Pregnancy can be one of the greatest times in a woman’s life but it also can be a time that they may let their health go to a certain extent. This is really a shame because they are not only dealing with their own health, they are dealing with the health of the fetus that is growing inside of them. If you are concerned about weight gain and other problems that may occur during pregnancy, however, having a fit pregnancy is certainly one of the options. As long as you get the green light from your doctor, you would be surprised at how much you can actually do to stay fit while you’re pregnant.

The first thing that you’re going to need to worry about is your diet. As they say, you’re not eating for one, you’re now eating for two. The good news about this is that many of the things that you eat in order to stay fit yourself are also good for your baby. Although your doctor will be able to give you general guidelines in this direction, by eating things that keep you healthy in general and maintaining a balanced diet, you will not only come out of your pregnancy in a fit state, your baby will be healthy as a result. If you’re worried about weight, don’t try any kind of a fad diet. Just stay healthy and the weight will come off naturally after the baby is born.

Another thing that you can do in order to maintain a fit pregnancy is exercise. As with everything else, you’re going to have to do this under your doctor’s direction. If you’re healthy, however, and are not experiencing any difficulties then there should not be any problem with you getting a regular amount of exercise. As a matter of fact, some women who are healthy throughout their pregnancy continue to exercise intensely throughout most of the time that they are carrying a child. You may find, however, that you need to slow down whenever you get pretty far along and size is becoming an issue. If you remain fit through the majority of your pregnancy, however, and pick up on your exercise regime after the baby is born then you would be surprised at how quickly you get back to where you were before you got pregnant and discover that old body again.

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Whenever we are together as a married couple, we never expect it to end in the two of us splitting up. This can be especially difficult if there are children involved. Single parents are becoming more and more the norm in our society and even though many people only really think about the single mothers, thinking about the single parent father is also very important. If you find yourself in a situation where you are raising a child as a father on your own, there are some things that you can do to help you along the way. These can be especially helpful if you feel that you are ill equipped to take on the responsibility but want to do the best job that you possibly can.

One thing that you are going to have to deal with whenever you are the single parent father is discipline to one degree or another. If the mother is still taking an active role in the child’s life, you will certainly want to discuss with her the roles that each of you are going to play in the disciplining of your child. Even though you and the child’s mother may be living separately, you should still be unified in the way that you discipline your child and the things that you expect from them as an individual. This will not only keep them from playing the two of you against each other but it will also help them to develop into healthy adults.

You are also going to need to know how to communicate with your child effectively. Although this can be relatively easy whenever the child is young, the scars that are left from a broken home can interfere with their ability to communicate freely with you. They may feel as if they are being unfaithful to their mother if they discuss things of a personal nature with you. Although it would be inappropriate of you to ask them for information that you could use between you and their mother, it is certainly appropriate for you to communicate with them to find out what they need. Don’t hold back information from them although you should stop short of giving any personal details that do not belong to them. If you allow them to know that the situation you are dealing with is special, they may be more apt to help you to overcome some of the rough spots.

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The teenage years can be some of the most difficult that an individual can experience. Not only is it difficult for the person that is going through these years themselves, it can also be difficult on the parent of a teenage child. Many people that were close to their child all throughout their lifetime suddenly find themselves in a position where they and their teenager are growing apart in many different ways. If you want to have a close bond between you and your teen, here is how to create one. It may take a little bit of work to get things going and to maintain, but it will be well worth it in the end.

One thing that both you and your teenager need to understand is that the generation gap does not really exist. Many of the things that your teenager is experiencing are the same things that you experienced whenever you were their age. Although some of the details and faces may have changed during that time, we all have the same anxieties that we experience whenever we are entering into adulthood through the eyes of a teenager. If both of you realize that you’re not so different, it will make the entire process of securing a close bond with your child much easier.

Communication during this time is very vital and hopefully, you have been building a relationship based on communication with your child, even before they entered their teenage years. Even if you haven’t done this, however, it is still possible to get to know your teenager and to communicate with them effectively. Don’t try to be too much like them as far as how you speak and act, allow them to have their individuality in this regard. By talking with them on both serious and everyday matters, however, you will be building a relationship with them that you will be able to rely on throughout their lifetime.

