potty chair

Saying goodbye to stinky diapers is one of the milestones that parents look forward to most. Getting there is half the battle though. Just mention the words potty training and most parents tremble with apprehension. Thinking about countless bathroom visits, extra laundry and stains on furniture can drain even the most enthusiastic parent’s patience and energy. Let’s look at some tips to ease the process by knowing how to potty train your child, and when.

The time to start potty training is around the age of 2 or 3, at which time your child may show signs that he or she is ready to begin. If he or she has the ability to dress, shows an interest in the potty, knows the words for stool, urine and toilet, and is aware of when the need to urinate or have a bowel movement is at hand, then those are all signs that your child is ready to begin to potty train. If however, it becomes apparent that he or she isn’t ready, then simply try potty training again at a later date.

The hugs-and-kisses approach goes like this; each time your child uses the potty correctly, give praise by clapping and giving kisses and hugs. Also point out her or his accomplishments to friends and relatives, so they can fuss over the child too. It is to every parent’s advantage to start with this approach and save the rewards for any hurdles you and your toddler may encounter along the way.

The cold-turkey, toddlers potty training approach begins when you let your boy pick out several pairs of fun, big-kid underpants, or let your daughter buy some pretty new undies. Let them put on the underwear and let the spills fall where they may. When they do have accidents, they will feel the discomfort much more quickly. If you’re very patient, underpants are believed by many to be a better way to go than disposable trainers.

The no-mess disposable-training-pants approach starts when you switch him or her from regular diapers to disposable training pants. Of course, while they will get the hang of pulling them up and down, you will give the usual amount of encouragement. Make sure to take your child to the bathroom at regular intervals and ask frequently if he or she has to go. Give lots of praise when they get to the potty in time.

The “he’ll-get-it-when-he’s-ready” toddler toilet training approach starts at around age 2. You will want to watch for signals that your child is ready, but don’t apply any pressure. Put a potty seat on top of your toilet or buy your child their own potty chair and place it in the bathroom, yet don’t insist that he use it. If he does use it, then give hugs and praise, and in time he may approach it more frequently. This approach is less stressful, but it may mean that your child will be in diapers a bit longer. You will definitely need to be patient and wait.

While your child may become a pro at potty training, it is normal for a few accidents to occur here and there. He or she is not considered officially potty trained until there have not been any accidents for six months. Sooner or later, one or a combination of strategies will work with your child. It is a trial and error process, but eventually, you both can happily say goodbye to diapers for good.

Source: Apprehension

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While there ’s probably not a parent alive that looks forward to potty training, remembering that the other side of this training means no more diaper changing can motivate anyone to take it on! Of course there ’s more to it than just tossing out the diapers; potty training means teaching your child independence and self-reliance and is the first step toward taking care of himself or herself. But of course you want to make sure you handle this transition properly; having your child feel as if he or she is doing something wrong or is disappointing you when they don’t immediately respond to potty training is not going to accomplish anything and will just increase frustration and tension between the two of you.

Keep in mind that potty training usually starts around the time a child is able to stay dry through the night. If they wake up with a dry diaper this signals the fact that their bladder is developed enough to control; trying to force potty training before that and the child may not physically be able to control their bladder or bowels. For most children this is somewhere between 18 and 36 months but of course will vary for each child. Never go by an older child ’s schedule or what someone else you know is doing with their own child.

You also need to make sure your child can handle all the physical requirements of potty training. Can he handle removing his pants, opening the lid and climbing on the toilet, and so on? Children of smaller size may not be able to handle these things quite yet, so you might want to wait another few months until they can. Work with him when it comes dressing and undressing before you’re even ready for potty training so that he doesn’t need to learn everything all at once.

When you are ready for potty training make sure you don’t start this during any other stressful times in the child ’s life. If you’ve just moved, gained or lost a pet, or for any other reason have stress in the home, put this off until the stress is subsided. Remember that children get overwhelmed much easier than adults and so can’t quite handle so many things all at once. Put off potty training until a child doesn’t feel stressed and upset and nervous about anything else.

