that deforms teeth and makes braces necessary later. Children who rest their thumb passively in their mouth are less likely to have difficulty than children who suck aggressively. If you’re concerned, closely monitor your child and analyze his technique. If they appears to be sucking vigorously, you may want to begin curbing their habit earlier.

Punishing or nagging your child to stop won’t help because it’s usually an automatic response. Attempting to curb it by putting an elastic bandage on his thumb or another method will seem like unjust punishment, especially since they indulge in the habit for comfort and security.

Try to wait it out. Children usually give up thumb-sucking when they’ve found other ways to calm and comfort themselves. Consider offering them other alternatives to comfort themselves such as a soft blanket or lullaby toy

The key is to notice when and where they are likely to suck their thumbs and offer an alternative. If it happens while they are tired, try giving more naps. If they suck their thumb frequently while watching television, try to distract them with a toy that will keep their hands occupied.

Older children may need gentle reminders to curtail thumb sucking while in public, and praise should be given freely when the child finds and uses an acceptable alternative. Your child’s pediatric dentist can offer other suggestions for helping your child kick the thumb sucking habit.

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Pressure To Potty-How To Cope With Pressure From Family And Friends And Help Your Child Achieve Potty Training Success

Moms and Dads get bombarded with parenting advice from every direction. From play groups to magazines, from families to co-workers, parents constantly feel pressure for their little one to reach developmental milestones. Potty training is no exception, especially since approximately four million toddlers will share this milestone this year alone. Many family members or peers are often quick to prescribe the “correct way to train” or to dictate the “proper age” for a child to start training, but paying attention to your child’s cues is the best way to ensure success.

To help make the potty training process easier, the PULL-UPS Potty Training Partners (PTPs), a dedicated panel of child psychologists, pediatricians and parenting experts, offer their tried-and-true tips to parents.

Focus on the Positives, from Potty Training Partner Jan Faull

“Parents often benchmark their child’s successes by comparing their progress to other potty training children-whether he or she has begun, mastered or completed training,” said Faull. “Your task as the parent of a unique potty trainer is to focus on the smaller victories that have been achieved by your child-even the littlest things will help your child ultimately master potty training.”

Faull says to celebrate when your child shows interest in the bathroom or even knows that he or she is wet. Once your child is a little further along, be proud of him or her for successes such as sitting on the potty on his or her own, or even pulling on and off PULL-UPS Training Pants and clothing independently.

Try Training Using Different Learning Approaches, from Potty Training Partner Jen Singer

Friends and family are quick to tell you what the “right way” to potty train is and pressure you into trying different methods, but remember what works for one child may not be right for your child. “Every child is different in how they learn potty training. My two sons took to training in their own way and time,” said Singer.

The brand that invented the training pant now offers new solutions to make potty training easier for parents and toddlers:

• PULL-UPS Training Pants with Cool Alert™ have a special coolness zone inside of the pant that helps toddlers feel cool within seconds of becoming wet to help them learn to stay dry.

• PULL-UPS Night* Time Training Pants have extra absorbency for maintaining potty training consistency at night.

• PULL-UPS Training Pants with Learning Designs now have more vibrant underwear with graphics and designs that fade when wet inside and out of the pant to help toddlers learn to stay dry.

And all PULL-UPS Training Pants have Easy Open Sides for Mom…just in case!

Remember the Simple Stats, from Potty Training Partner Bernie Dorsey

If the pressure from others or a preschool deadline is still making you feel like your tot needs to rush the potty training process, Partner Bernie Dorsey recommends taking a step back and remembering a few basic potty training facts that prove every child will learn in his or her own way and time.

“On average, most children take at least eight months or more to complete potty training, and even with success, most children still have setbacks,” said Dorsey. “Whether your child starts first or finishes last, helping him or her achieve potty training success in a way that’s most natural and comfortable is what should guide your process all along. There are also plenty of preschools that accept kids who wear training pants.”