One final thing that you can do is to allow them to develop as individuals. Don’t try to mold them into your idea of what the perfect teenager should be. That doesn’t mean, however, that they should be totally without guidelines but as long as they maintain their position in the family arrangement, they should be able to express themselves as the individuals that they are. If you allow them to do this, you will be gaining their respect to a certain degree and helping to forge a bond between the two of you as well.

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You find yourself walking resolutely across the department store, an enormous stuffed bear tucked under your arm. You set it on the counter and straighten the polka-dotted ribbon that is tied around its neck. It will cost more than your favorite pair of running shoes, but you know you must have it. That is, the baby must have it. Your eyes widen a bit when the clerk announces the total, but you quickly hand over your credit card. The bear will look just perfect when it’s propped up in the corner of the nursery. (Its yellow polka dot tie is almost an exact match to the new crib bumpers.)  You predict that once the baby’s room is done, the spending is certain to slow down.

“I mean,” you think to yourself, “how much could such a little person cost?”

You might be surprised to know that the U.S. Department of Agriculture can answer that question for you. Since 1969, it has published a report called “The Annual Expenditures on Children by Families.” The report estimates the cost of raising a child from birth to age 17. Year after year, this report reveals that a little person can cost a whole lot of money indeed.

The most recent “Annual Expenditures on Children” report was published in April 2007. It states that the total cost of raising a child from birth to 17 years old is between $200,000 and $300,000 - depending on a family’s income and where they live.

Big numbers like those are overwhelming, but new parents can look at a smaller picture and reflect on the annual expenses of raising a child in order to plan wisely. Again, the USDA report comes in handy. It states that families with pre-tax incomes of less than $44,500 spend about $7,580 annually on their 0-2 year old children. Households earning $44,500-74,900 spend $10,600 on children this age and those who make more than $74,900 spend $15,760 a year on these young children. Across income groups, expenditures increase as children grow older.

After weeks of broken sleep, your first instinct might be to say you’re too tired to think about how your new baby might affect your finances. You just want him to sleep through the night; you can’t begin to think about how you might pay for his violin lessons someday. But, given numbers like those in the USDA report, all new parents should stop, make a strong cup of coffee, and give their financial future a long, steady look.

A NEW BUDGET FOR A NEW FAMILY CONFIGURATION

If you haven’t used a budget to manage your family’s finances in the past, this is a good time to start. New parents are often surprised at how the arrival of their baby affects spending in all areas of their lives.

Expenses that you might consider “fixed” increase with each new family member. Utility bills rise as soon as baby comes home. Couples use more water and often maintain warmer homes in the winter and cooler temperatures in the summer to keep their young children comfortable. Parents spend more money on gas than before having children – either because of a larger, safer car – or because of new trips to daycare and other child-related destinations. Health care costs rise with more frequent co-pays for medication and doctor visits. Not all insurance covers required immunizations either. Even entertainment spending grows when, on top of the cost of a night out, you must pay a babysitter.

Not only do existing expenses grow but significant, new ones are added. Two new and large everyday baby expenses are, of course, diapers and formula.

New parents can expect to spend up to $2500 on diapers between birth and the time a child is potty-trained. Although older babies require far fewer diaper changes than a newborn, most toddlers go through a long, transitional time before being fully potty-trained. During this time they wear expensive, “pull on,” training diapers.

Using cloth diapers with a diaper service costs approximately the same amount as disposable diapers. Parents who choose this option do so, primarily, to lessen the environmental impact of their baby. The cheapest solution to diapering is to wash your own cloth diapers. This can save more than $1,000 over time, but, clearly, it isn’t a commitment many parents are willing to make.

Aside from the costs of diapers and wipes, another cause of “sticker shock” for new parents is the cost of formula and baby food. A conservative estimate of the cost of formula for a baby’s first year is $1,500. An obvious solid financial choice, then, is to breastfeed your baby. As well as saving money on formula, the health benefits of breastfeeding are numerous. (For more on the rewards of breastfeeding, see the La Leche League website at www.llli.org.)  Even when factoring in the costs of nursing clothing and renting or buying a breast pump, breastfeeding provides significant savings to parents.

If breastfeeding isn’t an option, parents can save money on formula by:

• visiting the manufacturers’ websites (most offer money-saving coupons),
• buying powdered formula in bulk from warehouse stores like Costco and Sam’s Club, and
• asking pediatricians to recommend a generic or store-brand formula.