Talk to your child about potty training and that this is what the bathroom is for and that it ’s time for him to start using it like a big boy. Be very careful to put him on the toilet and hold him safely; remember that this is a big and scary bit of equipment for him and no doubt he ’s afraid of falling in! Anticipate when he will need to use the bathroom so that he can connect the toilet with potty training. Purchase some “big kid” undies and have your child wear them; make sure he understands you don’t want him to get them wet so he needs to tell you when he ’s ready to go. Make this a positive time and give the child a positive reaction when he approaches you. Make sure you never act as if being ready to use the potty is a bad thing or an emergency; this will just give the child more stress and fear.

A reward sticker program is used by many parents when potty training. Every time your child uses the toilet successfully, he gets a sticker on a chart. After so many stickers he gets a reward. The reward should be small and a non-food item; you don’t want to have the child associate unhealthy foods with rewards and of course they need to earn their stickers as well. Usually rewards should come every couple of days. A new ball or other small toy can suffice.

Remember that you’ll have setbacks with potty training just as you do any other type of training for your child, so take things in stride and just keep encouraging him.

For some children, nighttime potty training can be an easy and smooth transition from their daytime routine. For these kids, simply being able to conquer bladder control during the day develops their nighttime habits enough that they are able to stay dry the majority of the time. However, about one third of kids under the age of three still have accidents.

Proper Bladder Control—Give It Time

You may feel frustrated if your child is one of the many who have difficulty maintaining bladder control. But it’s not your fault, and certainly not your child’s fault. While they may have properly applied daytime bladder control, keep in mind that this is in large part a voluntary process. At night, however, despite the child’s best intentions, sometimes the signal from the bladder to the brain indicating that it is full simply doesn’t come through.

For this reason, a positive attitude is a must during nighttime potty training, just as it is during the day. Having a low-stress environment where the child’s self-esteem and well being are cared for facilitates the process of developing this communication from bladder to brain in the child. This means being ready to give positive feedback for every dry night and not holding them responsible for accidents—remember, children have no more conscious control over nighttime potty training than you have over snoring or turning over when you sleep. It simply takes time.

What Can I Do?

As a parent, you can create a positive atmosphere where both you and the child are taking action while the child is awake. This means limiting evening fluid consumption and checking to make sure they make a final bathroom stop before going to sleep. Synthetic sheets are also very useful for this as they make cleaning up after an accident a simple matter.

Having a no-fuss attitude about accidents—even if it’s in the middle of the night—is an essential aspect of proper nighttime potty training. You may not be thrilled to be up at 4AM changing sheets, but just remember that the child doesn’t want to be in that situation anymore than you do. You can mitigate any feelings of shame or embarrassment by staying cool and collected. Simply change the sheets, help them go to the bathroom one more time, and go back to bed. No big deal. Potty Training is all about patience

Source: Fat Loss Tips

If you have been working with your toddler on potty training, you’ve probably had a good number of “accidents”. Accidents in potty training can be discouraging to both child and parent and may make the stretch from diapers seem wider than it really is.

You may feel that you have lost progress when a child suddenly has an accident, but occasional potty training accidents are all part of the process. It may have nothing to do with the success of your technique, but may be the child’s reaction to a change, like a trip to a relative’s house or a birthday party.

When these accidents happen, there are few things to keep in mind. As with many other challenges in child rearing, a positive attitude is the best weapon against potty training accidents. Try to remove the emphasis from the potty training accident itself and place it on making more progress and remembering successes.

Positive feedback is a much more important tool than making negative statements. Celebrating another dry night is more effective than reminding the child he keeps wetting himself.

If potty training accidents start happening frequently, look to external factors to try and diagnose the situation. Your child may have a medical issue like a urinary tract infection or constipation. Remember, he may not have the words to try explain what’s happening or what he feels. He may be putting off going to the toilet because he does not know how to deal with an unfamiliar condition.

