Children Archives - Page 26 of 39

Top Reasons Baby May Not Be Sleeping Through the Night

August 10, 2017 by admin

Has getting your baby to sleep or having your baby sleep through the night become an issue? Though it can take a while for an infant to sleep a full 6-8 hours at night, there are other underlying factors that could be contributing to their inability to fall asleep or stay asleep very long. The truth is, your baby’s issues with sleep may have a lot of similarities to your own. Poor sleeping conditions can impede on someone’s ability to get good rest, no matter what age they are.

Too Much Light

Have you ever tried to take a nap during the day? While you may have been able to fall asleep at some point, getting there was likely a lot more challenging than it would be if it were nighttime, or you were in a dark room. When putting your baby to sleep, check to see how many lights are on at the time. Too many lights can keep the baby up longer than you’d like. If you want the baby to take a nap or get a good night’s rest, turn off all the lights and even consider solutions like darkening curtains to block natural light from getting in the room.

A Bad Mattress

When your mattress is in bad shape, your body feels the impact shortly thereafter. Tossing and turning, back aches, neck pains, and more can result from the wrong type of mattress or an old one. The same can be said for your baby’s crib mattress. If you have a used mattress or one that is cheap or poor quality, you may need to invest in a new baby mattress. As you shop, look for quality materials, good support, and great reviews.

Room Temperature

When you’re too hot or too cold, getting to sleep is a struggle. You toss and turn half the night trying to get to a comfortable temperature. If your baby’s room temperature is cold or really hot you will need to make some adjustments so they can get to sleep at night. You can try things like moving the baby crib from the window, installing a ceiling fan to keep it cool, or investing in a heater to increase the temperature in the baby’s room.

Noise

As you get older, you kind of learn how to fall asleep in any environment. It’s a lot easier to go to sleep in a quiet space than it is one that’s noisy. When it’s time for baby to go to sleep, try taking them into their room and ensuring that their surroundings are quiet. If you have younger children, try to get them to wind down when you’re putting the baby to sleep so that they’re not disturbed. When you put the baby in the crib, turn off the television and even close the door so that they are not awakened by sounds from the house.

Sleepwear

When dressing your infant for bedtime, often, less is more. Just as you would probably have a hard time going to sleep in something with a lot of lace, snaps, or buttons, the same is true for your baby. You also don’t want to overdress them because this can increase their body temperature, making it difficult for them to get to sleep. Dress your baby in light, minimal clothing to get a good night’s rest.

Routine

Your infant needs a sleep routine to get to sleep each night. There needs to be a clear indication of when you’re winding down, when their last feeding is, and when it’s time to go to sleep. Poor routines that might include playing with the baby, making lots of noise, or being out and about can confuse the baby and throw off their sleep pattern. Try to get some consistency by feeding, bathing, and winding down at the same time each day.

Clearly, the same things that keep you from getting the sleep you deserve also keep your baby from getting a good night’s rest. Unfortunately, since your baby can’t voice these things for you, it will be up to you to figure out which of these factors is playing a role in your baby’s inability to get to sleep and stay asleep each night. With time and a few changes, your baby should eventually give you a good window of opportunity to get some much needed rest yourself.

3 Birth Announcement Ideas from Basic Invite

August 2, 2017 by admin

If you are getting ready to bring a bundle of joy into the world and are deciding whether or not to formally announce the birth when it happens consider these adorable birth announcement ideas from Basic Invite. Your loved ones will want to know how you and your little one are doing, especially those who are too far away to visit. Birth announcements are always a good idea and here are just a few ways to create yours.

Photo Birth Announcements

A classic choice is the photo birth announcement. Set up a newborn photoshoot or even stage one yourself at home and choose your favorite photo or even more than one to share on a photo birth announcement. You’ll be able to show of your baby to family and friends and you’ll have a momentous keepsake forever.

Simple Birth Announcements

For the more private parents or anyone not into a newborn photoshoot, simple birth announcements are also a great option. Choose a pretty announcement card with a design you love and include your babies birth statistics like name, weight, date of birth, time of birth and even a cute message or quote to share.

Gender Birth Announcements

Whether you choose a photo birth announcement or a simple design, including gender specifics is another fun way to design an announcement. Using gender specific colors like blue, red, or green for your boy birth announcements or pink, purple, and yellow for you girl birth announcements will add a personal touch to your design that will represent your little one. There are so many cute designs with safari animals, bowties, flowers, or castles and many gender neutral birth announcements too.

If you are thinking about sending out birth announcements head over to Basic Invite. They have hundreds of designs to choose from and endless customization options to suite every need. With more than 180 custom colors you can tailor your favorite design to express your joy in your very own way. Head on over to shop their looks and gear up for your exciting arrival and then announce it to the world!