When your baby graduates to baby food, consider making your own. Buy a few jars of baby food and get to know your child’s favorites. Note the consistency of the food and begin to experiment at home. Cooking fruits and vegetables, mashing them, and then freezing small portions in ice cube trays is an easy and cheap way to nourish your baby. Your pediatrician will recommend which foods – and in what order – to introduce to your baby at different ages.

Financial planning experts agree that making and keeping a budget is an important way for anyone – especially those suddenly faced with providing for a baby - to keep their spending under control. There are many books and websites that offer budgeting information and tools.  Some of the better websites that offer free budgeting tools are www.budgettracker.com, www.debtsteps.com, and www.betterbudgeting.com.

THINK LONG AND HARD BEFORE BUYING EQUIPMENT AND TOYS FOR BABY

Your budget will likely include a category for “miscellaneous” expenses. The excitement of preparing for baby makes some parents throw their usual financial caution to the wind and overspend in this category. You may be swept away by that adorable stuffed animal or convinced that you need every possible safety device to protect your child.

In order to keep from breaking the bank, new parents should pause before buying toys or gadgets for their babies. Although their catalog descriptions claim that you can’t live without them, items like wipes warmers, video baby monitors, fancy diaper pails, and electronic play mats are not in fact “essentials.” Ask friends with older children which baby gadgets and toys they found most helpful.

SEEK OUT QUALITY, USED BABY GEAR

You likely have a neighbor or relative who uses the term “garage sale” as a verb – as in “I love to garage sale.” When you’ve decided to buy something for baby, tell this friend what you are looking for – a certain type of stroller, a bicycle trailer, a high chair, or a bath seat. This will give your friend new purpose in her weekend quests and save you a lot of money. When you drive past a garage sale yourself, slow down and take a quick look.  If you see numerous baby items on display, jump out of the car and take a look.  Read the ads in the local paper. Call around or check local churches’ websites – many hold annual sales of children’s goods. Check www.ebay.com for clothing, furniture, or other necessities.  (You can even buy formula coupons on ebay – check it out!)

Babies grow fast and that bouncy chair or baby bath seat – as useful as it is for a month or two – will soon be relegated to the basement or attic. Don’t bother to buy it new. If someone offers you hand-me-downs, always accept them. Sort them by size and keep them in labeled boxes or bins where you will see them – perhaps in your baby’s closet.

Your baby’s first smile is indeed priceless, but all the paraphernalia that keeps her safe and healthy can cost a small fortune. Plan wisely, and next time you come face to face with that giant stuffed teddy bear, you might want to consider turning around and giving him a friendly wave as you walk out of the store

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There are certainly a lot of different things that can go wrong as a child. One of the things that we may have to deal with in our children is bedwetting, a problem that may be much more common than you think. What causes bedwetting, how can you deal with it and what kind of effect will it have on your child?

Something that many people are unaware of is the fact that bedwetting is typically something that runs in the family. Although you may not have exhibited this behavior whenever you were a child, there may be a relative of yours that did so and this problem was passed on to your child laterally. Even if this is a problem that is passed on through genetics, it is also a behavioral problem that many children exhibit for one reason or another. You need to understand, however, that the child is not doing it on purpose or out of laziness because they do not want to get up to go to the bathroom during the night. Many times this problem occurs as a result of the child simply not understanding that their bladder is full and they may even have a dream which realistically lets them think that they are actually in the bathroom at the time that the accident occurs.

More serious causes of bed wetting could be due to a defect in the child urinary system, a urinary tract infection, or diabetes. If you think these may be causes for your child’s bed wetting, bring it up to your pediatrician as it may require immediate medical attention.

There may be several bedwetting solutions, more than likely, the problem will just go away on its own. As a matter of fact, 85% of all bedwetting individuals eventually stop without any treatment, whatsoever. If you are dealing with the problem and want to hurry along the treatment then there are some things that you can do. It basically has to do with either training your child to wake up when he has to go to the bathroom or training him to hold it until he wakes up in the morning. This is typically done by waking him up periodically with the use of an alarm clock and holding it for longer periods of time during the day in order to train his bladder.

