If your baby is in hospital

Baby sickness - is always a hard trial for family, and if the matter concerns baby's hospitalization, then you can become panic-stricken only at the thought of the fact that a baby will be estranged from his family, painful procedures expect him, and strangers will surround him.

Because of hospitalization, a baby can get the whole complex of serious psychological problems, caused by sickness, isolation from home and conditions of hospital. Even adult person experiences stress, when he needs to apply to a doctor and moreover, while necessity of long staying in hospital. Needless to say about baby's stress! Strange atmosphere, strange people, new, constantly renewed children collective, forced separation from parents, fear of medical procedures - all this is quite enough for psychological discomfort. And all these factors accompany symptoms of disease.

However, you shouldn't dramatize situation. Of course, disease and necessity of hospitalization - are traumatizing factors. But for majority of children staying at hospital can become an important stage in formation of personality, bring lots of new impressions and knowledge, and give possibility to try themselves in difficult life circumstances. This experience will be useful in further life of a child.

Processes of adaptation are individual for each child. This depends on many reasons: whether he had diseases earlier, stage of disease, is he staying at hospital for the first time or not, baby's age, whether he was separated from his family before etc. Often everything passes quite smoothly, due to presence of inner reserves of a baby and correct behavior of parents.

It's quite normal, if period of adaptation at hospital lasts during 3-5 days. There're no reasons for anxiety, if a baby is rather careless during first days of hospitalization, asks to take him home, gets into contact with coevals not at once. Excess care and parental inclination for dramatizing situation can only damage. On the other hand, you shouldn't leave a baby alone with his problems. He shouldn't feel abandoned and lonely.

Quite often parents of sick children need more psychological help, then children themselves, as it is their correct behavior that influences a baby's mood for recovery.

Here're several recommendations of experts. Never frighten your baby with hospital. Don't create future problems, as there's hardly any baby, who hasn't been at hospital for his life. During conversations with other people avoid such phrases, like: "There doctors hardly understand something, I wish only they don't harm my child" etc.

In case of baby hospitalization do your best to reduce stress and melancholy because of coming separation from home and parents. Adults themselves should be confident in future, calm and wise, so that a baby would treat staying at hospital calmly. If hospitalization is planned and you have at least 1-2 days for preparation, involve baby in preparations, as if he would be going to health centre or camp.

Try to dispose your baby to optimism. Children have great intuition, and it's almost impossible to persuade them in things, which you don't believe yourself in. So, first of all you should analyze your own emotions and forget about affirmation: "Hospital - pain, fear, danger". Replace it by "Hospital - help, relieve, recovery". You confidence and peace of mind will be passed to your daughter and son. Talk to your child about coming hospitalization softly-softly. You can explain to schoolchild, that sickness is not a catastrophe, but a peculiar exam for courage and firmness. Tell your child that you will be thinking of him constantly and you're always ready to help him. Think and discuss ways of your contacts.

During separation avoid touching scenes, restrain excessive emotions. Try to behave the way, so that a baby would treat hospital not as punishment, but as a place, where he will be helped to recover sooner and return to usual life. Form positive attitude, both to improvement of health and doctors' work. Explain your child an objective necessity of medical assistance.

Don't persuade him that he is guilty of his sickness, trauma etc. himself. By doing this, you will increase sense of guilt and fear, which can cause undesirable psychological complications. Of course, there're situations, when it is important to discuss wrong behavior of a child, which caused disease. But it is also very important that a result of your conversation would be not a sense of guilt, but understanding of cause and effect connection between wring behavior and disease.

Discuss schedule of visiting a child with relatives for sure, to avoid situations, when there're several visits per one day and no visits at all other day. This is very important, as excess of visitors can lead to emotional overloads of a sick baby, and their absence - to increase of longing for home and relatives.

Try not to hung up on topic of disease and treatment. Life goes on. Ask your child about his new friends, news, what he does in spare time. Keep all your doubts concerning effectiveness of treatment inside of you. Don't overload patient with your doubts and fears. As medicine, which you doubt, will not help, as doctor, whom you don't trust, won't be able to help. Try to avoid unpleasant topics, wait a little with information about bad news: sick baby need not to know that his favorite doggie eats bad or that cat ate hamster. While talking to a baby, pay attention to positive moments of staying at hospital. Think about things you can compliment him for: he bears procedures with fortitude, doesn't play about, could make friends with somebody, drew a good picture etc.

