How to Get Over Boredom During Pregnancy

For many people, there are times during their pregnancy where they can’t do much. Whether it’s because of bed rest, or just the fatigue that comes with growing a human, there will be times when you find yourself bored. Next time this happens, try doing one of these things.

Spend Time With Friends and Family

Having a community of people you can spend time with can vastly improve your boredom. Friends are a great resource to have when you reach the point in the third trimester when you find yourself really sick of being pregnant. If you have a good community of friends and loved ones to reach out to, they can help keep you company. You can get out of the house, go to lunch, and be distracted from just how pregnant you are. It can also be helpful to chat with other moms about what childbirth and raising children is like. Hearing of their real-world experience can help you better prepare for raising your own child. Once you do have the baby, friends can help out by watching your other kids, delivering meals, helping out around the house, and anything else you might need.

Stay Busy

Just because you’re pregnant, it doesn’t mean you can’t do what you love. In fact, it’s important to continue to do your favorite things even after becoming a mother. It can be good to distract yourself from being pregnant by finding some fun new hobbies. Staying engaged in activities can take some of the stress off. Making some of these activities exercise is also a good idea. Staying active can help you sleep better and have more energy, both of which are incredibly helpful for a healthy pregnancy. If you’re not feeling energetic, adjust your workouts to include lighter forms of exercise. Swimming, yoga, and walking can all help you stay busy and healthy while pregnant.

Get Lost Somewhere New

If you find yourself bed ridden or unable to regularly leave the house, it can help you stay busy reading books or watching television. One of the best ways to escape reality is to get lost in a different one. Reading a book allows you to learn new things and distract yourself for hours at a time. This activity is also free, as you can check out thousands of books at your local public library. Many books are also adapted into TV series or movies, which you can watch upon completing the book.

Being pregnant is a beautiful experience, but those nine months are difficult. It can help to have some ways to distract yourself from the difficult moments. If you’ve reached the point in your pregnancy where you find yourself bored a lot, try these few tips to cure your boredom.

Check out this article on how to stay calm as a new mom!

Common Things Kids Get Teased About and How to Help Them

Most people remember a time in their childhood where they were teased by their classmates and peers. However, watching your kid go through it is another story. It can be heartbreaking to see your child struggle with their confidence because of bullying. Here are some ways you can work through those issues with them.

Their Name

Especially if your child has an uncommon name, they can find themselves being teased for their name in school. Students that come from a non-English speaking country, or those with complicated names are often teased by their classmates. This can be a source of insecurity for your children. Usually, this only happens when your child is young, and the names are usually silly hurtful nicknames. However, it can be incredibly difficult for your child. If your child is going through this, teach them the importance of standing up for themselves in a polite way. The best way to get your child through bullying is by teaching them not to be bothered by it.

Their Appearance

Unfortunately, much of the societal hierarchy while growing up is based on appearance. Things like your child’s height, weight, hair style, and more can all be fuel for a bully’s fire. Usually, someone’s appearance is something that is very tied to their self-esteem. Bullies know that by attacking someone’s appearance, they are hitting them where it hurts. For example, crooked teeth may prompt teasing and discourage your child from smiling, but there are things you can do as a parent to help them. Teach your child body positivity, and that their worth comes from more than their appearance. One helpful option is to give them positive affirmations about their appearance to repeat in the mirror.

Their Social Skills

Oftentimes, children who fall behind developmentally are made fun of by their peers. Additionally, those who are shy or not very social can be seen as strange and mocked for their quiet natures. This makes it even harder for your children to make friends. If your child has been struggling with making friends, or if they’re being teased for their social skills, it can be incredibly difficult for them. Teach them the importance of making friends who love and understand them for who they are. Try enrolling them in afterschool activities with like minded kids. If your child loves drawing, they can take an art class.

Seeing your child go through the difficulties of being teased and bullied is every parent’s worst nightmare. It’s impossible for you to understand why everyone doesn’t love and appreciate your child as much as you. If you notice any signs that your child might be being bullied, try some of these tips to help them through it.

Check out this article on common food ingredients that can cause your kids digestive problems!

Common Food Ingredients That Can Cause Your Kids Digestive Issues

As a parent, you want your child to grow healthy and strong more than anything. Navigating their diet can be tricky, especially when they’re complaining of digestive issues. If your child is struggling with their digestion, try eliminating some of these foods.

Dairy

Lactose intolerance is an incredibly common ailment for people, but the symptoms are often ignored. When a child has lactose intolerance, they are not able to properly digest the sugars found in dairy products. If your child is lactose intolerant, they may experience stomach aches, bloating, and diarrhea after consuming dairy. This condition doesn’t cause any harm to the body, but it can be uncomfortable for your child. Luckily, today there are many dairy free options for milks, cheeses, and other dairy products. You can also consult a doctor about other options.