You can also purchase a bed-wetting alarm. Bedwetting alarms attach to your child’s pajamas. At the first drop of urine, the alarm sounds off, much like a smoke detector. This piercing sound should wake your child up and instantly stop him from urinating in bed as a reflex to the alarm. However, one of the parents must bring the child to the toilet to empty his bladder before going back to bed. The bed wetting alarm approach may take up to 6 weeks before your child starts to wake up by himself to “tinkle” so do not get discouraged if your child hasn’t learned to not wet his bed in 2 weeks time.

There are also bed wetting home remedies that many parents find helpful:

• One hour before going to bed, do not give your child any liquids and make sure he empties his bladder.
• Have your child chew on cinnamon bark once day.
• Massage the bladder area to tone up the bladder muscles every night.
• Keep your child in a stress-free environment, especially around bedtime so using the toilet comes natural and easy.
• Monitor what your child eats before he goes to bed. Some have found that sugary foods, sodas, and dairy have an affect on bed wetting.

The psychological effects of bedwetting can be quite difficult for a child, especially if the parents are not very understanding about the problem. The best thing that you can do is to reassure the child that it is not their fault and deal with the problem as an adult. More than likely, it will go away on its own and hopefully be forgotten over time.

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The next time you purchase a cleaning agent from the market, be sure you read the ingredients to see what it is made out of it. If it’s not a natural or organic product, chances are that it will contain a toxic chemical or two (or three or four) that could have major effects on your health. On many occasions, when I decide I want to save a few dollars, I would pick up a can of disinfectant for my home at the grocery store, read the label, see the word “formaldehyde,” and immediately put it back on the shelf.

Saving a few bucks suddenly didn’t seem worth it. Despite it’s strong cleansing power - it’s great if you want to kill stubborn bacteria - the use of formaldehyde should be avoided if possible. It is a very strong smelling, colorless gas and has been classified as carcinogenic. So why not make my own? I asked myself.

Surprisingly, many cleaning agents can be home made at a very low cost. In fact, you may have some of the ingredients in your cupboards already. Give these core ingredients a shot in this All-Purpose Counter Cleaner:

2 tsp. washing soda
2 tsp. borax
1/2 tsp natural liquid soad
1 cup hot water

Mix all of these in a spray bottle and use it to clean your counters.

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Taking care of a little one can be a draining task. Sometimes, just standing in front of the sink washing vegetables without your little crying is enough to get few minutes of peace and quiet.

In fact, while I was washing vegetables that I purchased from the supermarket one day, I realized that I can get more of this “quiet” time while I do some gardening in the back yard.

Gardening is a great way to relax. It’s also a nice way to spend some quality time outdoors with your baby. If he’s not walking or crawling yet, set up a playpen nearby (so you can still keep an eye on him) and give him a few of his favorite toys. This way, you both can enjoy some fresh air together while you can do dig into the soil, plant some seeds, pull some weeds, and whistle your favorite tune.

As the baby gets older, you can let him participate by helping you toss the seeds into the soil. In the process, you can help him understand the cycles of nature.

If you live in a condo or townhome and do not have a backyard, you can plant herbs and flowers instead and hang them up on the balcony or windowsill.

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Breastfeeding does many wonderful things for our children, and it is absolutely the best choice for infants. Eventually, it will be time to wean your toddler from breastfeeding. Either you will feel it is time or your baby will, and there are several things to look for.

Often, a baby is ready to be weaned if he or she is not satisfied with the breast milk. The baby will be fussy and continue to act hungry after the feeding. The feedings usually increase at this point and become very frequent. The mother will typically suffer at this time as the child starts to bite or becomes rougher with the feedings.

Slower Is Better

Researchers have found that babies who are weaned very quickly can become distressed. This may result in your child becoming needier and more attached to you, demanding feedings more frequently, or even displaying physical symptoms of upset such as constipation and allergic reactions. Child Specialist Patricia Ray agrees with this point. “Your child has become so accustomed to having that time for bonding as well as feeding. Often, the problem lies more in missing the closeness than having anything to do with the breast milk. By gradually decreasing the feedings along with providing extra time for bonding, you can really ensure that the child continues to feel secure.”

The mother will also typically have issues, such as engorgement and pain. It has been shown that gradual weaning is much easier with a better transition period and a smoother switch from breast to solid foods.

