Prepare Your Pet For Your Baby

Author: Maria Cummings

A baby is going to cause changes in the household routine and lifestyle. Your pet will get used to the changes much easier if a lot of them happen before the new baby arrives home. Cats, dogs, and babies are beings of routine. They are all sensitive to routine and change tends to upset them. If the changes gradually happen before baby comes home then your pet probably will not resent the baby since baby will not be associated with the change in your pet's view of the world.



During the weeks before you are due to have your baby, gradually lessen the amount of time that you spend with your pet. If you think the time of day that you walk, feed, and play with or exercise your animal will change, modify those routines now giving your pet time to adjust. Have you trained your dog to commands like sit, stay, no, and heel? Does he obey you? Does he have any aggressive tendencies? You may need a dog trainer's help before baby arrives to help make sure your dog knows you are in charge.



If you have a cat, make sure the claws are routinely trimmed. Trim your dog's claws too. Get another family member used to cleaning the cat box. Have whoever changes it wear rubber gloves and wash their hands thoroughly afterward. Follow these precautions if you end up cleaning the litter box. Animals are easily startled by the spontaneous actions and noises of children. If your pets haven't been around children much, have your nieces and nephews over a few times or invite your friends kids over to play some games and have lunch. Don't let them mistreat your pet, but let them be in the house so your pet gets used to the noise of children.



You'll be preparing for the new baby by buying various baby items and setting up the baby bed. Let your pet smell these items. This can help your animal get used to these items being around. Never allow your pets to lie on your baby's belongings or get into the baby bed. If necessary keep the door closed to the baby's room.



Buy a container that seals to put the dirty diapers in so your animals won't get into the container. Unfortunately, they will be attracted to the odor. Your cat or dog needs a place of his or her own also. If you haven't made that space in your house yet, do it now before baby gets home. Teach your pet this is his special spot by putting one of his toys there and giving him bedding. He may need to get away from the baby and other children sometimes and this should be off limits to children.



To get your pet familiar with baby noises you can play a CD of a baby crying starting a few months before you have your baby. You can rock in the rocking chair and turn on the mechanical swing routinely ahead of time too. These small preparations can make the changes positive and less stressful for your pet. And you can also give him a treat or play with him as a reward for his ability to adapt to his new family member.

About the Author:
Maria Cummings is a devoted parent, wife and expert author on family matters and parenting. She is devoted to helping children's organizations and activities. Maria is the Sales Manager for BustlingBaby.com which offers a variety of baby products to help make parenting easier, from Baby Sherpa Backpacks to Snug As a Bug slings

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/prepare-your-pet-for-your-baby-836731.html

Choosing a Baby High Chair

Author: Jason Lewis

There are always so many things to buy before a new baby’s arrival nursery furniture, clothes, supplies, and things that you did not even know existed! However, you will want to pay special attention to the high chair that you are going to buy because it is going to be something that you are going to be using every day. You will want to make sure that the high chair that you purchase is going to be safe, durable, and easy to use.

One of the most traditional types of high chairs are wooden highchairs. These are often considered to be the most attractive high chairs to look at, but they are not without their flaws. Wooden high chairs can be more cumbersome to move and store. They do not fold up so you will need to ensure that you have a set area in your home that you can store the high chair in when you are not using it. Also, they are a little more difficult to clean, and the wood can stain more easily that other types of high chairs.

There are also high chairs that are made of metal, usually built so that they are easily folded. This will allow you to store your highchair easily. Additionally, cleaning off the metal is much easier than cleaning off a wooden highchair. However, metal high chairs are also not without their drawbacks. Though they are typically lighter than a wooden highchair, they are significantly heavier than a plastic highchair.

The most convenient type of high chair is usually thought to be one made of both metal and plastic. With this hybrid type of highchair, you will have the flexibility of a compact and collapsible metal highchair with the lightweight feel of a plastic highchair. Also, many metal/plastic highchairs offer seats that can recline, have adjustable seat heights, and handy removable trays. Often they are fitted with castors on their legs so they're easy to move. With such a wide variety of makes and models it's certainly worth checking out a number of different brands before making your final decision, including Graco, Fisher Price, Cosatto, Chicco and many more.

When looking to purchase the perfect highchair, you will want to make sure that whatever type you choose to go with is very stable. You will need to inspect it to make sure that it stands securely and that it does not tip over easily. Additionally you will want to make sure that the highchair comes equipped with a safety belt to secure around your babies waist to prevent them from standing up or slipping out of their seat. You will also want to run your hand all over the highchair to make sure that there are not any sharp edges that might catch on your little one's skin. Lastly, but probably one of the most important things to look at is how easy is your highchair to clean. Let’s face it, babies can’t help but be messy when they eat so ensuring that your high chair is easy to clean is essential to making sure that your little one will have a clean and germ free place to eat.