Gluten

Gluten sensitivity is another fairly common digestive problem. Having celiac disease is fairly rare, but sensitivities are becoming increasingly common. If you notice that your child has digestive problems after eating foods that contain gluten, take them to the doctor to get tested. Your child needs a diagnosis by a gastroenterologist to determine if it’s celiac disease. First, they’ll take a blood sample to look for symptoms of celiac disease. If anything shows up, the gastroenterologist may choose to perform an endoscopy. Once they’ve gotten tested, you’ll be able to reevaluate their diet to help their digestion. If your child does not have a sensitivity or celiac disease, there is no need for a gluten-free diet.

Processed Foods

Processed foods are usually good to shy away from for a myriad of reasons. In regards to your child’s digestion, processed foods can contain low levels of fiber and lots of additives. Fiber helps food move through your digestive system. Processed foods don’t have enough fiber to move through your body correctly, so they can cause digestion problems. The additives found in processed foods can also cause your gut’s microbiome to become imbalanced. Your microbiome is a collection of bacteria in your gut, and the chemicals and additives can wreak havoc on it.

Navigating your child’s diet can be tricky, especially if you have a picky eater. This becomes even more difficult if your child is showing symptoms of digestion issues. Try eliminating or altering their intake of these foods to see if it helps. Consult a medical professional if the symptoms are worrisome.

Check out this article on things you can do to help your child maintain a healthy weight!

How Your Kids Benefit From Regular Dental Visits

Sometimes getting your kids to go to the dentist for regular dental cleanings and checkups can feel like pulling teeth, literally. And that struggle alone can be enough for some parents to avoid dental appointments for their kids. However, making sure that your kids go to regular dental visits can help your child to maintain good oral health and to ensure that they have good oral health habits to bring them through to adulthood.

Keep Their Teeth Clean

The first benefit of regular dental visits for your kid is that they can help your child to have clean teeth. While brushing and flossing at home can do a lot of good, it isn’t as effective as a professional cleaning. And having your child’s teeth cleaned at the dentist will help them to get rid of the plaque they couldn’t brush away on their own. Your dentist can help care for your child’s teeth and clean the areas that are hard to reach with a regular toothbrush and floss.

Catch Problems Early

Your dentist can also help your kids to figure out any problems with their teeth as early as possible. This is important because early discovery can help to decrease pain and symptoms while also keeping your costs as low as possible. In fact, early treatment may prevent problems from developing in the first place. If you want your kids to have the best possible oral health, it is essential that they go to the dentist every 6 months. Most dental insurance plans will cover two yearly appointments which means these checkups are generally free.

Building Good Habits

Going to the dentist regularly is an important habit that every person should have under their belt. And when you help your child to have good experiences at the dentist when they are young, it can set them up for a positive relationship with the dentist for the rest of their lives. This will help them to maintain great oral health, have better breath, and to generally be healthier when they get older. Finding a dentist that you love can make all of this a lot easier.

When you are trying to help your child to grow into an amazing adult, you need to help them to establish good habits. Going to the dentist regularly is an important habit for everyone to develop. And you can make the dentist a fun and important part of your child’s life.

Check out this article on how to teach your kids to be more independent! 

Photos You Must Take at Your Child’s First Birthday Party

Your baby’s first birthday is a fun and emotional milestone to celebrate. It can commemorate a lot of growth for your child and family. In order to properly document the day, you need to make sure you’re taking lots of pictures. Here are some photos that you must take at your child’s first birthday party.

Cake Time

First off, one of the cutest photos that you can capture at your baby’s first birthday party is photos of them playing with their cake. Cake time has almost become a required rite of passage for all one-year-old babies because it is such a fun activity for them to participate in. In order to get the best cake time photos, make sure that your baby is sitting in a cute location and wearing clothes that will be easily washable. Then, set down the birthday cake in front of them. Eventually, their curiosity will get the best of them and they’ll be digging their hands and face in the cake to get a taste of the delicious dessert. Those messiest moments where your child is covered with frosting will make for the cutest pictures.

Cute Mannerisms

Next, you need to make sure that you get some snapshots of any cute mannerisms that your child is doing. Thumb sucking can be cute in little ones, so if yours does this, feel free to snap a picture of them engaging in this habit. However, it’s one you’ll want to say goodbye to soon, as cute as it is. Thumb sucking can make your child’s teeth grow crooked when they are a bit older. Luckily, a few trips to the dentist and orthodontist in their teen years can help remedy any of those issues.

Playing with Friends

Finally, don’t forget to snap a couple of pictures of your baby playing with their family and friends. As your baby is crawling around with their baby friends, take some videos of the giggly adventures. Make sure that you get some pictures of your baby with their grandparents and other family members as well. These photos will become treasures in the future as they will remind you of the special relationships that you have with your friends and family.

So, even though you’ve undoubtedly put a lot of money and time into planning the decorations and activities for your baby’s first birthday party, don’t forget to take lots of pictures. Make sure that you capture photos of their cake smashing time, their cute mannerisms, and their play time with friends. This will ensure that you’ll have lots of adorable pictures to commemorate their special day in the future.

Check out this article on how to teach your kids to be more independent! 