One important thing you can do that will make the gradual weaning better is to replace the breastfeeding times with cuddling and closeness with your child. Since breastfeeding is such a great time for bonding, often the child will miss the close moments with you. Having close, quiet time with you will help them feel more secure and ensure they are getting the affection and time they need.

What Age is the Best for Weaning?

As with anything else, children develop at different speeds. Experts agree that babies and toddlers are usually ready to make the transition to solid foods anywhere from 9 to 15 months. However, it can be earlier or later, depending upon your child. Don’t panic if your 15-month-old child still isn’t eating solid foods all the time. He or she may be eating solid foods and supplementing that with breastfeeding. The key is to watch for the signs mentioned above so you can tell whether your child is ready or not.

Tips for Weaning Your Toddler from Breastfeeding

Everyone can tell you a different story about how they weaned their child from breastfeeding, and you have probably heard many different stories from family members or friends. That doesn’t mean their methods will work for you. You will need to work at your child’s pace and your own pace. Stopping breastfeeding abruptly isn’t a good idea, either, and should be avoided if possible.

Some mothers are perfectly comfortable breastfeeding until the child has outgrown the need for it. This is called ‘baby-led’ weaning. It is not unusual for toddlers up to four years old to breastfeed. If you and your child are comfortable, so be it. Remember to take your time, and do not set a particular time for your child to be weaned. This would be like setting a time for them to sit up or walk.

Don’t give in to pressure from your family or friends about the ‘proper time’ to breastfeed. Some people think you should breastfeed for as long as possible, while others feel the baby should be weaned at nine months or a year. Use your own judgment because you and your baby are what is important, and ensuring that you are comfortable weaning your child should be first priority.

Simply remember that every child and mother is different. What works for some may not work for you. If you attempt to wean your child and feel as if it is not working or perhaps it’s not the proper time, you can try again in three months, or six months. Don’t force the issue simply because ‘Aunt Becky’ thinks your child should be weaned. Utilize the knowledge you have of your child along with helpful advice from experts. The happiness and health of you and your baby depend upon you making your own decisions regarding breastfeeding.

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Children are expensive – it’s a fact. The average parents will spend around a quarter of a million dollars on their child while raising him or her from infancy to adulthood! That is quite a chunk of change.

One way to start shaving dollars off of that big chunk is to shop for your baby on a budget. “Spend sensibly and stick to your budget,” says financial consultant Joan Black. “One of the most important things you can do is to remove your heart from your wallet.” Because mothers and fathers love their children or are excited about having a baby, they can end up spending a lot more than they originally plan to. Joan offers moms and dads some practical advice for shopping on a budget.

1. Make a list and stick to it! This is especially true for women who are pregnant and shopping for the new baby. Most of the time, women are so excited to be having a baby that they could purchase the entire store before realizing what they are doing. The best way to avoid this is to make a list. When you have the list in front of you of the things you need, you will be less likely to purchase impulsively.
2. Avoid purchasing unnecessary items. Again, when Mom and Dad become excited, they end up buying things they don’t really need and that Baby doesn’t really need. There are so many necessary products that will make life for parents a lot easier. Some of those products might include a thermometer, receiving blankets and bottles. However, there are a ton of things that parents don’t really need, such as baby wipe warmers, bottle warmers and even bottle sterilizers. You can simply hold the wipe between your hands for a minute so you don’t freeze your baby’s bottom. You can also warm the baby’s milk by running the bottle under hot water for a few minutes or sitting it in a pot of hot water for a few minutes. Remember to always do the wrist test and shake the milk so there are no ‘hot spots.’ As far as sterilization goes, boiling water is the best and easiest way and you really only need to sterilize them when they are brand new as long as you wash the bottles in hot, soapy water shortly after the feedings are over.
3. Don’t buy expensive clothing. Babies and children grow so quickly that buying expensive clothing is really not a good idea. Your child may even only wear a great outfit one time before they outgrow it! Imagine spending $50 on an outfit that your child will get to wear once! Instead, purchase cheap items from discount stores or used clothing from thrift stores or yard sales. Doing this, you will be able to purchase several outfits for the price you would pay for one outfit in a department store. If you’d like to purchase one or two great outfits for special occasions, you can still save money by purchasing every day clothing from discount stores, thrift stores or yard sales. You can even buy brand new things from these places for a bit of nothing.
4. Buy generic items. When you are purchasing things for your baby, you don’t have to buy the popular brand names. Rather, purchase the cheaper, generic brand of bottles, pacifiers, nipples, receiving blankets and other items. Many of the brand name items have parts that will not work universally. So, if you have a bottle that is Graco and you have a generic bottle, the nipples and rings may not fit. Of course, this is great for the companies, because if you have a Graco bottle and the bottle breaks but the nipple ring and such is fine, you will spend more money on their company by replacing the bottle. You can avoid paying larger prices to begin with, as well as paying larger prices to replace pieces by simply buying the generic brands to begin with.
5. Wait until the last moment to purchase things for the baby on his or her way. Studies have been done which show that women who wait until the end pf their pregnancy to purchase baby items. First of all, you will probably receive several gifts from friends and family and knowing what you have will help you shop on a budget. Secondly, you have been really excited, so shopping months in advance will aid in you spending much more money.

