July, 2010

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31
Jul 10

How to Install an Infant Car Seat

Nothing matters to a parent more than their child’s health and safety, especially when riding in a car. An automobile accident can happen in an instant and it is vital that a child is properly protected. It is imperative that an infant’s car seat be correctly and securely installed and this can be confusing to a first time user with all the different clips and belts.

Unfortunately, an infant car seat cannot guarantee a child’s safety. However, a properly installed car seat will significantly decrease the chance of death or injury in the event of a car accident. As a result, car safety seats are required by law in all 50 states.

For babies, a car seat is installed into the back seat of the car, facing the rear and is attached to a base that sits on the backseat. The base is securely fastened to the seat of the car with a seat belt. It’s important to make sure that the seat belt of the car is threaded through the proper slots of the base. Check the installation manual, but often a rear-facing infant seat must be installed at a 45 degree angle. It’s also very important to make sure that the straps that hold the baby in the seat are properly and securely fastened and that the infant seat is in the reclined position while in the vehicle. The straps should be threaded through the slots that are just below your child’s shoulders and when fastened, they should be tight enough that only one finger can fit between the harness and the child’s collarbone.

As a child grows older, they will begin to use a safety seat that now faces the front of the car in a seat that is especially suited to this use. With this type of seat, the seatbelt of the car is threaded through the holes in the back of the seat. Again, it’s important to ensure that the seatbelt is threaded through the proper holes. Once it’s securely fastened, the next step is to attach the straps to the safety clips near the rear window of the car, by the headrests. This is a newer, additional system called the Universal Anchorage System and is now mandatory in many jurisdictions. When these latches are connected, you can then tighten them to ensure that the seat is securely fastened and there is very little play in the seat. The last step of course is to ensure that the child is securely fastened into the seat using the straps provided.

No matter what kind of infant car seat that you decide to buy, it’s always important that you follow the manufacturers instructions when installing the seat. Ensure that the seat belts in the car are working properly and that the seat does not have any visible damage as this can cause the structure of the seat to become weak and possibly fail under stress.

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31
Jul 10

School And Your Toddler

“The trouble with today’s youth is…” how many times have you heard that expression? How many times have you heard the same tired clich閟. “They’re irresponsible” “they never show any respect.” Adolescents have suffered from countless generalizations and oversimplifications.

By lumping all teenagers together and expecting certain adverse behavior from them we essentially deny them the freedom to be individuals. When that behavior occurs, we all nod our heads knowingly and feed our own prejudices.

It’s interesting to consider how the media portray adolescents. For instance, in the 1950s, adolescents were portrayed as angry young rebels. Marlon Brandon in The Wild One and James Dean in Rebel Without A Cause rose to fame in roles portraying youths at odds with the world

When young people of that era grew up and came to control the media in the 1970s they portrayed the black-leathered-jacket crowd, like “The Fonz” in Happy Days as polite, well-groomed, respectful superheroes

Whereas parents in the 1960s frowned upon the lyrics and antics of the Rolling Stones, parents now line up to take their children to Stones concerts. The good old days of today are frequently the terrible times of yesterday.

Studies of adolescents have revealed several interesting facts. Most adolescents have attitudes and values that closely reflect those of our society as a whole. Their political orientation is usually that of their parents.

The majority of adolescents approve of their parents’ attitudes toward discipline even though they don’t enjoy being subjected to discipline. Most adolescents feel that their parents understand them and most feel that the communication lines with their parents are open

There is a wide spectrum here, because many adolescents are at odds with their parents. No individual can be expected to agree with a parent, spouse or friend all the time. Disagreements produce tension, and because of their unpleasant nature people often remember them

A thousand productive acts may be forgotten in the wake of 1 heated argument

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31
Jul 10

Some Great Gifts For Your Gardening Friends

The rewards of gardening are plentiful. But sometimes it is nice to receive a gift to make the work of gardening a bit more comfortable or easier. Even though for most, gardening is a chore of love, having the right tool for the specific task is not only a time saver but gets the job done correctly and more efficiently.

A lot of time in the garden is spent on your knees close to the earth. A gift of cushioned kneepads is a thoughtful one. They are good for working in the soil, and also can be useful when working on harder surfaces such as wood, asphalt, and even concrete. Surprisingly, they can be so comfortable that a gardener can forget he or she is even wearing them.