Another common reason for regression is the arrival of a sibling. Many couples these days choose to space their kids by about two years. Of course, two is primo potty training time, and you may see a surge in potty training accidents upon the arrival of a newcomer who is suddenly absorbing all parental attention. Respond to this situation with understanding.

Remain firm about your shared goals for potty training, but take time to discuss what’s going on and give your child a chance to talk about his thoughts.

Source: Family

Training toddlers to use the potty can be one of the most challenging tasks for parents of toddlers. There are many books, resources, and products designed for potty training but it can still be challenging for many children and their parents. While potty training is a rite of passage for young children it should not be a harrowing experience.

Because potty training is challenging for most children at least at first, parents look for help when training their toddler. Here are six tips to make potty training easier.

Your child will be ready for potty training on their own time. While most parents would be happy getting potty training done as soon as possible, many children aren’t ready as soon as parents would like. It is very common for children, especially boys, to not be ready for potty training until age three or even three and a half.

If your child does not take to potty training right away there is nothing wrong with stopping and resuming it when they are ready. It your child is struggling it may be best to try again in a few months when your child is older and may be more receptive.

While accidents should not be rewarded, punishing or belittling a child is counter productive to potty training. Accidents should be handled matter-of-factly without criticism or making a child feel ashamed.

Using pull ups or other training pants that absorb like diapers may keep your child from learning quickly as they cannot feel the wetness. Cloth training pants or regular underwear that allow your child to feel wetness may help them learn better if they are having trouble learning with pull ups.

Many parents would not consider allowing their child to run around the house naked, but doing so can be a good potty training method. Many children find it easier to use learn to use the toilet if they are allowed to forgo pants and underwear.

Make our child feel good about using the toilet, but do not push them or stress out over it. Putting too much pressure on a child to potty train can be counter productive and cause them to have trouble learning.

Parents look forward to the end of diapers, but potty training offers new challenges to the parents of toddlers. Approach potty training only when your child is ready and be sure to use plenty of positive reinforcement and low pressure.

Source: Parenting

A traditional three wheel jogger stroller may be a bad decision for you and your family!

Parents with young children are more and more committed to staying fit. They want to be with their kids as they go inline skating, or enter a 10 kilometer running race, or join a moms and tots walking club. Many of these folks have went out and bought a jogging stroller to help them stay healthy and fit.

If you are an every-day runner, or if you run through rough terrain then a traditional 3 wheel jogging stroller is best for you. A jogging stroller is very lightweight and it has 3 sixteen inch wheels (two in the back and one in the front). The back wheels make it so that the stroller pushes easily and at the same time they provide a smooth ride for your kids. The front wheel is fixed in place which means that when you run, walk, inline skate, or whatever the stroller will roll straight-ahead. When you need to make a turn with the stroller the runner tilts it back a little bit onto the back wheels and then makes the turn.

Now don’t get me wrong the fixed front wheel is ideal for jogging, because it provides the stability and straight tracking that you need.

There are many moms and dads who want to use their stroller for running or jogging or in-line skating or powerwalking, but they also want to use to go to the store, or use it on a day at the zoo.

The fixed wheel is great for jogging but it becomes a nuisance when out shopping because the stroller has to be tilted back onto its rear wheels to make a turn. And it is not the easiest to manoeuvre down the aisles of a department store.

There is now a new style of jogging stroller on the market - one that can be effectively used for exercising (jogging/running, inline skating, power-walking, and so on) and can also be used for other practical purposes - going to the store, walking through the neighbourhood, etc.