“Sure,” says Joan. “Children are quite expensive. However, using these tips, you can save a great deal of money. A few other tips including getting free items from family members who have had a baby and have saved their stuff, checking for discounted items online and more. Use your creativity and imagination and you will be able to keep from spending a fortune on your baby, stick to your budget and get out cheaply and quickly!

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There are a lot of parents who allow their child to sleep in the bed with them, and they are perfectly happy with the arrangement. However, many moms and dads just aren’t into ‘co-sleeping’ with their children. They feel a married couple’s bed should belong to them and only them, for sleeping and, well, other things. Being intimate and getting a good night’s sleep are two large parts of a healthy marriage, and let’s face it: if your child is curled up in the bed with you, it’s hard to have either one of those things. So, what is the best way to get your child out of your bed?

This was the question Charlotte Patrick kept asking herself over and over. “My daughter Aiden was three years old, and although I would put her to sleep every night in her bed, she continued to get up and climb into the bed with me and my husband. This was an improvement to us, though, as we had finally taught her to actually fall asleep in her bed. Getting her to stay there was a different story altogether.”

Charlotte tried different methods of getting Aiden out of her parents’ bed, from walking her back to her room to just camping out with her daughter on the twin bed in Aiden’s room. Being frustrated at no positive results with these methods, Charlotte finally sought help.

Child specialist Deborah Woodson suggests taking the following measures to help your child stay in his or her own room all night.

Make your child’s room comfortable to him or her

You want them to love their room, and to want to spend time in there. Let your child help with the design. While this doesn’t seem like much, having their own color choices, bedding, and decorations can really make a child feel more comfortable with their room. If they are having issues with the darkness in their room at night, you may want to add a night light that will provide a soft glow in their room.

Make sure their bed size is appropriate

Some children are not concerned with the size of their bed. However some of them will feel intimidated by a very large bed. This is especially true if they have just been moved from their crib. Rather than placing a twin or full-sized bed, try a toddler bed for a while in order to help them adjust. Then, as they grow more comfortable, you can move up to a twin bed. This may help them feel cozier and safer in their room.

Do not lie down with your child

When your child becomes accustomed to you lying in the bed with them, they can truly start to think they can’t go to sleep without someone in the bed with them. If you do lie down with them, make it short and don’t allow them to fall asleep while you’re in the bed. You want your child to understand that he or she can fall asleep by themselves.

Establish a consistent bedtime routine

Doing the same thing every night, starting at the same time, will help your child understand when it is time to settle down and time to go to sleep. If your child feels he or she must go into your bedroom with you, this is a great method. Start out by getting into pajamas, brushing teeth, and getting cozy. You might then read your child a book and sing a little sleep song. After that, tell your child goodnight and that it’s bedtime. Do not give in to crying, because if you do, your child will cry every night. They will know exactly what gets results!

Finally, if your child comes into your room in the middle of the night…

Calmly tell your child that the rules are for him or her to stay in and sleep in their own bed. Walk them back to their room, help them get cozy, and then go back to your own bed. Do this as many times as you need to. The first couple of nights may be rough, but soon your child will understand that he or she can go to sleep by themselves and that they don’t need you in order to feel comfortable. These tips and methods for getting your child out of your bed work best if they are done consistently. Establishing a routine and sticking to it will help tremendously. Soon, it will be just you and your spouse again!

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