Tips for Keeping Kids of All Ages Safe Both In and Out of the Home

July 26, 2017 by admin

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could place your child in a plastic bubble that would protect them from every danger or threat until they’re an adult? Unfortunately, keeping your kids safe is not that easy, and when you have multiples of varying ages, it gets even harder. From electrical outlets and exposed staircases to social media use and home invasions, there are a lot of things that are unsafe for your children both inside and outside of the home. Fortunately, there are things you can do to minimize the risks and keep your kids safe at all times.

Keeping Kids Safe in the Home

It’s a common assumption that the home is one of the safest places to be. Though it is safer than most, there are safety aspects that need to be considered.

Babyproofing – For those who have infants, one of the first courses of action to safeguard the home is to babyproof the house. This is the process of going around the entire home and locking, blocking, and securing things that could cause harm to a curious baby on the go. This includes locking medicine and kitchen cabinets, covering outlets, and installing gates at the top of staircases to prevent baby from falling.

Home security – Home security systems are a must to keep your home safe. While most might look at them as nothing more than alarms when burglaries happen, home security systems such as ADT monitoring are ideal for parents of children who spend time at home alone. With smart features like cameras and smartphone access, parents can observe teenagers and any company they might have in the home to ensure they’re safe and sound.

Pool Safety – For families who have a pool in the backyard, certain measures must be taken to ensure the kids have fun while being safe. Teaching pool rules such as no running and diving along with installing security features like a safety gate to ensure kids don’t try to enter the pool without your permission are all ways to make sure they’re safe and sound.

Internet Safety – Technology is not only for adults. Children use the internet all the time unaware of the many dangers that lurk there. Talk with your children about the use of internet. Discuss the importance of not disclosing personal information, not accessing inappropriate sites, and set rules as to when internet usage is allowed. Other measures include setting parental controls on devices and monitoring your child’s usage for any red flags.

Keeping Kids Safe Outside of the Home

The world around us is a lot more dangerous than the home. Here are some ways to keep your kids safe outside the home.

Stranger Danger – It’s extremely important to teach your children about strangers and steering clear of them. Give your children safety rules such as staying with an adult they know, sticking to a buddy system, not accepting gifts or bribes, and to know when and how to call for help.

Peer Pressure – When your child becomes a teenager peer pressure will become a huge part of their lives as they try to fit in with their friends. It is important to have a talk with your teen about being pressured into doing things they know are wrong. Try to encourage them to hang with likeminded friends and also set rules and curfews.

Travel Safety – Traveling with kids can be fun but it can also height security risks. Before a trip talk with your kids about being safe. Discuss things like staying close to mom and dad and where to turn if they get lost. Investing in ID bracelets or cards as well as installing location apps on your older children’s phones will also help in the event of an emergency.

There is a lot in this world to protect your children from. While you may not be able to shield them from everything that happens in their life, you can set the foundation that will minimize their chances of being injured or harmed in any way. Talk with your children frequently about the importance of being safe in an age appropriate way. Set firm rules and consequences as well as put some of the safeguards discussed above into place and you should have a much easier time sleeping at night knowing they’re all safe.

Ways to keep up with new toy releases without breaking the bank

July 26, 2017 by admin

It can be difficult to stay ahead of trends in children’s toys, which can seem like they’re there just to pick holes in your parenting. Do you hand over big money every time a new toy comes out and risk getting trapped in a cycle of big payments and new crazes that you can’t afford, or do you make your child go without and risk them missing out on something that all their friends have.

This list hopes to show you some creative ways to get the best of both worlds and avoid that feeling of dread when a new advert comes on TV for the next must-have. Chances are that other parents feel the same way, so hopefully there are some tips on this list you can put into practice.

Test the waters

Toy Library – Try a toy library near you where there are toys for all ages that you can spend time with at the library, or borrow for a set time rather than buying. You might even want to use the toy library to let the kids try out the toys they’ve been wanting before deciding whether to make the commitment to buy it. If you’re going there to try out a specific toy, you may want to call ahead to check they have it before making the journey down there. If they don’t have it, why not try out some other toys there that might be even better!

Friends – If they regularly play with a toy at a friend’s house, do they really need to have their own? See if they can borrow the toy for a while, but make sure they understand that it needs to be returned in the same condition it was given to them. If their friend is reluctant to lend it, try inviting the friend over and ask them to bring the toy.

Arrange toy swaps

Host a swap night – If you’re friendly with a good number of parents, try getting together to trade toys that your children no longer use. An ideal scenario would be to have a group of parents with children of a range of ages, so the older toys can be passed to the next oldest and the baby toys given to parents with newborns etc.