Hauling mulch around an area can be time consuming. Give a large garden cart to your gardening friend you know has a lot of this heavy hauling to do. This cart will take fewer trips holding about five times the amount the common wheelbarrow can hold. It will also come in handy when planting larger shrubs being much sturdier and stable than a wheelbarrow.

A potting table is a wonderful gift. A special place at just the right height to change around plants to bigger pots or different ones is always so useful for any gardener. A soil tray is a good thing and one with a sink is even better.

All-in-one efficiency tools are always a good gift. A multi-purpose garden knife that can dig holes and cut roots makes the transplanting task easy; and this can be found all in just one tool. With this tool, days in the garden become less about work and more about enjoying yourself in the garden.

Many gardeners appreciate items of garden art received as gifts which often hold memories of times spent with vacationing friends and neighbors. These little treasures can be placed throughout the garden creating a personal touch.

A living gift keeps on giving and giving. Instead of buying cut roses that would eventually just die, consider giving a rose bush. This rose bush will keep on multiplying more beautiful roses on its branches, and also give cut roses for years to come.

Sometimes gardeners have injuries or develop medical conditions that prevent them from gardening the way they used to garden. A lightweight little power tiller can really help in this case bringing joy back into the act.

Support apparatus for vine-type plantings or a sturdy arbor for a wandering wisteria could be just the perfect gift. Whatever is chosen to grow on the support will be displayed much more vividly and will happily show its gratitude continually.

Probably the most thoughtful garden gifts are tools given down from one gardener to the next gardener in the family. If a gardener keeps his or her tools in good condition, they will keep performing for many years to come.
A wooden handle might have to be replaced, but knowing that same tool had been in use for over half a century or more is a real treasure.

A gardening journal makes a great gift to keep records of annual plantings. It can be a resource for memories and it can remind you that gardening is a process and a constant learning experience. The best journals have places for daily notes as well as a plant inventory list and a place where harvests can be documented.

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31
Jul 10

Learn About Micro RC Planes

The world is ‘going small’, from cars, mobile phones, computers to all other gadgets and machines, which we normally use. Space is becoming limited and so the need to change even in the ‘flying world’. Considering the limitations, gave rise to Micro RC airplanes, which are very small versions of model planes and are commonly known as micro flyers.

Micro RC planes are common and popular today. It is not easy to find a big vacant park, where you can fly your models planes. But, this does not mean, you should give up your favorite hobby. Micro RC planes can be flown anywhere. You can fly them in your backyard, living room, gym or any other place. They have all the controls of an RC plane, but are small and docile. RC micro airplanes are not only easy to fly in such mentioned places, but are also lighter in weight, since their configuration do not require many parts. This is the reason, why they are very small. These Micro RC planes are cheaper because of their advantages and structure. Their parts are small and fewer and can quickly be produced en mass.

There are many RC Micro airplanes produced in large numbers today. Several companies manufacture these model planes and Watt-Age is the leading company in their production. Watt-Age produces models such as the Micro Flyer and Rookie. Micro Flyer is the world’s smallest RC model airplane. It has amazing features that charm the expert flyers as well as novices to purchase it. It has a wingspan of only 9 inches and is easy to control. It comes with a two-channel radio transmitter, which controls the rudder movements as well as the throttle and also acts as a battery charger. The plane can fly for around 6 minutes on a single charge of the batteries. But the good news is, with the onset of Lithium batteries, one can fly for hours, before changing the batteries.

The Rookie on the other hand is one of the best Micro RC model planes suitable for beginners. It is a ready-to-fly model that has been designed to cope with rough landing, especially when new flyers handle it, to bring it to a smooth landing. The Rookie can also fly for 6 minutes on a single charge. It has a wingspan of up to 10 inches and looks elegant, while flying. The plane has a great look. But one of its best features is the positioning of the propeller on its rear, so that in case of crashing, the plane has greater chances of survival.

For those, who want to spend more, for better, then Butterfly from Plantraco is the best option to go for. So, if what you have is a few dollars, your living room and still want to fly, think of getting one of these Micro RC planes.

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30
Jul 10

What You Need to Know About Baby Beds

Parents always want the best for their child, choosing the right baby bed furniture can be a difficult decision but it is important to make the right decision for you. There are so many different choices on how to furnish and decorate your new baby’s bedroom that it can be overwhelming, so to start here are the different bed options to choose from:

Choosing your newborns bed

Moses Basket and Bassinet

For newborns a Moses basket is Very light to carry and makes it easier to move baby around the house, and as they are quite small it is easier to fit your newborn into your bedroom in those early months.

