Parenting Blog

You can never afford to be careless with you baby, not even when he is playing with his toys. Like any other time, he needs your attention while he is entertaining himself with his toys too because he still doesn’t knows about right and wrong. He might bring himself to a choking hazard, might hurt himself, or stab others. A lot many things can happen with toys too. So you need to be careful every time.

Here are a few tips that can help you to choose the right toys for him, one which does not pose any kind of danger to your baby:

• Choose toys which are most appropriate for your baby’s age. To help you, almost all toys come with a ‘recommended age’ tag. Such toys suite your baby’s developmental level. You need to be aware of you baby’s abilities and the level of his maturity while choosing toys for him.

• Make sure that whatever you choose for him doesn’t present a choking hazard. The toy parts must be bigger than his mouth. Here is a small test to help you: if the toy you chose for your baby fits into the cylinder of a toilet-paper roll, then it is not safe.

• Also, pay attention to the weight of the toy. Make sure that if somehow that toy fell on your baby, it wouldn’t be heavy enough to harm your baby.

• Look for some toys that are put together well and which aren’t tearing or peeling off paint in any place. For example, if you chose a stuffed toy, make sure that it is sewn properly and does not have any buttons or likewise things that you baby could snatch out of the toy and put into his mouth.

• You need to pick toys for him that actually fit his size. Buying a toddler a cycle won’t be of any use to him.

• Make sure that the toy you choose for him is in a good condition. Sometimes, we tend to use toys that have been present in the family for some time. Such toys are usually worn out, chewed out or fixed with plastic appendages.

• Avoid toys that have a considerably long string because they can cause strangulation to the baby. Also, make sure that you don’t leave around any mobile chargers or similar stuff because they can be easily wrapped around your baby’s neck.

• Make sure the toy doesn’t contain a magnet, because it is something that can be easily put into the mouth by your baby.

Keep a track of all these things when you choose a toy for him. It is also a good idea to inform anyone about these guidelines who is planning to give a gift to your baby.

Pregnancy period is the most magical time in the couple’s life. It is full of emotions, bonding, excitement and a little fear, fear of the questions related to baby’s physical, emotional and mental health. Each would-be parent will definitely wish that their baby is born intelligent and is incredibly smart.

Nutrition and Intelligence go hand in hand. A golden rule advised to the expecting mothers is the ‘Five-A-Day” rule. It says, “Eat at least two fruits and three vegetables and a balanced diet”.

The seven secrets to make the baby intelligent inside you -

• Omega 3: A winning combination of Pregnancy and Omega 3 can make your baby exceptionally intelligent. The human brain is sixty percent fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are a must for the unborn baby and the mother. The pregnant mother must include fish in her meals or look out for supplements but with due care and with consent of the doctor.

• Pay Attention to Mercury Content: Fishes are very helpful in baby’s brain development but you must take care of the mercury contamination in them. Some fishes like King Mackerel, Shark, Swordfish, tilefish should be avoided due to the higher levels of mercury while fishes like Pollack, Whitefish, Salmon, Shrimp and Catfish should be included in the diet.

• Say NO to Alcohol: If the intake of alcohol is heavy during the pregnancy, it can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome. But a fact is that, even a moderate quantity of liquor, wine or beer is sufficient to cause harm to the baby’s brain. Specifically, moderate drinking can cause problems related with learning abilities, memory power, ability to pay attention and other social skills.

• Boost the Iron Intake: When you are pregnant, just double the intake of iron in your diet. This is required as the iron transports oxygen to your little baby. If the baby is deprived of oxygen, it may lead to improper growth and a low IQ level of the baby. Eat iron rich food items such as chicken, fortified breakfast cereals, lean beef, and legumes.

• Fruits and Vegetables are your friends: Dark green leafy vegetables, blueberries, tomatoes, papaya etc. all produce antioxidants which are needed to protect the damage of baby’s brain tissues.

• Pump up proteins: Proteins are the building blocks of the body. At the pregnancy time, the protein intake should be increased by 10 grams/day. Your breakfast must have yogurt smoothie, lunch should have cup of bean soup, and snack time intake should be whole grains or peanut butter and at dinner take a portion of lean beef.

• Avoid too much weight gain: Too much weight gain leads to premature birth leading to some mental impairments of the baby. If you are normal in weight, gain approximately 25-35 pounds. If you are underweight, gaining about 28-40 pounds is good and if you are overweight, you must gain about 15-25 pounds.

These days it’s tough to find a person who doesn’t carry a cell phone. Cell phones have become an essential part of our day to day lives. Even young children are given their own cell phone. Parents are given a sense of security knowing that their kids always have a way to contact them in case of any trouble. But recent studies suggest that carrying a cell phone actually increases risky behavior, especially in teens and college kids.

The research showed that teens, teen girls in particular, who carry cell phones are more likely to take risks that they normally would not take. Teens are more likely to walk alone at night or travel to places they otherwise wouldn’t when they are carrying a cell phone. The reason for this trend is that kids feel safer when they have a phone on hand. They might tell themselves that if they get into trouble, they can call for help and everything will be all right. However, there is no evidence that this is true.