Parents need to remain patient as well as stay informed in order to help their child succeed.

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Peg Perego baby strollers are very popular with new parents. There are many models available for either one or two children. Some of the models available in this line are Aria double or twin, Venezia, Pliko, Tender XL, or even an all-terrain stroller such as the Atlantico Classico. This selection means there is a peg perego stroller for any family.

Peg Perego baby strollers are manufactured in Italy, which accounts for the names of the stroller models. It is also why there is great design to go with the beautiful plush Italian fabric on the strollers. The seat padding of the Peg Perego stroller can be removed so that you can wash them. This is a real plus when you have small children and don’t want the extra worry of trying to keep them from spilling food or drink. They are made to very high standards which means that your children will be very safe and comfortable, and you will have a stroller that is simple to use for years to come.

Peg Perego strollers are built to be lightweight but sturdy. This really helps with double strollers because with two children seated in the stroller they are still easy to push. The seats fully recline, so that the stroller is suitable for infants as well as toddlers. Some of the models, such as Venezia, do not have trays or cupholders. This isn’t too much of a problem as it is very simple to get a 3rd party cup-holder that fits.

Another benefit of Peg Perego strollers is the large storage basket. They are large enough to hold every thing you need to bring along for your child. They are also big enough to handle a few bags of groceries. Walking to the grocery store is a great way to get a bit of exercise and to get your child out into some fresh air.

Overall Peg Perego strollers are a great investment. They are very functional, and built to last. This means you can use the same stroller for a couple of kids and still be able to sell it once you are done using it.

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It is just part of parenting teens to feel shut out and worthless as a parent, right? This is not the case. Most children (remember, teens are still kids) need a firm parental hand on their shoulder. While most of the time they will make good decisions based on what you have taught them through the years, other times they will struggle endlessly with peer pressure. The first thing that you need to do as a parent is to take a step back and then make your move.

Take A Step Back

Parenting teens is no easy task. The first thing that you need to do, no matter how angry you are, is to take a small step back and realize what is really happening with your teen. To do this, you need to realize what they are facing. They are facing peer pressure, constant rejection from friends and are usually struggling with their self image. They are under a lot of stress and do not need you to add to it.

Make Your Move

No matter what you see when you take your step back; you need to react to it. If you are thinking that you do not need to worry about your child because they will make the right choices, you are welcoming their pain. Instead, you need to pull them aside when they are having trouble and talk to them in a frank yet understanding way. For example, if you suspect that your child is doing drugs, sit down with them, tell them what you think is happening and offer to help them to get them back on track. No accusations, no pressure, just you being a parent.

Realize that all children make mistakes, even teens. The mistakes teens make are just bigger and more life threatening than those that toddlers make. Yet, parenting teens means being a parent to them. Realize what is happening to your child. Realize what you need to do about it. Forgive them for making the mistake and help them to get out of it. You will need to do this type of parenting for as long as you have teens.

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No, No, No Living With A Two Year Old

If your child is approaching the age of two, your life is about to change dramatically. I know, your life already has changed dramatically, but youre about to enter a whole new level of, well, frustration and despair. Luckily, the difficulties only last for about two years..sigh. Well, to help you out, let me give you some tips about living with your two year old.

First you need to understand that toddlers have no impulse control. This is a critical piece of information, and you will need to chant it to yourself several times a day. Even when a toddler knows what shes doing is wrong, and knows shes going to get into trouble for it, she cant help it. She just has to do it. So, dont think your child is incapable of being trained when she gets into the toilet paper for the tenth time today. The best advice is just put the stuff away. And, dont punish her too harshly. At this age, making punishment harsher for subsequent offenses isnt helpful. The same time out routine each time will have more effect, though you must understand me when I say this nothing except growing older will have much effect on a two year old.