There are so many beautiful baskets and bassinets on the market that you can buy a stunning bed for a relatively low price. This makes the Moses Basket or Bassinet an attractive choice for your Baby’s first bed. A Moses basket stand is also worth looking at as you can have a basic stand or a rocking stand, which can be used to help get your newborn to sleep. Moses baskets and Bassinets are only appropriate for newborns and only used until your baby is around 3 or 4 months old. A lot of parents use the Moses basket before transitioning to a crib

Cradle

Cradles are smaller versions of the crib but has the added advantage that it can be rocked. This is useful for a newborn as it creates a small environment for them to feel safe and snug in their bed, the rocking will also help to get your baby to sleep

A cradle does last longer than a Moses basket but you will need to buy a larger bed at around 4 to six months.

Crib

A crib will be your baby’s bed until they reach 2 or 3, they are much larger than the Moses basket but are as bulky and as sturdy as a bed. This will have rails either side which you can drop down so that you can move your child in and out of bed safely. You can use a crib for your baby from birth but they are bulky which makes it more difficult to move your baby from room to room. They should also have protective teething rails. Some cribs will convert into a toddler bed which your child can use up until they are around 5 to 7 years of age. The Crib will be your biggest purchase and it is important to decide if you want a bed that will transition into a toddlers bed (which means you wont have to buy a new bed at 2 to 3 years) or a basic crib.

Whichever options you decide or if you buy new or used, your newborn deserves a new mattress for baby bed furniture, a newborn needs a firm supportive mattress that will fit your crib well.

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30
Jul 10

Bottle-feeding Could Make Your Baby Overweight

When a woman is pregnant, the first question out of everyone’s lips is, “Are you going to breastfeed?” On the other hand, breastfeeding moms who stay in the game more than six months are subjected to questions like, “You’re still breastfeeding? When are you going to stop?”A recent study conducted at University of Bristol find that bottle-feeding babies could become overweight or obese in their later life. The study conclusions, published in the US journal Paediatrics, show that little children eating formula milk rather than breast milk get more calories and are prone to gain weight.During the study period, the research group examined and compared feeding habits of 880 babies four mounts ages. One of conclusion was that those babies who were weaned on to solid food after 2-4 months of life, were heavier than expected by the age of five. This situation results in an increased risk of obesity as they become youngs and adults. Breast milk has incredible health benefits, with nutrients no formula can duplicate. It consists the right proportions of all the elements that are required by young ones for Healthy growth. Mother’s milk also contains lactoferrin, that helps babies get the right quantities of iron and protects them from infections. It also contains certain amount of hormones that help babies fight allergies and increase their metabolism leading to proper digestion.It seems that formula-fed infants are less able to adjust their energy intake than breast-fed infants. Or this situation could be because of parents habit to stop feeding their babies with formula milk when the bottle is empty.

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30
Jul 10

Help Your Son Express His Emotions

Like most parents, I want my sons to grow up to pursue their own interests without being limited by society抯 gender stereotypes.

I thought I was doing a fine job. My husband and I strive to create an 揺galitarian?marriage: we both have our time for work and time for spending with the boys. I expose my sons to gender-boundary-stretching toys (such as dolls, weaving kits, and jump ropes), and to books featuring girl heroines. When my older son, as a four-year-old, wanted to try on his best friend抯 dress, I didn抰 bat an eye.

However, I recently read some books which made me realize I could be doing better. A number of books have come out within the past several years showing how difficult it can be for a boy to express his emotions, because of the stereotype that virtually prohibits a 搑eal man?from even knowing what he feels, let alone expressing it.

When boys don抰 know how to express their emotions, this can lead to serious problems, such as learning difficulties, violent behavior, depression and suicide.

About a year ago, when my older son was six, I was at his school to pick him up, and he ran into the building trying to hold back his tears. 揥hat抯 wrong??I asked. He shook his head. 揘othing.?The next minute, his friend ran in and told me breathlessly that a 10-year-old boy had pinned my son to the ground and wouldn抰 let him up. My son抯 friend was outraged and he told the story to a teacher, who went out to speak to the older boy. All this time, my son kept insisting that he was fine and that nothing was wrong, even though I could see he was trying hard not to cry.

I thought, how could my son be learning to hide his feelings already? He抯 only six. He抯 seen his father cry on occasion. And even his friend is upset by the situation! Still, my little boy had learned that he needed to stifle his emotions.