How to Make Sure Your Kids Develop Strong and Healthy Teeth

You want the very best for your kids. You give them the most devoted care, provide ample learning opportunities, and allow them to develop into the talented, unique individuals that they were meant to become. Part of that development is to care for their teeth. Dental hygiene is a fundamental part of your child’s emotional and physical health.

Pay Attention to What You Feed Them

Healthy teeth start with what you feed them. Healthy choices for strong teeth are all about what should go into their mouths and what shouldn’t. The best foods include high-fiber fruits and vegetables. The American Dental Association suggests that a high fiber diet is the next best thing for your child’s teeth, after brushing and flossing. High sources of calcium are also great for strengthening those little pearly whites. Cheese has the additional benefit of being a high saliva producer, which can help restore the proper minerals to their teeth after they have been attacked by plaque. Of course, you know the foods to avoid. Candy, sweet treats, and soda are some of the biggest enemies to the development of strong and healthy teeth.

Make Dentist Appointments

Experts recommend that your child see a dentist two times a year. Your baby’s first dental exam should happen right around their first birthday. Even if your baby only has one or two teeth, those teeth are still subject to plaque, the thin, sticky film that clings to your teeth. When sugary or starchy foods mix with plaque, acid forms and attacks your child’s freshly budding teeth. A pediatric dentist can help remove harmful plaque from your child’s teeth. Early intervention is paramount for combatting tooth decay and gum disease.

Establish a Daily Oral Hygiene Routine

When you start teaching your child proper oral hygiene from the moment they push their first tooth, they will develop a lifelong habit of good dental care. Use a baby toothbrush with a tiny drop of baby toothpaste to gently brush each tooth, allowing any excess to dribble out of their mouth. By preschool age, you can give your child a turn at brushing their own teeth. Do this before or after you brush them. Most school-aged kids are ready to begin brushing on their own. 

Just make sure that they are supervised to ensure proper brushing technique. And don’t forget the floss! Make this a fun part of your child’s day, both when they wake up and before bedtime.

Your kids need you to be able to develop strong and healthy teeth. Start young, be consistent, and stay positive so that your kids learn to enjoy taking good care of their teeth.

Check out this article on the dietary components that affect your child’s oral health!

PPD Getting You Down? Things You Can Do to Help Get Through It

The period following the birth of your child can be filled with countless emotions. Emotions caused by hormones and your situation in life can be overwhelming. Many moms struggle with Postpartum Depression (PPD). PPD can take time to recover from, however something you can do that will help get you through it include taking care of yourself, getting professional help, and building a support network.

Take Care of Yourself

With a newborn and other family responsibilities it can be difficult to have time for yourself. It is important to know that taking care of yourself enables you to take care of others. Take time for yourself to make you feel good. As hard as it can be, taking care of yourself by eating nutritious foods, getting as much sleep as you can, including regular physical activity in your day, and practicing things like meditation can help you manage PPD. You need to know that you are important as an individual and you deserve to feel good.

Get Professional Help

If PPD symptoms last longer than a few weeks or you feel extreme sadness that could lead to harming yourself or others, get professional help. A doctor will give you the resources you need to get started on your path to recovery. Counseling, prescriptions and TMS therapy are a few common treatments for moms with PPD. TMS doesn’t require the use of medication, which means you don’t have to worry about drugs impacting your ability to nurse if you want to. Instead, it is a form of brain stimulation used to help treat depression. Getting professional help with managing PPD can go a long way towards getting you the help and support you need.

Build a Support Network

Humans are naturally social creatures. When you have a baby, it is easy to feel isolated and alone. You are not alone! Receiving social and emotional support from others will help boost your self-esteem, sense of independence, and enable you to better cope with problems. Be intentional about creating positive social interactions with others that can act as a support network for you.

Having a baby is a beautiful experience. However, it also takes a big toll on your physical and mental well-being. You are not broken for feeling depressed. Focus on what brings you happiness and take steps to help get you through this difficult time.

Check out this article on how to help your baby build more confidence!

Things You Can Do to Aid Your Postpartum Recovery

Having a newborn join your family after months of pregnancy, doctor visits, taking care of yourself, and all the other genuinely exhausting things that come with pregnancy, you might think that the joys of motherhood will carry you through the next few years. But if you are like many new mothers out there, you may feel different after giving birth. Postpartum recovery is a challenge all in and of itself, it takes time for your body to return to a state of new normal after nurturing a growing human inside of you. Here are three things you can do to aid your postpartum recovery and get back in action before you know it.

Stock up on Supplies in Advance

The first thing that you can do to aid your postpartum recovery is to stock up on supplies in advance. Once your child is born, you will find that every single waking hour, and often a majority of sleeping hours, are dedicated to caring for your newborn. This makes routine trips to the store for supplies difficult if not impossible. If you can, you should start stocking up on supplies for postpartum recovery during the final month of your pregnancy. You will need things like pads, disposable underwear, nursing pads, numbing spray, and a peri bottle almost right after birth to ease things along.