Cell phones are important for kids to have on hand, especially when they begin driving. If kids get lost on the road, run out of gas or get in an accident, cell phones are lifesavers. They provide a way out for kids who get into uncomfortable situations at a party or a friend’s house, and make your daily routine a lot easier. But there is no reason for us to believe that a cell phone makes you any safer when walking alone after dark, or that they make reckless behavior any safer.

Cell phones can actually make kids less safe if they are not being used responsibly. Chatting on a phone while driving is a widely recognized hazard, but doing so while walking or crossing the street causes a dangerous distraction that can lead to injury. A teen walking alone at night might pick up her phone to hear a comforting voice, but this act will prevent her from being fully aware of her surroundings.

It’s important that parents don’t use cell phones as an excuse to let their kids engage in activities they wouldn’t normally allow, like staying out a few hours later than usual. The same risks are still present even if your teen does have a way to contact you in case of an emergency. Talk to your kids about cell phone safety. Make sure they know to never answer a phone call when they’re driving. This is especially important for beginning drivers. Cell phones should never be an excuse to take unnecessary risks.

By the time they’re ready for school, kids know which sugary cereal is their favorite and which Lunchable they are hoping you have packed for them today, but the same foods that give them that burst of energy during lunch time also cause their brain to crash an hour later. While your child may not beg you for a sandwich on whole wheat bread, he’ll have a lot more energy and do better in school because of it. Here are some “brain foods” that will keep your kids’ minds going all day long.

Breakfast foods that are digested slowly, like those containing complex carbohydrates and protein, will keep your child full longer so he’s able to concentrate during all of his morning classes. Eggs are the perfect source of protein at breakfast, and there are so many ways to prepare them that you should be able to find one your child will enjoy. Make a “one-eyed Jack” by cutting a circle out of a slice of whole wheat bread, crack an egg in the hole, cook it together in a frying pan and let your kids top it with peanut butter and honey. Even whole wheat French toast will provide your child with the protein and complex carbs he needs. Instead of drowning it in maple syrup, try topping French toast with sliced bananas and strawberries. Oatmeal is also a powerful source of whole grains that, with a little creativity, every kid will love. If you’re making it on the stove, you can add dried fruit, walnuts, or cinnamon as it’s cooking. Adding berries or another kind of fresh fruit is a good idea. Strawberries and blueberries are proven to boost brain power. Packaged oatmeal is quicker and more convenient, but when you’re purchasing it watch the sugar content.

When you’re packing lunch, get your child’s input – he’ll be more likely to eat something he’s picked out himself. Switch to whole wheat bread (not simply “wheat” bread, make sure it contains whole grains). Peanut butter is great brain food, so spread it on sandwiches with jelly, honey or marshmallow fluff. Toast the bread first if your child hates the sogginess, but make sure it cools before you bag it. You can purchase individual servings of peanut butter – it comes in a six-pack of little plastic cups that are perfect for lunches. Bag some wheat crackers and sliced fruit along with the peanut butter so your child can make mini-sandwiches for lunch. Pack orange juice boxes, a powerful source of vitamins, or low-fat milk. Even the chocolate and strawberry varieties are a healthy, protein- and calcium-rich option.

Many parents believe that they are the greatest influence on their child’s identity, and in a perfect world, this truly is the case. However, recent studies in gender identity involving elementary school kids suggests that outside influences are playing a big role in many kids’ lives – namely, big business and advertising. Researchers had children respond to questions about gender identity and they found that media stereotypes played a large role in how kids viewed themselves.

Girls responded that they thought boys were emotionally reserved and that they weren’t allowed to talk about their feelings with their friends, while other girls readily shared their emotions. Many boys stated that they prefer female friends because it’s easier to talk openly with them. In a frightening discovery, researchers found that almost half of the nine year-old girls they interviewed admitted to having dieted or showed signs of having an eating disorder. That means that women are being influenced by unhealthy messages about body image from the time they are children.

Boys and girls are being taught that different traits are desirable for their gender. Boys are overwhelmed by media messages about competition, strength, and other attributes that characterize “manhood.” This is dangerous because too many of these messages promote violence, which probably explains why the majority of condemned criminals are men. On an even more disturbing note, aggression is often tied into messages about sexuality and romantic relationships that could breed domestic violence.

Besides increasingly unhealthy ideas about body image, girls today see women portrayed in the media as overtly sexual. These images are highly present in music videos, often times bordering on pornographic, though they also appear in magazines, commercials, ads and television shows. It’s not easy for girls to find role models. Young stars like Miley Cyrus (also known as Hannah Montana), admired by so many young people, are already concerned about body image. Fifteen year old Miley has admitted to thinking she looks “too fat” in photographs and that she wants to lose weight. The most prominent female stars aren’t talented musicians and gifted actresses, but junkies who frequent rehab clinics and plastic surgeons. Even the majority of female characters in movies play the “girlfriend” role while the male leads are portrayed with more humanity.

Many people don’t think that kids pick up on these stereotypes, but the fact is that they’re even more susceptible than the rest of us. It’s difficult enough for kids to form their own sense of identity without so many confusing messages being thrown at them about who they “should” become. Parents must teach their kids about harmful media stereotypes so they can develop the mental tools to combat them. Encourage your children to avoid watching, listening to or reading stereotypical media. Make sure that your kids are provided an environment where they can develop their innate traits, whether these traits are classified as “male” or “female,” without being made to feel inadequate by these false ideas.