Secondly, if you live with a two year old, dont try to do anything in a hurry. Gone, at least for a while, are the days when you can run to the grocery store. At this age everything takes a long time, and you should just get used to it. Trying to hurry them along only creates frustration for both of you. Let them try to get in and out of the car themselves. Let them pick exactly which grocery cart youll use. Its good for their development and it helps keep peace.

Thirdly, pick your battles. Dont allow anything thats unsafe, but dont try to control how and when everything gets done. If she wants to wear the purple plaid pants with the yellow striped top, some days you just need to let her do it. One way to minimize the battles is to give your child some choices up front, but not too many. For instance, pick out two appropriate outfits for the day, and then let her choose between them.

Finally, enjoy this age. As difficult as two year olds can be (oh, and three year olds can be just as bad), they are also simply magical to watch. They learn something new every day. Theyre excited and amazed by the simplest things, like blowing bubbles and getting a sticker. Theyre a wonderful combination of baby and child, and theyll never be this age again. Thank God.

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Potty training is a major milestone for a toddler. We had bought a book called Once Upon a Potty for his first birthday and he enjoyed reading about Joshua using the potty. My mother bought him a DVD called I Gotta Go! which he enjoyed watching and singing along. My mother bought my son a potty when he was around 1.5 years old and I started sitting him on it from time to time.

But none of those things got him to use the potty everytime. The trick with him was M & Ms. I had talked to another mom at Kindermusik about how she got her son to go to the potty (he was a year younger than my son). She said she started giving him M & Ms everytime he went to the potty. When we got home, I started using her suggestion. You know what, my son started using the potty everytime the same day. Amazing! Within a couple of weeks, I stopped using the M & Ms and he kept using the potty.

Every child is different and they are all ready when theyre ready. Here is a small list of some of the signs they are ready:

1. 1. Able to understand and follow simple directions.
2. 2. Has bowel movements at regular times every day.
3. 3. Able to remain dry for about two hours at a time.
4. 4. Has a name for urine and bowel movement.

Most articles I read said that most toddlers are ready between 18 and 24 months, but it is not uncommon for some children to still be in diapers until they are 3 years old. And really, they dont have to be in diapers. There are training underwear available for toddlers that are more like underwear, but have diaper protection. Thats what we used with our son until he would tell us everytime he had to go potty.

Of course, he is no longer using his potty; he has graduated to the big potty with a potty seat. He feels like such a big kid using the big potty and no longer wears training underwear at night. He wakes himself up to go potty. He is always proud of himself when he doesnt have any accidents at night.

Potty training is not easy, and it takes alot of patience and understanding from us parents to help our little ones reach this milestone. Just take it slow and youll find the magic trick to help your toddler too.

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Parents unite! Complex as it is, it is possible to rear children into responsible, happy and well-adjusted adults. From our end as parents, it will take patience and commitment. However, it will also take wisdom and experience. This is where our support system and access to those who know will play a big role.

No doubt parenting has its priceless rewards. No treasure could equal having our own flesh and blood continue the family line and seeing facets of ourselves in sons and daughters. We all look forward to seeing our grandchildren around us during visits and warm family gatherings. Grandchildren (well supported and taken cared of by their parents of course) are the rewards of old age.

It is a fact though, that being a parent is stressful and demanding. We are faced with situations that would require Solomons wisdom. Unfortunately, as most of us know, we are no Solomon. We face a thousand and one issues everyday.

For most of us who have been in this parenting business for more than 10 years, we found out that just when we knew all the answers, they changed all the questions! The issues differ from pregnancy to babies, from babies to toddlers, from toddlers to pre-schoolers. These go on and on until our precious children reach adulthood and have families of their own.

This might sound scary to first timers. However, we must remember that for every stressful situation, they are magical moments and lots of them. We just have to learn to appreciate them when they come and not be bogged down with the challenges of the day. Children, trying as they are most of the time, are a great source of joy.