Be Mindful About What You Consume

There are a lot of dietary and consumption restrictions that you will face when you are pregnant. Unfortunately, those don’t really end after giving birth, they just change a little bit. You should make sure you still focus on eating a healthy and balanced diet to ensure that you are healthy and energized after birth. A nutritious diet helps you feel so much better, which is especially important during the postpartum period when it’s hard to feel like yourself for a time. And don’t forget to drink plenty of water.

Care for Your Mental Health

Postpartum depression is no joke, it is a real and difficult aspect of the postpartum phase that women everywhere are challenged with. Don’t feel like you must brush it off as no big deal – it is certainly a big deal. Don’t shy away from acknowledging how you feel and even seeking the help of a mental health professional to help you find ways to cope and carry on, regardless of what you are thinking and feeling. You are not alone.

Giving birth is a huge life event that changes everything about how you live. While this can be exciting, it can also be a time of great stress, pain, and recovery from the pregnancy stages. Follow these three tips to make sure that you are recovering during postpartum to the best of your ability.

Check out this article all about the things you can do to start feeling like yourself again after the baby is born!

How to Help Your Baby Build More Confidence

Babies are so fun to have around, and such a joy in their parents’ lives. Though they’re wonderful, of course, babies are also a lot of work. They have so much to learn and need to grow in so many ways, but they don’t have a paid, professional teacher. Rather, they have you, so it’s important to do your best by them. From a very young age, they learn so much from you, including how to feel inner confidence, so start now to teach them!

Introduce Them to New Environments

The first thing you can do to help your baby grow in confidence is to introduce them to new environments. So, as they grow a little older, you can help them build confidence by helping them realize they can thrive in new environments as well. To do so, try your best to keep other constants in their lives. It’s equally important to recognize that babies need stability. According to Parent Lane, they love familiarity and thrive when they have routines. Maybe take them to a new location but bring some people they’re already familiar with. Furthermore, in the new environment, try putting them down for their naps at the same time you normally would if you were at home. These simple acts can be extremely beneficial in helping your child feel comfortable in a new environment, and consequently in helping them feel more confident at all times with their surroundings.

Teach Them Useful Skills

Another great way to help your baby build confidence is to teach him or her new skills. One skill that’s both confidence-building and safety-ensuring is swimming. Many child deaths occur each year due to drowning—mostly during the summertime. Furthermore, swimming is an independent sport that will likely be scary to your child at the beginning, but that will help them realize they can do hard things. Don’t worry about putting your child in swim lessons too early. According to SwimJim, even babies are capable of learning swimming skills. So, teach your child lifesaving and important skills early on!

Provide Safety and Love

Lastly, one very important thing that will greatly help babies grow in confidence is to provide them with safety and love. As mentioned previously, babies love familiarity. Familiarity helps them feel safe. So, hold them and talk to them frequently. Zero to Three recommends you let your loved ones hold them as well so they can become familiar with them. When your baby is crying, don’t just let them cry. Pick them up, comfort them, and try to figure out why they’re crying. Granted, there are times as the baby gets older when it’s good for them to just be left alone to do things like fall asleep. However, especially when they are infants, crying likely means something is wrong and they need to be comforted.

Children are a wonderful addition to a family. They often help both your family and your community. Babies are also a lot of work, of course, and need to learn many skills. So, do some research to see how to best help your child learn. Help them build confidence. And of course, treat them with great love and adoration.

Read this next: 3 Practices Every New Mom Should Start as Soon as Possible

How to Get Your Child to Adopt Healthy Habits

Every parent wants the best for their child. This includes the best health, the best education, and the best experiences. Part of receiving the best starts with teaching your child healthy habits, which lead to a healthy lifestyle and the achievement of the best things life has to offer. Get your child to adopt healthy habits by implementing the following tactics!

Offer Small Rewards

Offering small rewards to your child helps them feel recognition and direction. According to Leading Turtle, rewarding good behavior tells your child that you are pleased with their efforts and encourages them to continue those habits. You can also implement a tangible reward system like a sticker chart to help them achieve goals. Goal achievement leads to confidence and the establishment of healthy habits. Rewarding your child does not have to be a sweet treat, however. Intangible rewards are often better, like playing with toys or doing activities together to celebrate their wins.

Model Good Behavior

Your child’s first teacher in this life is you. Whether you realize it or not, your child is watching much more than you think. If you want your child to adopt healthy habits, you must model good behavior. According to Showtime Smiles, babies and children are more likely to enjoy brushing after seeing you do it. As another example, at the dinner table they’re more likely to eat the foods you put on your own plate, including vegetables. When you put physical exercise, nutrition, and education as a priority in your life, your children are much more likely to follow.

Manage Screen Time 

Studies have shown that excessive screen time leads to sleep problems in young kids. Too much screen time also creates a sedentary lifestyle and limits a child’s creativity. Teach your child to adopt healthy habits by managing their screen time. Avoid looking at screens with your child at least one hour before bed as the blue light will make it harder for them to sleep. According to All 4 Kids, video games, TV shows, and smartphone apps all fall in the technology consumption category. Encourage your child to play outside or participate in various activities to keep screen time at a minimum.

