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A Newborn Care Guide for First-Time Parents

February 17, 2021 by Mandy

First thing’s first, congratulations if you’re about to become a first-time parent in the near future! While the thought of becoming a parent may seem daunting, this is a time in your life you can never get back, so it’s important to cherish every moment.

It’s no secret that the first few months after your child enters the world can be difficult. They may be the most challenging months of your life — but never fear, there are a few newborn hacks that can help you through it all.

Check out the rest of this blog for 5 helpful newborn care tips to get you through the first few weeks and months of newborn life.

1. Make the Most of Hospital Resources

If you choose to give birth in a hospital, a great tip is to capitalize on all the information and resources they provide before you head home with your newborn.

Learn all you can about breastfeeding and latching — get advice from a lactation consultant if possible. Ask the midwives or nurses for a quick lesson on how to hold your newborn correctly, how to wash your infant (check out the best baby bubble baths here), and their top tips for emergencies.

2. Seek Help With Breastfeeding if You Need It

Breastfeeding does not come naturally or easily to many women. In the beginning stages, it can be very difficult to get right. Don’t put on a brave face and try to figure it on your own.

Women who seek out help with breastfeeding once they’ve left the hospital have a far higher success rate. Enquire whether a lactation consultant can visit you at home, or join a nursing support group.

It’s also important to look after yourself when breastfeeding as it’s a full-time job. Prepare for your nursing stints with a comfortable chair, baby support, plenty of water and snacks, and a good book or a nearby TV remote!

3. Try Not to Fixate on Being Tired

Yes, you’re tired. Exhausted is probably more accurate. But try not to obsess over how tired you are as this can only lead to frustration. Instead, just know that this is a phase and yes, you will get to sleep again!

This being said, it’s important to take shifts when caring for your newborn throughout the night and day. Breaking up baby care allows for one partner to sleep-in or nap, while the other holds down the fort. It’s a win-win.

Don’t worry about forming ”bad sleeping habits” during the newborn stage. Do whatever it takes to get your baby to sleep — whether it’s co-sleeping, sleeping in the stroller, or on your chest.

4. Mimic the Womb

If there is one way to soothe a fussy baby, it’s to mimic the womb. This is why movements such as gentle swaying, swinging, and bouncing work so well, plus swaddling, warmth, and white noise, i.e. shushing.

5. Let Your Partner Find Their Feet

Not all dads (or moms) are naturals when it comes to newborn care. While it’s super important to share the load between partners, you have to let your partner find their feet on their own and learn what is necessary to help your child grow and thrive.

Some partners may be hesitant to get involved for fear of not knowing what to do. Allow your partner to make mistakes and correct them without being critical.

Find Handy Newborn Hacks at Your Fingertips

These are just a few of the many tips that can help you through those first tentative weeks. Yes, it may seem overwhelming, but try not to wish the time away because you won’t get it back.

If you’re on the hunt for more newborn hacks, don’t miss out on the rest of this site for all the parental guidance you need!

Filed Under: Children Tagged With: children, newborn, parenting

How to Keep Your Kids Healthy this Winter

January 20, 2021 by Mandy

There’s no denying the fact that you have concerns about your kids’ health and well-being during the winter months (just like every other season). 

While it’s natural to have concerns, it’s nice to know there are steps you can take to keep them healthy and happy during this time of the year.

If you’re struggling for ideas and have simply hoped for the best in the past, here are five tips you can use:

1. Wash Those Hands! 

This goes for both you and your children. Yes, it can be a difficult habit to teach your children, but it’s well worth it in the long run. It can be the difference between your child always being sick and them making it through the winter months unscathed.

Encourage your children to wash their hands both at home and while out of the house, such as during school hours or visiting with friends and extended family.

This is one of the easiest things a person can do to reduce the risk of contracting an illness and/or spreading germs. Help your children develop this habit early in life, as it’ll stick with them well into the future. 

Note: there is a right and wrong way to wash your hands. Here is a resource to ensure that you’re doing it correctly. If you’re not doing it right, it won’t do you much good.

2. Don’t Forget About Skin and Hair Health

As you’re well aware, the winter months will drain your skin and hair of moisture. Subsequently, it takes a dedicated approach to keep it healthy until warmer weather arrives.

So, it’s safe to say that this is an issue your children are dealing with, too. 

Look into the many products that are available to fight dryness, such as natural hair oil and hair moisturizer. Healthy hair and skin will make your children more comfortable, while also taking one less thing off their mind.

3. Make Sure They Eat Right

When your children eat immune-boosting foods (and consume immune-boosting drinks), they’re better positioned to fight off anything that comes their way.