Getting ready for your new arrival can be overwhelming, but by putting in a little bit of effort, you can ensure that your baby will be able to eat in a safe, clean, and stable highchair.

About the Author:

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/choosing-a-baby-high-chair-771680.html

Top Three Things to Consider When Choosing an Educational Toy For Your Toddler

Author: Rachel Nunez

Toddlerhood is the best time to start building your child's fundamental skills. During this stage, which typically lasts during the ages of 1-3 years old, your toddler has a heightened sense of curiosity towards the world around him. He will begin to explore new objects and sensations with more than just a passing interest.



This is also the time when your child starts learning how to speak. As he advances further into the later stages of toddlerhood, he will be able to add new words to an ever-expanding vocabulary and use those words to form simple phrases and sentences.



You can maximize your toddler's rapid brain development by giving him educational toys to play with. These toys stimulate your child's inquisitive mind and hasten the learning process. At the same time, your toddler can have loads of fun!



Here are some helpful tips to consider when selecting an educational toy for your child:



* Choose Eye-catching Toys




With so many new stimuli bombarding your toddler's senses and vying for attention, it is important to pick out a toy that will hold your toddler's attention for more than just a moment. Bright, gay colors will help capture and hold your child's attention. Your highly inquisitive toddler will also be drawn to toys that come in different shapes and sizes.



When picking out any toy, educational or not, looks play an important role so choose carefully. Educational toys are only educational if your toddler plays with them. Moreover, it is economically wasteful to buy a toy that will only be relegated to a recluse corner in the nursery to gather dust.



* Select Multi-purpose Toys



There are so many educational toys to choose from that selecting one for your toddler can be quite a headache. With a limited budget, you can make the most out an educational toy by choosing one with a variety of uses. Some toys, like flash cards, only allow your toddler to practice their alphabet or numbers. While playing and learning one thing is great, playing and learning multiple things is better!



One very useful toy that develops multiple skills is a building block set. You can get your toddler to sort out the blocks according to color and shape. They will also introduce your toddler to patterns and dimensions -- concepts that he will be able to appreciate more when he matures into childhood.



* Make Safety a Priority



Lastly, but most important of all, choose toys that are safe for your child's age. Toddlers perceive objects through all the senses: sight, taste, touch, smell and sound. Primary among these senses is that of taste. If you give a toy or any object to a toddler, he will automatically put that object in his mouth. It is therefore very important not to give toddlers toys that contain small parts or toys that are prone to breaking. Your toddler may choke on the small pieces.




With these tips to guide you, you will be able to choose a safe, educational toy that will engage your toddler for countless hours on end!

About the Author:
For more tips and information about educational toys, check out http://www.thekidstoystore.com/science-kits.html.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/top-three-things-to-consider-when-choosing-an-educational-toy-for-your-toddler-765796.html

Negligence of the Child in Child Accident Cases

Author: Christopher Davis

Washington's law of comparative negligence means that the proportionate share of fault of all potential negligent parties must be considered, even if it involves the conduct of a child. This means a child can be held negligent and therefore wholly or partially responsible for the child's injuries and damages. In Washington, the issue of the child's degree of negligence may also be called "contributory negligence." But there are certain limitations when it comes to accidents and injuries involving negligent children. First, the law in Washington is that children under the age of 6 years cannot be held negligent as a matter of law. The Washington State Supreme Court has decided that a child under age 6 does not have the mental capacity to be negligent. This means that anytime a child under 6 years of age has a legal claim for injuries caused by an accident, that child is deemed fault-free for purposes of deciding which parties negligently caused that child's injuries.



For children who are 6 years of age and older, they may be deemed negligent and thus legally responsible for their own injuries. But there is one important difference. In Washington, children are not to be judged by the same standards that apply to adults. We previously defined the negligence standard for adults as the failure to exercise ordinary care under the same or similar circumstances occurring at the time of the injury or the accident. However, for children the negligence standard is defined much narrowly. A child is negligent if that child fails to exercise the ordinary care that a "reasonably careful child of the same age, intelligence, maturity, training and experience" would exercise under the same or similar circumstances. This is a very important distinction. It means that a 7 year old child cannot be judged based on the same standards that might apply to a 10 year-old child.



The standard of negligence for children is also based heavily on the child's individual characteristics and traits. Conceivably, the actions of a special needs or mentally disabled child should only be judged based on the expected reasonable conduct by another child of the same age and/or intellectual capacity. The same goes for children who may be advanced or high functioning. High achieving children with excellent grades should only be judged by the expected actions of other children similarly situated.



Note: Price v. Kitsap Transit, 125 Wn.2d 456, 886 P.2d 556 (1994).