Share the cost of toy-buying – If you’re particularly close with another family with children, like cousins or close family friends, try setting up a swapping system where new toys are shared amongst the families. You can alternate which family buys the toy and make the swaps every time the families meet, or you might see each other so regularly that physical swapping isn’t necessary.

Buy second hand

Hold on a little while – Try waiting until the toy has been out for a while, and you might be able to grab a pre-owned one for a cheaper price on eBay. Many sellers will keep the original box, so it’ll feel like new when you receive it. Make sure you check its condition before you make the purchase so you’re not buying something that’s broken or damaged – especially if your kids are likely to be upset by any signals that it’s secondhand. If it’s a large item, couriers like Shiply can deliver these for you – but remember to factor delivery prices into your budget so you don’t end up paying more than what it costs in your local shop.

How To Add A Touch Of Magic To Leisure Through Family Yoga Travel

June 13, 2017 by admin

Travelling is a wonderful time for laughter, bonding and festivities. An opportunity to learn new things, see different cultures and connect with different people. Whether it be on the beach, a new city, trekking on the mountains or star gazing in the wild, traveling is one of the best de-stressors when you need to take a time out. And what better way to spend it with your family.

No matter how far you are away from home, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a must, and yoga is proof that exercise on-the-go is not difficult. Here are simple ways to do just that:

1. Bring your props with you

Yoga props don’t consume too much space in your luggage, just bring your mat with you! A big travel mat rolled on your bag would indeed serve as a reminder that it’s time to squeeze in some exercise hours on your vacation but it might just add up a wee amount of weighing.

One Lululemon yoga mat review from a renowned yogi indicated that lightweight travel mat fits perfectly in her travel bag and added only about 1 kg. Add that to the fantastic view of your beach or the mountainside and you have an instant inspiration as you execute your downward-facing dog pose. Take in a deep, deep breath of fresh breeze while you’re at it.

2. Know the local Yoga scene

As with any travel bit, exploring the local yoga studios are part of the vacation itself. Your hotel might just have their own yoga studio for you to enjoy. Perhaps, you will find a Yogi instructor giving free classes on the town’s plaza where you can meet other families practicing yoga themselves. Or maybe there’s a studio beside the famous restaurant you are dying to try. In any case, search for Yoga practice opportunities before you travel.

3. Make an itinerary and make yoga part of it

So, your youngest wants to go to the waterpark and your eldest wants to check out the museum; your hair is thinning out at the thought of having not enough time to go to all of these places but you want everyone to be happy, too. Well, the best plan is to make a plan. Find time before your travel to search for the noteworthy tourist’s spots, find the perfect schedule and you’re good to go. While you’re at it, keep an eye out for opportunities to practice yoga as well.

4. Equip Yourself with the Perfect YOGA APP for your needs

If you find yourself on vacation in the woods, make sure you pack light and bring your mobile phone with you in the case of emergencies and in the case of yoga. Your family does not need to skip your Yoga sessions just because you guys are in the middle of the forest or midway into a mountain. Relax and breathe the fresh air, hold your hands up high for your Sun Salutations and slowly, gently breathe out while going back down. For the next pose, pull out your phone and open your newly-downloaded Yoga App. Yoga Studio is one of the best apps you may download, it costs only 3.99 and is available on both Android and Apple OS. You can also get YogaGlo, tagged as one of the top Apple apps of 2016

5. Yoga Retreat

Have you ever considered going on a retreat? How about a yoga retreat for your next vacation? Morocco, Thailand, and Cambodia offer yoga retreats all year round. Some even offer a family yoga retreat which teaches you poses that can practice your little kid. Not only is this a good husband and wife quiet time, but it can also be one of the most memorable bonding experiences you will have with your children. Do not be intimidated by silent yoga retreats as this is a whole new level of experience altogether.

6. Meditate

Travelling, though enjoyable for everyone, can also be quite tiring. Take a few minutes out of your day to just practice your breathing. The best times are when you are waiting for your flight, aboard your plane and while traveling on land to your destination. It need not be a complicated practice as you can just sit there, block the surroundings and just breathe. You can turn it into a game for your kids, everyone will enjoy it.

7. Do not forget to cleanse

Yoga is a cleansing of the mind, spirit and the body. Make sure you get your daily, if not weekly, dose of it. And while you’re at it, take advantage of your time while on vacation; reset your body by getting that 8 hours of sleep. Pick your food thoroughly– an option you don’t usually have when you only have an hour for lunch at work. Do some light reading. Anything that would help you reach that state of relaxation where both your mind and body is at rest.
Be it on vacation or at the comfort of your own home, there’s plenty of yoga to go around. Share the experiences with your family and new friends, ask them to join and eventually, build a community of yogis eager to practice even when they’re away from home.