I realized that I had to try even harder to help my sons express their emotions. In his book Real Boys: Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood, psychologist William Pollack discusses the persistence and strength of the 揵oy code,?as he calls the gender stereotyping. Pollack reports that even young boys know that they must 揳ct real tough?and 搉ot show their feelings?in order to fit in with the crowd.

One important point in the book surprised me a little. Pollack stresses that mothers should stay strongly connected to their sons. I would have thought that fathers were more important than mothers in terms of helping sons navigate through the 揵oy code,?but Pollack feels that mothers and fathers are equally important. 揃oys benefit tremendously from the love of their mothers,?Pollack writes. 揂 loving mother actually plays an integral role in helping a boy develop his masculinity ?the self-esteem and strength of character he needs to feel confident in his own masculine self.?/p>

I realized that I had been, almost unconsciously, pulling away emotionally from my older son. This was partly because I was more occupied with his little brother, and partly because it seemed that my older one didn抰 搉eed?me as much. After all, he didn抰 like me to kiss and hug him. He didn抰 really seem to even want to talk very much.

I resolved to try to show my older son physical affection and attention in other ways. I discovered that he still enjoys backrubs! He also enjoys sitting near me and reading, and having me read to him. When he asks me to attend a field trip or party at his school, I readily agree.

As the boys grow up, the way I connect with my sons will change. But, now that I know of the importance of a mother抯 nurturing attention throughout a boy抯 life, I am determined that we will always have a strong, emotional bond.

I have compiled many other books and suggestions about helping boys break through gender stereotypes on my web site, Brave Girls and Strong Women: http://members.aol.com/brvgirls. Girls and boys must both be encouraged to break out of gender stereotypes if we are to have a world that allows people to be who they are, regardless of gender.

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30
Jul 10

My muddleheaded summer holiday

I have planned to do many things in these three weeks, but at last I found I have done nothing. Every day looked like the repetition of yesterday-getting up late, watching DVDs, cooking and playing with my son. Maybe I was too tired before the end of last semester. To pass an important Japanese test, I behaved like a machine, 8+ hours ‘work and 7+hours’ study were what my life was all about. That miserable condition lasted for more than five months and finally the test came. The moment I left the examination room, the only thing I thought was that I have tried my best and now could relax myself no matter whether I could pass or not. Time goes so fast and it has been one and half month since the test, I still indulged in overall relaxation. I had planned to read some books about the theories of western drama from the middle of July and finished revising my paper in the end of July, but I just can’t enter the state…However, I can’t spend the next half of my summer holiday muddleheaded like this

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30
Jul 10

Baby Advice – When Should I Start Potty Training?

Tired of changing dirty nappies all day long? Are you a new parent with no idea about when you should start potty training your child?

Like your baby’s first steps and first words, potty training depends entirely on your child’s readiness to take up the task. This means that the “right age” for potty training may vary for each toddler. Most, however, begin to show signs of readiness at 18-24 months. Girls also tend to learn to be potty trained earlier than boys. What are the tell-tale signs that your toddler is ready?

1. Learning to say “pee” and “poo”

The first sign that your child is ready to be potty trained is when he begins to inform you through words or facial expressions that he has to go. This shows that your child is beginning to understand the concept of peeing and pooing and that soon, you’ll be able to explain to them what a potty is for.

2. Hating the dirty nappy

Another sign that your child may be ready to be trained to use the potty is when she begins to feel uncomfortable wearing a soiled diaper. Toddlers usually express this through crying when they wet or soil themselves.

3. Imitating grown-up bathroom habits

When your child begins to show interest in your bathroom habits (following you around, asking what the toilet is, playing with the flush), you can start thanking your lucky stars because you’re well on your way to diaper freedom. Encourage this behavior by explaining things to him.

4. Motor skills

Before you even start thinking about potty training your child, make sure she has developed adequate motor skills like standing, walking and knowing how to pull her pants up and down.

5. Staying dry

Learning how to control urine/bowel movements is perhaps one of the most blaring signs that your child is ready to be potty-trained. Observe how long your child can stay dry. If he can keep from soiling his nappies for three or four hours, then it means his bladder muscles have developed well enough to store urine.

Let your child give you the signs that he is ready. You will know when you should start potty training him when the time is right. Whether he is 1 1/2 or 4 years old, it will be a significant milestone for you and your child.