This new-style stroller has a front wheel that (with a push of a button) can either be locked in place or can swivel. The 12? front wheel when locked in place makes the stroller great for running since the stroller will roll straight. Putting the front wheel in swivel (unlocked) position makes it super for navigating through a busy mall or an outing at a park. The strollers have large rear wheels (usually 16? diameter) which mean that the ride for your passenger will be very smooth. Listed below are some of the features of a swivel wheel jogger stroller…

* Super for running, jogging, speed-walking or even inline skating on smooth surfaces

* It’s like having two strollers in one. Use it for exercising with the front wheel locked in the straight position and use it for going to the mall (with the front wheel in the swivel position).

* Made of lightweight material which means they are made for smooth rolling and easy pushing. You won’t be straining yourself to put the stroller into and out of the trunk of your car.

* Made of long-lasting, rust-resistant aluminum frame.

* Passenger comfort. The two rear wheels are built similar to bicycle tires (spoked wheels with air-filled tires) making the ride for your child very smooth.

* Secure. Safety is always top-of-the-mind. The new style strollers are equipped with a 5 point harness that is easy to use and will keep your baby safe and secure in the stroller.

* Protect your child from the sun. Many of these “hybrid” strollers have a very flexible sun cover that can be positioned so that your child will be blocked from the harmful rays of the sun no matter which direction the stroller is moving.

* Simple to collapse. Many of the new style strollers have a one push ‘trigger’ that will allow the user to quickly fold the stroller into a smaller space for storage.

* Flexible-height adjusting handle bar. If your partner is 6 foot 5, and you are five foot 2 you’ll want a stroller that has handle bars that can move up and down with the touch of a lever. Many of the ‘hybrid’ strollers now have flex-height handle bars.

* Within your budget. A top-quality stroller (with a 20 year warranty) with a swivel front wheel (that can be locked straight) can be purchased on the internet for under $280.

Source: Parenting

Our primary job as an effective parent is to make sure our kids are able to function successfully on their own when they leave the house. Every decision we make should be made with that goal in mind. This knowledge and single-minded focus should help us to navigate the waters of parenting much easier, because we have a definite destination in mind.

Sounds hard? It is really easier than you would think. There are 2 areas where children need direction; problem solving and accountability. Children who are being ornery and basically disrespectful, are telling you that don’t know how to solve a problem. The easier part of effective parenting - go through the actions to identify and solve the problem. Then be sure to add the piece of accountability for the decisions they make, good and bad.

1. Problem solving is a process. Problem solving is difficult, otherwise we wouldn’t have any problems. Many kids with abusive behaviors don’t have the patience for the problem solving process. Parents need to understand the importance of problem solving in the learning process and not do it for the child. The time to start is when they’re young, because the problems are more easily solved then, even though the child may feel like they’re monumental. As they get older, they will be more able to solve the bigger problems if they’ve had experience with the smaller ones when they were young.

2. Coach them forward. All good coaches know that they can get the best out of their players if they stick to business and not to emotion. This too is our goal as effective parents. Being patient as we encourage them through this learning process will pay off in spades for them as adults.

3. Do as I do, not as I say. What? Yep that is how it really works. Your actions and words of course need to match. But if they don’t, they are going to copy what you do. Calmly handling life’s curveballs as their little eyes observe is your best teaching technique. Also let them start fending for themselves as soon as possible. Pushing the elevator button may seem like kids play, and looking at the directory to find the floor you need first, empowers them with life skills.

4. Provide strategic help and solutions. Only give them things they can handle. Offer supportive assistance along the way, don’t criticize them, and most importantly of all, don’t do it for them. As tempting as this may be, you need to let them succeed or fail on their own. We all know it’s easier to load the dishwasher or make the kids bed than to try to get them to do it, but what does that teach them?

5. Encourage exploration and experimentation. As they get to be a teen, you need to let them try out their own ideas for problem-solving and encourage and praise their resourcefulness.

6. Keep setbacks and failures in perspective. This is life in a nutshell. Both experiences provide fertile ground for ongoing training. Look at these as opportunities that they are and you win. Calm and steady as you go and they win too.

Parenting is a daunting task, especially when it comes to teenagers. Hopefully, these tips will help you to have the most effective parenting skills possible.