For the first few years, your child’s life centers around you. You are their greatest role model and the most important teacher they will ever have. Set your child up for success with a healthy lifestyle by encouraging them to adopt healthy habits early on.

Read this next: How to Stay Calm as a New Mom

3 Practices Every New Mom Should Start as Soon as Possible

Every new parent has a list a mile long of things they know they’re planning to do as their children age. Their family has a lot of fun to look forward to! It can be complicated to figure out how to establish those things as children age, though. What kinds of practices should families begin, even as they are just beginning? Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Create Traditions

Families love to establish traditions, especially for holidays. This can get overwhelming, of course, as you mix things which each partner’s birth family did growing up. It’s perfectly fine and normal to get rid of any traditions which no longer suit your home. You don’t have to, for example, always have to make hundreds of cookies to decorate, unless this causes you joy! If something else like getting Thai food on Christmas Eve rather than decorating cookies brings you more joy, do that instead! Traditions are made to serve YOU, not the other way around.

Set Up a Daily Routine

Setting up daily routines for hygiene and bedtime will help your children immensely. According to Stellar Family Orthodontics, poor oral health during childhood is one of the leading causes of crooked teeth in adults. Likewise, you want children to go to bed on time and with the least amount of stress as possible. Establishing routines can be complicated for non-neurotypical children, and it’s important to not be angry at yourself if you have problems with bath times or potty training. Routines occur bit by bit, and need tweaking to fit the needs of each family.

Establish Boundaries and Consent

According to Evolve, establishing healthy boundaries and encouraging body consent with children helps both them and you considerably. When they have choices in what they eat, wear, and do to a certain extent, small ones feel more confident and securely attached. Likewise, when they learn they have the right to refuse kisses, hugs, or other contact as toddlers, this knowledge continues when they are teenagers and adults, which you very much want!

Look: you’re not going to do any of this “correctly,” but there is no perfection in parenting. Do your best and regroup when you must. Traditions, routines, and even boundaries don’t need to be done perfectly to make your world better!

Read this next: Childhood Habits You Should Help Your Child Break

What You Should Start Doing When Your Baby’s First Teeth Come In

Having a new baby is one new thing after another and learning things while practicing all of the other things, too! One of those new things, at about six months, is the adventure of your baby both cutting new teeth and you caring for the ones your baby is getting! Between sore gums and teaching the baby to not bite fingers (or more sensitive areas), it’s important to also care for those new chompers. What should you do when your baby’s first new teeth come in?

Introduce New Foods

Before the six-month mark, according to the CDC, your baby needs no solid foods, and, indeed, their bodies might not be ready to process them! Advice from decades past said to give formula-fed babies solids as early as three or four months, which now they know can cause food allergies. Practice new foods gradually, with only one new food per week, leaving high allergen foods like peaches, apricots, and strawberries until later. Nursing babies don’t need to begin solids in earnest until a year but starting them at the same time is fine.

Start Brushing

According to Maccaro Smiles, children under two should use toothpaste without fluoride. Although you might get bit, using a finger brush is a great way to get your baby accustomed to having their teeth cleaned. Likewise, it’s common to use a washcloth with a little water on it and the paste. Get a paste your child enjoys the flavor of—if you find your child is not enjoying the idea of clean teeth, they might not like the flavor you’ve chosen.

Find a Great Dentist

Finding a good pediatric dentist for your child is important! If you have a rowdy kid, their baby teeth can get some wear and tear, especially after they learn to walk. Some children can have more predisposition to cavities, too. According to Parents.com, teaching them that going to the dentist is something families do to help their teeth is a great thing. They can sit on your lap at your dental appointment for a cleaning. This normalizes healthy teeth care.

Your baby’s baby teeth are adorable. You want them to be able to enjoy them until they get exchanged for adult teeth, beginning at the age of five or six. Brush them up with no fluoride, teach them about healthy foods, and find that awesome dentist. Don’t forget to bask in that beautiful little baby smile!

Read this next: Childhood Habits You Should Help Your Child Break

How to Stay Calm as a New Mom

Life as a new mom is exciting and wonderful, but it can also be incredibly stressful and riddled with anxiety. Staying calm is harder than it seems, but if you focus on what’s important and get help when you need it, you can make it happen. When you find ways to ground yourself in motherhood you can maintain a calm demeanor and handle all the things motherhood sends your way.

Take Care of Yourself

Motherhood requires a lot of selfless work, but that doesn’t mean you should put yourself and your own needs to the side. Taking care of yourself is essential to remain calm and collected as a mother. Make sure that you give yourself time to relax and take care of yourself so you can feel comfortable and happy. Taking steps to get enough sleep will help you to decrease your stress and manage the difficulties of motherhood more effectively. According to Kaiser Permanente, you should take time to do self-care as well and treat yourself so you can be pampered while you also deal with the difficult aspects of new motherhood.