About the Author:

Christopher M. Davis is a Seattle attorney focusing personal injury cases. He is also known as a child accident lawyer and has written the the book 'Little Kids, Big Accidents' as a resource for parents of injured children. Learn more about Mr. Davis at http://www.DavisLawGroupSeattle.com and get info on Little Kids, Big Accidents at http://www.childaccidentbook.com.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/law-articles/negligence-of-the-child-in-child-accident-cases-759761.html

Your Baby Can Sleep and so Can You

Author: David Cummings

After nightly waking to a crying baby, no one is getting a good night's sleep, and everyone is getting frustrated. It is possible for your baby to learn that sleep is a necessary part of the day, but you cannot force your baby to sleep. Although there are many different theories on the best way to help your baby and you get the rest you need, the crux of the matter is how to help your child develop a sleep pattern which matches your lifestyle?




One possibility to consider is that you may need to change your daytime or nighttime routines to help your baby sleep throughout the night. Take some time to observe where your baby sleeps the best. This can provide some helpful clues as to how to get him to sleep through the night. Does your baby rest better in her own room or in a bassinet in your room? Perhaps she would sleep better in her room if you left some music playing softly. One thing that can help is determining which sleep time activities work the best for her. Change up one evening by singing her to sleep instead of rocking her to sleep. On another evening nurse or feed your baby while she drifts off to sleep. Additionally, have your spouse put your baby to bed. In this way you can find one or two ways that your baby prefers and then you can use those methods in your bedtime routine.



Your baby will need to learn how to soothe herself back to sleep as well. Eventually this is less work on the parents, but it does take some time and patience and your baby needs to be of the correct temperament. This method may not work well if your child is more high-strung than easy-going. This method should be discussed with your pediatrician if your baby has medical conditions which may cause them to wake and cry in the night.



Take stock of what your baby's day has been like if she has trouble sleeping at night. Has she had a peaceful day? Is she at a day care during the day? How stimulating is the environment there? Does she nap during the day? Some studies have shown that babies who are carried in slings or use other types of carriers like those in use with attachment parenting get a lot of positive attention and nurturing during the day tend to sleep better at night.



A good sleeping routine can be derived from predictable nap and bedtimes as well. You need to determine the routine that works best for everyoone in your family. Your spouse's and your work routine may not allow for an earlier bedtime. A change in bedtime or naptime may be helpful as well. This may especially be true if you have other children that are going to try to stay up later to get some attention from you or your spouse because of arriving home after work. Develop the daily routine that works best for you and your family.




Once you determine what method or methods work for you and your family, you can create a routine which can everyone get the sleep they need and help your baby grow into a well adjusted toddler.

About the Author:

David Cummings is a devoted parent and husband and a regular author on many family topics. He is devoted to helping parents build better family time together and to ensuring a brighter future for all children through his contributions to children-oriented organizations. David is also the General Manager for Bustling Baby, LLC - a company that knows the business of parenting and offers a wide variety of products to make daily life with baby easier, such as the Messenger Diaper Bag by O Yikes!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/your-baby-can-sleep-and-so-can-you-758341.html

How To Keep Your Babys Memories Forever

A baby never fails to bring joy in any family. The fun and excitement the baby brings is simply priceless. Parents, especially first timers, can't help but be nostalgic about everything concerned with the new baby. Perhaps if there was a way to freeze time and keep all those memorable moments, they would gladly do it to cherish such an important milestone in life.

Unfortunately life goes on and precious moments cannot be frozen forever. Nevertheless memories can still be preserved for a long time by keeping mementos that help people reminisce life’s treasured highlights. This is commonly done by making scrapbooks.

While most people have desired at least once to keep a scrapbook, many of them simply never succeed. Admittedly, scrapbook making is quite tedious and time consuming, but those who have kept scrapbooks swear by their worth. In reality, making scrapbooks is not really that complicated. One just needs to know the things needed to make one.

For making scrapbooks of baby’s firsts, it is important to keep pictures of key events related to a baby’s development. Among the commonly treasured occasions may include simple moments like the baby’s first smile, yawn, nap, sitting up, crawling, walking, bath, hair cut and so on.

One could also take pictures of first things such its bottle, bed, chair, diaper, toy, solid food, and the like. Another important moment to catch would be the baby’s first special occasions such as Halloween, thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah, Easter, birthday, vacation, and other noted affairs.

To make the scrapbook more interesting, it would be nice to include small, mountable items in the collection. This might include a lock of hair from the first haircut. There could also be pieces of clothing such as a sock, a bonnet, a bib, or a mitten.

One common item would be birth announcements, the baby’s hospital tag, an invitation to the baby shower, and so on. Some parents can even include a dried piece of the baby’s umbilical cord. There are thousands of possibilities when one’s imagination is set free.

Those who are new to scrapbook making should not be alarmed. There are baby scrapbook kits available in bookstores and craft stores. You may also choose to do it from scratch by just fastening special paper together, or by getting a multi-purpose album, then decorating it with baby-related stuff.

Keeping a baby’s treasured moments can be so much fun with the right things and know-how at hand.


Article Source: http://www.articleset.com