When these situations and issues come though, dont we just wish that there is someone who could give us advice? We seek out that special parent who has gone through the same ordeal we are now in yet came out triumphant. How we wish we had a support group to discuss certain case studies so much like our own and find a list of solutions and alternatives. Then we could go back to our parenting with renewed confidence and hope instead of feeling hopeless and distraught.

Being parents, being good parents is challenging. No, its not just challenging. Its tough! It is more than just providing for the material needs of our children. Wed like to be there for them, raise them to be winners or at least equip them with what they need to make a go at life.

On top of being parents, we are also faced with the challenges of our own careers, our relationships and our dreams. We have inner conflicts that we have to deal with. We have seemingly mundane tasks that are a necessary part of life. Dont we just wish we could find out how other parents cope? Just maybe, they have strategies to share with us or us with them. We all have our unique experiences that when shared could enrich each other.

Its really all about sharing what we know, what we have gone through, what works and what may not work. Its all about us and our children. Its all about being parents and what we could do to make each other better parents. Parenting is actually one long roller coaster ride for a lot of us. We could either be alone and agonize all through out the ride or with the help of others, enjoy it to the fullest.

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There is a chore in my home that brings out the procrastinator in me. This particular chore is so big and so difficult, that I create new tasks just to avoid starting the dreaded job. What could be so bad: My toddlers bedroom a.k.a. fighting the battle of too many toys!

The problem doesnt arrive from a lack of organization or space to put things, but from just too many toys in the first place. His room, when tidy, looks like a little toy store gone mad. My husband built custom shelving just for the toys and books, with varying shelf sizes to accommodate different types of toys and sizes of books. However, when I take a close look at the contents, its obvious that theres lots of stuff, but little thought went into most of it.

How should you select and organize your childs toys? Choosing quality kids toys, selected by their developmental stage and abilities, is the first step. Most toys have a recommended age on the package to let you know the appropriate age group. Take cues from your own child to guide you in whether he is ready for a certain toy.

Make sure that the toys youre buying actually do what they are supposed to. If puzzle pieces arent cut correctly, your child will get angry and frustrated when they play with it. Ive recently made the mistake of buying a puzzle that was supposed to be appropriate for ages 18 months to 3 years, only to find that the pieces were very difficult to place, and my son became upset every time he played with the puzzle.

Some suggestions for Toddler and Preschool Toys

Puppets
Activity tables/centers
Sorting boxes
Snap together Blocks Leggos
Puzzles up to 5 wooden pieces
Figures for dollhouse, farm, etc.
Dress up clothes
Trucks and wagons to haul things
Housekeeping and shopping toys
Sewing cards
Buttoning, zipping, snapping dolls or boards
Preschool age games like Memory and Candy land etc.

Most importantly, choose toys that stimulate your childs mind and that create learning experiences. Provide an adequate amount of toys for your child. Dont do as I have and overwhelm your child with too much stuff causing both of you to become frustrated. As we all know, most little kids have a more fun playing with the box the toy came in while the new toy sits idly on the floor. Now its time for me to stop procrastinating and fight the battle of too many toys.

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It is pretty usual for children to go around in footies or in socks during their first months. At that age, shoes are merely a ‘decoration’ item because newborns or young babies never walk so they don’t need any kind of support for their body and feet. Nevertheless, the minute kids begin to walk, generally quite a few months before or after they turn one, you must know what types of shoes your kid is going to wear. You may need to buy several pairs of new shoes for toddlers and preschoolers quite regularly, so you will probably begin to ask yourself lots of questions regarding your child’s shoes.

Picking the right shoes for your kid is not easy. If you are about to buy shoes, you must ask 3 particular questions before buying. They are the following:

1. How does it fit?
2. How is it made?
3. Is the shoe appropriate for your kid’s age?

Let’s analyze every single question a bit more thoroughly.