Do Things That Spark Joy

While you can get a lot of joy from motherhood, it shouldn’t be the only thing that sparks joy in your life. If it is, life can get overwhelming and it can be difficult to stay calm and get things done. Taking time to do the things that bring you joy will help you to be a better mother and a happier person. According to Beyond Yoga Retreat, yoga is a great way to lower stress and improve the mind/body connection. Anything that brings you real joy can help you to find peace in your life as a mother.

Ask for Help When You Need It

Needing help is totally normal, but sometimes new moms forget that they don’t have to do it all on their own. According to Motherly, you should reach out to your network so you can have time to take a break and get help with your baby, your work, or things around the house. The people around you want to help you and reaching out to them for help is mutually beneficial. You should never need to handle all the stress of motherhood on your own.

Being a new mother is a lot of work, but it is important to make sure that you take care of yourself. That means doing things you love and asking for help when you need it from the people who care about you. When you are taken care of it will be much easier to stay calm, even when motherhood gets hard.

Read this next: How to Have Fun and Stay Healthy With Your Kids This Summer

How to Make Learning to Swim a More Enjoyable Experience for Your Child

Knowing how to swim is one of the most important skills a child can learn—if they are unable to keep their head above the surface, any body of water becomes a serious hazard. Unfortunately, many kids struggle to get over their fear of swimming or their aversion to being forced into a “lesson” of any kind. Here are a few things you can do to make swim lessons a much easier, more enjoyable experience for your child (and for you!).

Examine Your Attitude

Children pay attention to the attitudes and moods of their parents. If you feel apprehensive or bothered by swimming, they will too. Show excitement over their learning, and emphasize the fun things they will be able to do once they are strong swimmers to keep them motivated. Validate their concerns, but share the good experiences you have had personally as you learned and developed your swimming skills. Your kids will reflect your positivity and determination to gain this skill.

Choose a Program Carefully

People in general, whether children or adults, learn to swim best in a safe, comfortable environment. Find a program that tailors best to your child’s needs and your accessibility. Consider private lessons for a child that is especially nervous about water, or rambunctious children that need focused attention. Or, if your child thrives in social environments with a healthy amount of competition, a group lesson may be a great fit. The pool itself may also be a factor—private pools might offer an added level of comfort, privacy, security, while public pools may increase the amount of energy your child feels in regards to swimming. Look into the credentials and reputation of the teachers or programs you’re considering to assure that they are trustworthy enough to teach your child.

Reward Their Hard Work

Positive reinforcement is the best way to keep kids excited about coming back to their swim lessons. Whether it be verbal compliments or encouragement, a physical reward like a treat, or an activity they have to look forward to, reward your child’s hard work by allowing them to identify and feel their success. If possible (or appealing to you and your child) find a way to involve swimming in their reward! Going to a special pool or beach to let them show off their skills will motivate them and reinforce the excitement of this life skill.

Be positive, be careful, and be a source of motivation for your children’s experience in swim lessons. They will respond and learn significantly better with this kind of help from you!

Read this next: Baby Behaviors Your Child Should Leave Behind as a Toddler and How to Help

Childhood Habits You Should Help Your Child Break

Parenting your kids can seem challenging enough. Helping your children break bad habits can be especially challenging though. One of the best ways to help children break bad habits is to know the signs of one forming and then to stop it before it becomes too serious.

Nose Picking

Nose picking is one of the most common habits that children develop and it’s essential to help them break it quickly. According to Develop Good Habits, not only is nose-picking unhygienic and can spread germs, but it also tends to be a major turn-off for a lot of people. Because shaking hands is such a common form of greeting, recognizing someone as a nose picker makes certain common conventions of interaction uncomfortable.

Help your child learn to use tissues instead of their hand. You can also help prevent this issue in the first place by giving them saline drops to use in their nose. Saline drops will keep the nose moist which prevents uncomfortable boogers from developing in the first place.

Sucking Their Thumb

Sucking their thumb is a habit that kids tend to develop when they’re really little. Usually, children develop this habit while toddlers as a way to cope with the end of breastfeeding and as a form of comfort. Sometimes parents fail to stop children from becoming attached to this habit because they see it as somewhat cute or enduring.

But sucking your thumb can have really bad issues down the road. According to Stellar Family Orthodontics, sucking your thumb can cause teeth issues, which may require treatment to fix.

Biting Their Nails

Nail-biting is a common habit that kids can develop young. Unfortunately, it is a habit that can stick if not stopped early on.

According to Kid Companions, one of the best things you can do to help your child stop biting their nails is to help them recognize what makes them feel stressed or nervous. Then talk about how that prompts them to bite their nails. Helping them identify the cause of their stress may help them figure out how to cope with it differently. 

These bad habits are just a start to some of the negative habits that your child may start to develop. And while preventing these habits is typically the best way to avoid the pain and problems that can occur as a result, it’s also important that you have a plan to address bad habits if they arise. Be vigilant about recognizing when your kids start to adopt new quirks and help them learn to cope with stress and strong emotions healthily.