Unfilled spare time increases feeling of loneliness, longing for home. So you should definitely worry about things your child should do. Bring him an interesting book, meccano, some new game, paints, crayons etc. Bring a toy for a small baby surely. You can tell that a new "friend" came to him specially to protect him at nights (if a baby is predisposed to night fears). It will be very good, if you bring him a toy bear, elephant, lion, tiger, i.e. any big animal, which will be able to personify power and protection (size of toy is not important).

After discharge talk to your baby about time he spent at hospital. Ask him about things he learned to do, what he understood about himself and his relations with other people, help him to realize value of experience he gained.

By : Yana Mikheeva

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Some Cleaning Tips for your Apartment

Every now and then I pick up some great tips and ideas to help give my place that clean, gleaming feel with as little stress as possible. Cleaning and keeping your apartment in tip-top guest shape can be an overwhelming thought when you are limited for time. Then, sometimes, no matter how hard you clean and try to keep your place in shape, it just gets out of shape again...

Here are a couple of tips to help you keep your place suited for visitors and keep them from going "Ewww."

Sparkling Mirrors - I used to get so frustrated that every time I cleaned my mirror, it always ended up spotty. Turns out I was doing a major thing wrong. I was spraying the mirror directly with Windex rather than on a clean lint-free cloth. To get sparkling results in your mirror cleaning spray commercial window cleaner on a lintless cloth like an old T-shirt and wipe down the mirror. Dry immediately with another clean lintless cloth to prevent streaking. Do this once every couple of weeks and you'll be sure to impress when your guests are glancing back at themselves.

Handle the Wobblemeister- Have a wobbly chair or table? Don't pull the restaurant fix and shove a folded napkin or sugar packets underneath. A much better solution is to re-use old corks. Just take an old wine cork, cut a horizontal slice, and place it underneath the leg of the chair or table that is doing the wobble-wobble.

Fresh Flowers- Don't receive flowers as often as you'd like? Let your man know he needs to pick up his game and then try extending the life of the ones you do get. A common solution for this is to make sure and cut the stem of the flower at an angle rather than straight across , but for even better results and a longer lasting flower, add a little bit of sugar and a small amount of an acidic ingredient like Sprite, which allows for better water absorption. But...you should still get on your man about stepping up his game...

I hope you take these tips and are able to use them in ways you've never used tips before. You better not start calling me "Martha!"

For more tips on apartment living, check out ApartmentHomeLiving.com.

By : The Apartement Dude
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

5 Ideas for Great Valentines Day Gifts

While Valentines Day is supposed to be a time of celebration of the couple and of their love for one another, it can be filled with anxiety and worry. Usually this anxiety stems from worries about gift giving on the day. Gift giving is not meant to be anxiety producing, in fact it should be viewed as an opportunity to express your love. Now, you might be very busy so spending a lot of time working on a Valentines Day gift might be difficult for you and that’s ok, Anne is here to help. I’ll show you 5 easy steps to creating the perfect Valentines Day for your loved one.

1. Finding Gifts - Use the internet to find unique Valentines Day gifts. Using Google or one of the other major search engines search for ‘Valentines Day Gifts’ or ‘Unique Valentines Day Gifts’. At least this way you’ll get an idea of what’s out there and really quickly. You can cruise through these pages and see if there is anything that will work for your loved one.

2. Massage – Massage is an under recognized Valentines Day gift. Lots of places offer massage gift certificates for purchase online. Give the gift certificate to him or her on the day and then your sweetie can schedule whenever it is convenient for them. Consider getting your sweetheart some office massage that she can get while at work or perhaps some couples massage.

3. Gift Baskets – Gift baskets are usually reserved for office gifts or for far away gifts. If you are far away a Valentines Day Gift Basket might be exactly what you need. Even if you are close to your loved one a gift basket can be a fun and beautiful expression of love and it takes little work from you. Many places offer personalized Valentines Day gift baskets as well.