In addition to fruits and vegetables, other foods to incorporate into their diet include yogurt, garlic, and beef. 

Regardless of the time of year, it’s not always easy to get your children to eat right. However, when you mix immune-boosting foods and drinks into their diet, it definitely helps. And who knows, they may even find a few healthy foods that they actually enjoy!

4. Make Sure They Get Enough Sleep

Just the same as managing their diet, getting your children to follow a sleep schedule is a challenge. This is particularly true if your child is the type who likes to go to bed late and rise early.

Keep in mind that children require more sleep than adults—seven to eight hours is not enough. For instance, a child between the age of 5 and 10 requires roughly 10 to 11 hours of sleep per night. 

Sleep is when the body heals and repairs itself, so it’s essential to the overall health and well-being of your children.

5. Limit Sugar Intake

Yes, your children probably love sugary treats such as cake, brownies, and candy. And while it’s okay to give it to them every now and again, be careful about how often.

Too much sugar suppresses the immune system and causes inflammation, both of which make your child more likely to contract the flu, a cold, or another type of virus. 

Don’t let your child go overboard on how much sugar they ingest. One treat per day is more than enough.

Final Thoughts

Are you the person primarily in charge of taking care of your children—as well as elderly members of your family—during the long, cold winter months?

If so, strongly consider the benefits of implementing the five tips above. Not only will it put your kids on the right path over the months to come, but it’ll also give you peace of mind.

Should you still have concerns, consult with your child’s doctor to ask questions and obtain guidance and advice. You never know when you’ll come across a nugget of information that better positions your child to make it through the winter months happy and healthy. 

Filed Under: Children, Wellness Tagged With: children, health, wellness, Winter

9 Behavioral Reasons Your Child Struggles with Math

January 16, 2021 by Mandy

A majority of students will struggle with math at some point. It is not uncommon to hear complaints from students that they dislike math because it is too hard. But why do so many students have this opinion? Why is math so tricky and challenging to learn? In many cases, math struggles are a behavioural issue. Once your child has failed to grasp a particular concept or theory, their struggle compounds, and they lose their confidence. Maths tutoring helps your child understand concepts clearly. It provides a strategy that can speed up their learning.

Dyscalculia

This condition is a learning difficulty that causes students to struggle with math concepts such as formula, shapes, and numbers. It is difficult for them to understand and find solutions to math problems. Because of this, the students fall behind their peers in math subjects and have challenges with number-related problems. Even with ongoing practice, they do not improve.

Math anxiety

Students who suffer from anxiety do not merely dislike math, but rather it creates intense feelings of fear and failure that hurt their ability in the subject. The pressure of solving problems and limited confidence causes their brain to freeze, and they may even forget concepts they already know.

Poor foundations

Poor performance in math subjects is not always a result of a learning challenge. For a majority of students who are challenged by math subjects, they lack the proper foundation for success. These learners fall behind and are forced to move on to advanced material before they are ready, which results in falling or slipping grades. If this is the case, it is crucial to hire a maths tutoring professional to help your child.

Math is difficult to relate to

Compared to other subjects, math is very abstract. Students learn optimally when they can apply topics in practical areas. Since math is more advanced and challenging, it isn’t easy to do so. Thus, most students find themselves having to work harder and practice longer to grasp abstract math theories and concepts.

Math only has right and wrong

Unlike other subject areas, math has no room for error. Either your child knows what he or she is doing or not. Because of this, math quickly becomes frustrating and stressful.

Math builds on itself

Math builds on everything that comes before. It is considered a cumulative subject. Your child needs to understand the basics before moving on to higher levels. If your child falls behind in one fundamental area, it can be challenging to understand advanced concepts without foundational knowledge.

Students are wired to expect math to be difficult

Students who believe math is complicated is a case of self-fulfilling prophecy. Because students expect math to be complicated, it becomes so. When students keep on expecting math to be challenging, they quickly give up before understanding anything. A negative mindset can result in a domino effect of low confidence, less motivation, and poor performance.

Memorisation ahead of understanding is wrong

Most students simply memorise concepts and formulas in math without really understanding the processes behind them. It can be successful for a while, but as students progress to higher levels and encounter more complex problems, they may find it challenging to solve them because they are not armed with problem-solving skills to tackle new problems.

Math has a reputation for being boring

Math has a bad rep for being difficult and tedious. A majority of students simply aren’t excited or motivated to learn math. Once students are not motivated, they only do the bare minimum requirements before moving on to something they would rather be doing. This attitude doesn’t help them become successful in math class.

Conclusion

Your child must understand math subjects. A solid grasp of math opens up numerous high-paying employment opportunities for your child. Fields that require an understanding of math are the future. Many jobs require STEM mastery, so it is crucial to give your child a head start.