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3 Tips for Making Sure Your Baby is Eating Enough

The amount your baby is eating can be a source of a lot of stress for mothers; wondering if they’re eating enough to be growing at the proper pace, feeling nervous about them receiving enough nutrients to help their immune systems and general anxiety over whether or not the mother is feeding them correctly. Here are three tips that will assure your baby is eating enough to receive all those things it needs!

Have a Schedule

At first, your baby will need to be fed very frequently, so don’t panic if you feel like your baby never stops eating. It is normal for babies to be fed between eight and ten times per day or roughly every four hours. As the baby grows, the time gaps between feedings will grow, meaning you won’t have to feed them as frequently. According to Motif Medical, you should take note of patterns when your baby becomes fussy and wants to be fed. Continue to create a consistent schedule of feeding times. This will help both you and your baby to develop a mental and physical readiness for feeding time.

Watch for Problems

Be aware of any changes in that pattern you have noted as to your baby’s feeding habits. If your baby begins to struggle with latching or with feeding for as long as they usually do, consider seeking help from professionals like doctors and lactation consultants. According to Stellar Kids Dentistry, having issues with breastfeeding is normal, especially if your baby has any kind of lip or tongue restriction. This is something a doctor can help fix. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! You have resources to ease the stress and frustration of feeding issues that you will not regret using.

Pay Attention to the Times Between Breastfeedings

There are some useful indicators of your baby’s milk intake in between the feeding process. Wet diapers mean they are swallowing their milk well. According to University Hospitals, if the baby is sleepy and content after feeding, their belly is likely full and satisfied. If they are following the feeding schedule you are trying to create, that is another good sign that their bodies are ingesting and digesting regularly. Finally, if you notice that your breasts do not feel as full as they did before the feeding, you can feel confident that your baby got the milk it needed.

Creating a schedule, being wary of feeding issues, and looking for signs that your baby is feeding normally can help reduce the stress that comes with constantly wondering if your baby is eating enough. If you continue to have concerns about your child’s eating habits, consult a doctor for more specific tips.

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Baby Behaviors Your Child Should Leave Behind as a Toddler and How to Help

Babies can be a bundle of joy, and watching them grow and develop can be nothing short of wonderful. One of the natural, though bittersweet parts of being a parent is watching your children outgrow some of those delightful baby behaviors. Some of those behaviors can be more difficult to leave behind than others though, and may need a little extra help from you.

Separation Anxiety

As your baby gets older, you may start to notice them becoming a little more clingy and less comfortable around strangers, especially when you’re leaving. According to Baby Center, this separation anxiety tends to peak around 10-18 months and is perfectly normal. In fact, it’s an indicator that you’ve developed a healthy bond with your child. As your child advances further into toddlerhood, however, they should start leaving separation anxiety behind. You can help your child by keeping things as structured and stable as possible when you leave. Try to have a regular caretaker who cares for your child while you’re gone. Avoid the temptation to make a big deal about leaving. If you make a fuss, your child will be more convinced there’s a reason to worry and be upset.

Using a Pacifier

Pacifiers are great for soothing your child as a baby. It’s perfectly natural and normal for them to rely on them for a time. If done for too long, however, behaviors like using a pacifier and thumb sucking can cause problems for the physical development of your child’s teeth and mouth. According to Stellar Kids Dentistry, kids often wean themselves between 2-4 years old, but some may transition from a pacifier to their thumbs instead of quitting altogether. You can try helping your child wean off of a pacifier by gradually increasing the time they spend without it or limiting it to times when they need a little extra comfort. Transitioning to a different comfort item may help as well.

Needing You in the Middle of the Night

Perhaps one of the things you’re looking forward to the most is getting back to getting a solid night of sleep. The good news is that as your child leaves babyhood behind they shouldn’t really need you as much in the middle of the night. While they don’t need nighttime feedings anymore, some children may use that time in bed to practice new milestones. Some even may get stuck standing up because they don’t know how to sit back down yet. Sometimes self soothing after waking up at night is a challenge too. Teaching your child to self soothe and how to sit down can help them need you less in the middle of the night and get you back to sleeping at night sooner.

Babies are wonderfully adept at adapting and developing as they grow. Behaviors such as separation anxiety, using a pacifier, and needing you in the middle of the night are just a few examples of behaviors that they should leave behind as they go through toddlerhood. While you may look forward to certain milestones more than others, make sure you take the time to enjoy where your child is at this moment. Time flies, and your child won’t be so little anymore before you know it.

Capture the fantastic memories with your child with a mother and child portrait experience!

How to Have Fun and Stay Healthy With Your Kids This Summer

The sun is staying out longer. You can feel the warmth on your skin. You’re ready to enjoy your summer. While summertime brings with it opportunities for fun and relaxation for you and your kids, you’ll only be able to maximize those opportunities if you are prepared.

Help Them Stay Active

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, staying active is the key to staying healthy and happy for a lot of people. But when it comes to staying active, it’s important to remember that staying active can look vastly different for different people. Find the right balance for you and your kids. You may prefer yoga while your kids prefer running or playing soccer or basketball.