4. Fancy Dinner – As a Valentines Day gift the naughtily expensive dinner will never go out of style. If she eats meat take her to a place that serves good foie gras, pork belly or oysters. Look for a menu that is sensuous and outside the ordinary for your tastes and those of your sweet heart. Finding something different and unique to share is thrilling and will score you big points. Don’t be nervous about choosing wine, any good restaurant will help you select a good wine without being pretentious, don’t feign a high level of knowledge, profess your ignorance and make the sommelier work for you.

5. Flowers – Time tested, flowers are an excellent Valentines Day gift for men and women. You know your loved one best, pick a color they like and an exotic flower they haven’t seen before. Go with an orchid if you are unsure (just be prepared for lots of care, orchids are finicky). If plant care isn’t your thing go with the standard Valentines Day flower, the rose. Pick a unique color and come up with a reason you chose that color.

Special Tip: In fact, come up with a reason for every gift you give this Valentines Day. If you have a reason for a gift it will sound like you spent more time and effort finding the gift and your loved one will appreciate this effort (I won’t tell!).

Don’t let this Valentines Day get away from you like last year did, follow between 1 and 5 of the above steps plus the special tip and you will be on your way to a fantastic Valentines Day celebration. Be sure to follow up each gift with plenty of kisses and longing gazes and make this one to remember.

By : Anne Harvester

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

What is Autism and How Can It Be Discovered and Treated

Autism is a general term that is used to cover a number of disorders known as Autism Spectrum disorders. These disorders affect the ones that have them in their interaction and communication with others. Autism was discovered in 1943, but there were very few cases back then. The number of people that suffer from autism greatly increased since it was first discovered, and so did the doctors' and the media's attention on the illness.

Autism can affect anyone, no matter what age, sex, or race they are, and at the moment millions of people, both children and adults are suffering from one form of autism or another throughout the world. If one member of the family has one of the Autism Spectrum Disorders then the whole family will feel the repercussions, financial and social problems will occur and furthermore, it is a great chance that the children of the person who has Autism will also have it because it is transmitted genetically to the ancestors.

The Autism Spectrum Disorder term covers a wide range of affections with different symptoms and manifestations. For example, someone suffering from autism may be a person that doesn't speak and socialize at all. This was encountered in many cases of autism.
Children with autism don't understand what the others are saying, cannot interact with other children and cannot play with them. The affection seriously affects the behavior, some of the patients developed an aggressive defense against anyone who tried to communicate with them, others appeared to develop a special sensitivity to the environment and its changes.

How can autism be detected, does it have any specific symptoms? Well, it's up to the family and the ones around someone with autism spectrum disorders to discover his/her condition. In the children's case the family or the teacher should be the first to notice that a child has a different behavior. These are the signs that can make you suspect a child of autism:
-the child starts to speak at an older age, later than the other children
-he focuses on one single object for hours sometimes
-he can speak words, but until the age of 2-3 years old he does not say a sentence with more than one word in it
-some of the children with autism spectrum disorders don't even respond to their own name when it is called
-the general behavior of the child indicates that he is withdrawn, indifferent and lonely.

A child that was discovered to suffer from autism must follow a special treatment. He must go to a special school where only children with autism learn. There is no known cure for autism, so the only thing that can be done is to help the ones with autism spectrum disorders live a better life.

Unfortunately, the number of people suffering from autism spectrum disorders is continuously increasing. Until the doctors discover a successful treatment, society and family must do anything they can to help them integrate. There are many websites and support groups that try to help the ones with autism.

More informations about autism causes or about child autism can be found by visiting http://www.autism-info-center.com/

By : Groshan Fabiola

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Chicken Pox in Babies

Chicken pox is a children' s disese, however it is very unlikely that a child who has not yet had his/ her birthday develop chicken pox. While in the womb, the fetus will receive antibodies from his/ her mother to protect him/ her against the virus that causes chicken pox. This is the reason why, at least in his/ her first year of life, chicken pox will not develop. However, there have been cases of chicken pox even in children under one year old, but they are extremely rare. Furthermore, if babies under one will develop chicken pox, this will be a very mild condition.