1. How does it fit? – When you ask this, you must take into account the length, width and depth of the shoe and check this carefully once the shoe is fitting your child’s foot. If you pick a shoe that is ill fitting, you may harm your child’s feet. Your kid can have ingrown toenails, calluses and bunions. Also, try checking your child’s ‘growth spurts’ because when kids grow, their feet grow too. It is advisable to buy new shoes for your child every 3 to 4 months, because it will keep the fit suitable for their feet. Bear in mind that shoes really needn’t to be “broken in”. When a shoe is not comfortable from the start, it means that is definitely not the right shoe for your kid.

2. How is it made? – Four distinctive parts form every shoe: upper part, insole, outer sole and heel. Children are usually quite active, so it is advisable that the upper part of the shoe is made of a strong but breathable material such as canvas or leather. (Try avoiding shoes that are made of plastic, especially at young ages!). Try picking a shoe which insole is made from an absorbent material. It is not actually necessary to have padded insoles or special arch support insoles at this age. The outer sole has to give flexibility, traction and cushioning to the shoe, but it shouldn’t be bulky or sticky when your kid walks. Bulky, sticky outer soles can lead to unnecessary injury by making your child clumsy. Also, heels aren’t really necessary at this age at all! Try picking shoes with flat soles; it will make it much easier for your kid to walk.

3. Is the shoe appropriate for your kid’s age? – A pre-walking kid doesn’t actually need shoes. Their feet just need footies and warm socks; they can even walk barefoot indoors. If you have a toddler and he is just learning to walk, he should wear shoes that have a smooth sole and a high top. Also, it must be made from materials that are light and breathable. These kinds of shoes stay on better and help avoiding falls. If you have a school-age kid, there is a great assortment of suitable shoes, such as tennis shoes, sandals and even hiking boots. If you have an older child, you just have to follow the first two questions and pick the best shoes for your kid.

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Toddlers are notoriously picky eaters. Not a parent exists that hasnt worried about their toddlers eating habits at one time or another.

Some worry their toddlers arent eating enough, others worry that their toddlers are eating too much, and still others worry that their toddlers arent eating a wide enough variety of different foods.

The good news is that if you do things right, you can set your toddler on a path to good eating indefinitely.
How do you do it?

First and foremost, know that when it comes to eating most toddlers are just learning about food, and just starting to develop habits.

You dont want to force food on your toddler at any time, or suggest that they clean their plate or take just one last bite of anything.

Why? This may set them up for a lifetime of food struggles.

Rather, the best way to support good eating habits is to have available at all times a variety of healthy foods in your home.

Generally as long as toddlers eat one or two items from each food group within a 2-3 day time frame, they are doing well.

Here are some other things you can do to encourage healthy eating habits:

Eat as a Family This may not be possible every day of the week, but at least 1-2 days per week you should encourage your family to gather together around the table for a good, wholesome meal. Include lots of different foods that are healthy and nutritious. Toddlers learn by example, and watching other family members eat and interact in an inviting environment will encourage your toddler to do the same as time goes on.

Dont Require Your Toddler to Clean His Plate This is a common well intentioned mistake some parents make. Toddlers eating habits are peculiar, but they do know when they are hungry. Forcing them to finish food they cant or wont eat will only result in power struggles and potentially problems with food later in life.

Keep the Refrigerator Stocked with Healthy Snacks If you dont have dozens of cookies laying about the house your toddler will be less likely to eat them. That said allow your toddler some sweet treats when they are visiting relatives or a friends house. Just remember to keep sweets to a minimum at your house.

Cook a Variety of Foods If you normally cook fish twice a week, your child will become accustomed to it as part of their routine.
It will be much easier to convince your toddler to try new things if they are an ordinary part of your diet, then if out of the blue you decide to try new foods that are unusual or generally unappealing.

As your toddler grows and develops they will eventually develop more routine eating habits. In the meantime simply providing healthy alternatives and variety in their diet is a great way to jump start a healthy diet.

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