Find a way to accommodate these different preferences—going to the park together can be a great way to do this. You can coordinate with the mothers of your children’s friends to meet up at the same time so your kids can play, giving you time to be active in your own way.

Make Sure They Drink Water

Staying active, enjoying the outdoors, and having quality family time are all well and good things. But if you don’t stay hydrated, you could be in for some serious problems. According to Stellar Kids Dentistry, dehydration causes a variety of short-term problems. You could have headaches, dizziness, and sometimes nausea. Over the long term, it can cause other problems. For example, dehydration can cause dry mouth, which can lead to cavity-causing bacteria.

Balance Indoor and Outdoor Time

During the summertime, it’s easy to simply let your kids play video games, board games, or other games with toys inside. But while they need to engage in these kinds of activities, you should also try to make sure that your kids get enough time outside.

According to Intoxicated on Life, being outside has so many great benefits. For one, being outside for at least an hour a day can greatly improve mood. Also, being outside and getting fresh air is good for the body. Finding the right balance for your kids and family will take some time so that kids don’t get too stir crazy or too sunburned.

Summer is an exciting time for everyone—for your kids who don’t have school and for you to be able to enjoy some beautiful weather. But without careful preparation and planning, you may be disappointed in your summer. Making sure to keep tabs on your and your kids’ health while doing summer activities will help everyone have a positive experience.

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Things You Can Do to Start Feeling Like Yourself Again After the Baby Is Born

Having a baby is one of the most important milestones of your life. And while having a baby brings so much joy in your life, it also upsets your routine and may leave you feeling less like yourself. Taking advantage of different moments and opportunities can help you re-find that self that you may be missing.

Take a Shower

According to Rheem, taking a shower can be a huge relief and a chance to spend some time all by yourself. Showers have so many incredible benefits. The heated water hitting your skin stimulates your skin and sends signals to your brain to calm your body.

The time by yourself can also allow you to think without having to be constantly watching the baby. Take advantage of this time to practice different calming breathing strategies as well as other meditation practices.

Get Your Hair Professionally Done

Having your hair done by a professional can help you feel beautiful and taking the opportunity to get pampered can be wonderfully relaxing. The scalp massage you get will provide you a little relaxation that can help you recharge for the rest of the week.

Getting your hair done professionally is also great after birth because your hair may have changed through pregnancy. Luckily, according to Blake Charles Salons, hairstylists are trained to know what types of hair products work well with different types of hair. They’ll not only know how to best help you with your particular hair type, but they’ll also be able to tailor the products they use to your situation as a new mother.

Sleep

Sleeping is beneficial no matter what period of life you are in. But after you’ve had a baby, according to Gruit Day, you will likely need good quality sleep more than ever. And with a newborn who will most likely not be able to sleep through the entire night, plan to have help when it comes to your sleep schedule.

See if your mother, mother-in-law, or a trusted friend can come help out with the baby at night. Giving yourself these opportunities to catch up on sleep will make a big difference in your energy levels and consequently in your feelings about yourself.

Navigating your sense of self after having a baby is difficult. You’re a mother now! But how do you incorporate that into the person you’ve always been? Taking the time to enjoy the little things can help.

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How to Get Your Baby to Experience Outdoor Activities

Spending time outdoors can be very beneficial to your baby now and in the future. Now, your baby can spend time in the fresh air and sunlight which is good for their health. Getting them used to spending time outdoors can encourage healthy habits in the future. If your baby is healthy, it should be safe to take them outside every day for roughly 30–60 minutes.

Go to the Park

When you go to the park, you have the opportunity to give your baby some outside time and they can develop important skills in a whole new environment. For starters, the park provides your baby with a whole new sensory environment. Depending on your baby’s developmental stage, you can allow them to explore. You can start off simple by letting them sit in the grass or even wood chips. If they are capable, you can allow them to climb on small obstacles. A very popular activity for your baby is the baby swing. Just make sure your baby can sit up when using the swing.

Take Them Swimming

You may be hesitant to take a baby to the pool, but it can be very beneficial to their development. Swimming allows babies to develop their muscles as well as heart strength and lung capacity. Starting your baby off early can help them become more accustomed to the water and not be fearful of it in the future. Swimming lessons are something that even babies can take. Babies are born with the instincts to swim and lessons can help them develop these instincts. When you take your baby swimming, make sure you are always watching them and taking care of them. Be aware of how long they’ve been in the sun and make sure they don’t get too cold.

Go for a Walk

Going for a walk can create a whole new experience for your baby. First of all, it helps them experience the world as they have new things to see, hear, smell, and touch. This can help them begin to process new things. If you take your baby out in a stroller, they can begin to develop their independence because they are perceiving things on their own. Some studies have also shown that going for walks in a stroller helps babies sleep independently.

As much as you may want to keep your baby all to yourself, they need to experience the outside world. It can be helpful to their overall development. Find some activities that you would be comfortable with that will allow your baby to experience the outdoors.

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