Filed Under: Children, Education Tagged With: children, education, maths

Bounce House Safety: How to Jump Safely

December 28, 2020 by Mandy

Are you thinking of renting a bounce house for your child’s birthday party?

It’s your child’s birthday party, you have food and party games ready. The only thing left for you to do is ensure that the party goes without a hitch. How are you to make things proceed when you’re handling a lot of kids, though?

Bounce houses are the perfect way to keep them occupied while having fun as you proceed with the party. However, you should keep in mind that things can still go wrong in this bouncy dream house.

Below are tips that you should keep in mind when going for a bounce house rental for the party. Read on and learn how to keep the kids safe!

Know the Size of the Bounce House

When planning your kid’s birthday party, make a list of the number of kids that will join the party. This way, you can determine the size of the bounce house you will rent. It’s important to know the right size so that it won’t burst at the party.

Too many kids in one small bounce house are sure to make it burst. Getting one too big will also make it detrimental for everyone else around the bouncy castle. Getting a perfect size is important to ensure everything goes well when it arrives.

Indoor or Outdoor Setup

After knowing the size of the bounce house and the number of kids that will join. You need to know if you will set up the bounce inside or outside the house. Depending on your choice, you will need to consider the space that you need for safety purposes.

If you will do an outside set up, make sure that it’s not near any trees, power lines, or fences. Make sure to place them on a flat, even surface without any rocks. Read on here to know other safety guidelines.

If you will do an indoor set-up, make sure to place the bounce house away from the walls. Place it in the part of the house that has space on all sides.

Have Someone Keep Watch All the Time

Make sure that someone is watching what’s going on inside and around the bounce house. This way, someone can help the kids when they trip inside. What’s important here is someone is keeping an eye on them, especially when they play bounce house games.

Chose the Age Group That Can Use It

Before kids can enter and play, choose the kids that are in the same age group. This way, you don’t have to worry about any kids that might be rowdy inside the house. Doing this makes it easier to manage their playtime and ensures their safety.

Know Your Bounce House Safety Guide Today

Why not make your kid’s birthday and get a bounce house for them and their friends to play around in? With these safety tips in mind, you should have no worry about getting one. Rent one and start jumping today!

Do you want to learn more about party planning and management? Check out more of our guides to learn all you can!

Filed Under: Children Tagged With: bounce house, bouncy castle, children

Best Gifts for Your Little Ones (By Age)

December 3, 2020 by Mandy

The holidays have arrived and you’re starting to make your shopping list. For the little ones in your family, the gift options are endless.

Rather than get something from the store last minute to throw under the tree, let 2020 be the year you get the kids in your life gifts they’ll enjoy for years to come.

We’ve compiled the best gifts for kids of any age, so you don’t have to worry about what to get them, and can just enjoy the happiness they bring.

Gifts for Babies

Babies are in the earliest stage of development. They are just starting to explore the world around them through their senses and interactions. For babies, the simplest gifts are often the best.

Get Them Using Their Senses

Stuffed animals are always a favorite for babies. They allow them to use the sense of touch and provide comfort as they’re getting used to the crib. Stuffed animals can also be an opportunity to interact with your baby as they’re learning their first words.

Have they just learned how to say “dog”? Get them a stuffed dog to keep them learning and playing!

Keep Your Little One’s Learning

On the topic of learning, babies are infinitely curious about the world around them. To keep them from pulling the tablecloth off the kitchen table, get them something they can figure out safely.

Avoid toys with too many complicated buttons and opt for something easy that they can chew on, toss, or shake around during playtime.

It could be as simple as a rattle, or as interactive as a playmat to make their stationary months a world of fun.

Gifts for Young Kids

Now that your kid is walking and talking, take advantage of playtime to make memories that will last a lifetime.

Get Involved in Play

Young kids have a lot to learn, and they’re just starting to figure out what their interests are. For the kids curiously watching as dinner is prepared, get them a kitchen set and they’ll be serving up their own creations to everyone in the family.

Find those sparks of interest in your little ones and let them shine with a gift that lets them express themselves and connect with everyone around them.

Play Pretend

While kids love to be a part of everyday life, help foster their imagination with a gift that lets them play pretend. Kids love to play dress-up every day of the year, not just on Halloween. If they love the Star Wars movies, they can use the force in the living room with Kylo Ren’s Lightsaber.

Whatever character they love, now is the time when they can be anything they want.

Find Out More

For kid’s gift guides, party planning for your little ones, and more, visit the blog to learn more!

Filed Under: Children Tagged With: children, gift ideas, gifts

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