Source: Parenting

During these times many families are finding their incomes cut in half with spouses being laid off, companies closing, and the economy the way it is. They ask themselves how do we live going to one income? The first thing they need to do is make a plan!

Stress comes when your income reduces and the expenses increase. With gas and food on the increase and pay remaining the same, we have to think about how to cut corners. There are a lot of people are looking for a way to make quick money.

Well there are simple things every family can do to help them get through rough times. From organizations that help families in need, to lifestyle changes, finding new employment, legitimate work at home employment, bartering, and more. Many church organizations have charities set up to help those in need from providing a weeks worth of groceries for $30 to helping find government agencies that can give food and rental assistance.

Apply early for your unemployment benefits! If you have worked, you have paid into unemployment for those times when you are without work. There are also insurance coverage available for those times when you lose your job until you find a new one. Contact your local department of labor for more information.

Review your expenses and begin to cancel all unnecessary expenses. Lower trips driving your car and going out to dinner. You don’t need cable or trips to the massage parlor or the salon or car wash. You can cut your own grass.

You can earn money at home working on the internet. There are many contract positions out there. Check them out carefully. There is a lot you can do without investing any money. Be sure it is not a scam though.

Think about how long it will be to get a job. think about what kind of a job do you want? Update your resume.Be sure to make a plan and follow it through. Who do you know that you can get a small loan from?

You can barter or trade your services.If you need more informatio, search the internet to learn more about how to do this. Sometimes you can get things done with out using money. There are a lot of people doing this.

Source: Parenting

Early potty training refers to a potty training program that is begun before a child is two years old. Advocates of early potty training or infant potty training believe a child can begin potty training much younger than we originally thought, some as early as birth.

The Theory

In early potty training, the parents have to be very vigilant and watch their child for signs that he is about to relieve himself. When the baby looks like he needs to potty, parents rush the child to a potty chair. The theory is that by repeating this over and over, the child learns at a early age to associate the potty chair with going potty and becomes potty trained faster.

The Opposing View

Research has shown and most experts agree that a child’s neurological development progresses at certain intervals. Before a child can be completely potty trained, the neural pathway that carries the signal from the bladder to the brain that it is full must be in place. This takes place around two years of age. Until that time, the bladder will continue to empty itself when it is full.

Opponents of early potty training liken it to attempting to teach a child to walk at birth. The child has not reached the level of development necessary to do that. So in early potty training, it is mostly the parents that are trained. Successes then become a matter of averages. If you put a child on a potty chair long enough and often enough, you will occasionally be successful.

Is This Potty Training?

That is the burning question. Can a child who is incapable of understanding, much less controlling bowel and bladder signals truly be potty trained?

Source: Family

There is no shortage of potty training advice available to parents going through the process. Like all advice, though, parents need to filter what they hear through their own parenting beliefs and methods. Keeping a few fundamentals in mind makes this much easier. Be Patient

Any advice that suggests parents “force” their child to potty train faster should be discarded. A child becomes potty trained in his own time according to his own physical and neurological development. Just like walking and talking, potty training requires a certain level of development

Be Consistent

This is half the battle. A child learns through repetition. If his potty training program is the same from day to day, he learns what to expect and becomes more secure. That’s not to say you can’t add a little incentive now and then, but don’t change the entire process overnight and expect him to adapt.

The best way to ensure consistency is by having the plan well thought out before beginning and making sure others who may help your child with potty training are informed. It’s important that the same process be used at all times. Beware of any advice that would require drastic changes to his routine.

Be Informed

The more you understand about how a child becomes potty trained, the easier it will be for you to meet and address any obstacles you may encounter. There are many good parenting books available that address this issue. This also makes it much easier to recognize good advice when you hear it.

Most potty training advice is given with the best of intentions. Being able to sort and sift through it to find things that will work well for you can strengthen your potty training program and make the process more enjoyable for everyone.

Source: Family