At the age of one, babies will receive a vaccine against chicken pox. This vaccine will not prevent your child from ever getting chicken pox, but it will make the disease a lot milder. If your baby will get chicken pox, red, tiny, itchy bumps will be your first clue. In a couple of day' s time, there bumps will change into blisters filled with fluid, which will eventually dry and fall off. As the chicken pox progresses, new waves of blisters will appear on your child' s body. The areas that are affected by chicken pox are mostly the face, back and abdomen, but the rash may appear all over his/ her body as well. Some babies will have more than three hundred blisters on his/ her body, whereas other will only have a few. Chicken pox cases can be different from a baby to another. Furthermore, flu symptoms are some of the first signs that your baby may develop chicken pox.

When your baby has chicken pox, he/ she will be very tired and have a little fever. It is also possible that a runny nose or a cough may appear a couple of days before the chicken pox rash appears. This disease lasts about one week.

Chicken pox is very contagious, so if your baby has been near a person that suffered from this disease, then he/ she is likely to have been infected with the chicken pox virus. If your baby is healthy, then chicken pox does not pose any threats whatsoever. However, there are cases, very rare though, when babies can develop complications from chicken pox. Skin infections, encephalitis or pneumonia may be the result of chicken pox. This is the reason why you should see a doctor as soon as the first signs of chicken pox appear.

For more information about symptoms of chicken pox or even about chicken pox virus please review this page http://www.chicken-pox-center.com/

By : Groshan Fabiola

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Top 4 Tips on Setting Up a Baby Room

If you are anticipating the birth of your new baby, this is a good time for you to start setting up a baby room or nursery. While there are no set standards for baby rooms to follow, you will need to invest thought and care on this project. After all, this is where your baby will spend most of her time.

Here are some of the important points you need to consider:

Tip #1: Select the right room
The location of the room you choose for your baby requires careful thought. Proximity to your own bedroom is preferable - it will save you the trouble of walking across the house or climbing a flight of stairs every time you wish to check on your baby. Also remember that the room should be a quiet one.

Tip #2: Buy baby-friendly furniture
Practicality is the key point while buying furniture and bedding for your baby room. Remember, this is an ongoing process as you will keep buying newer items and discarding some of the old ones to meet the growing needs of your baby.

A crib, of course, will be the most important item to start with. A glider is another very useful item for a baby room. A dressing table with shelves to store stuff, while not essential, could be an asset. A mobile hung over the crib is a good idea to keep your baby entertained.

Tip #3: Arrange the interiors
Do not clutter up your baby room - it is important that you have room to move around freely, feed the baby, change diapers etc. Eventually, you will also need to set up a playpen - keep this in mind while planning the layout of your baby room.

Tip #4: Decide on a theme
While you can easily do without it, integrating a theme can be the most exciting and creatively challenging part of setting up the baby room. A popular theme includes something to do with animals, such as 'jungle' or 'farm animals'. An underwater theme with its soothing blue overtones is another popular idea for baby rooms.

Another option is to use cartoon characters such as Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny. You are free to think 'out of the box', while coming up with a theme. However, keep the interest of your baby in mind and resist the temptation to pander to your own passions. A Star Wars Expanded Universe theme, for instance, is just not appropriate for a baby room.

For most parents it can be an enjoyable experience to set up a baby nursery. Here are some more things you will require to furnish a baby nursery.

By : Paul Banas

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Teaching Children With Dyslexia

A child affected with dyslexia would have problems while copying notes from blackboard. A child would complain of not getting sufficient time to copy down all the notes from the blackboard. Children may become blank and not know which letter to write or even they would not be able to read the joined writing on the board.

If your child is complaining any of these then he probably is suffering from dyslexia and is not lazy or not wanting to study. Dyslexia is a learning problem with reading and writing amongst children. It makes difficult for the children to remember and read also they get jumbled with words.

Suffering children with Dyslexia

Children suffering from dyslexia have to struggle with learning to read and spell. They lack in confidence level. The children suffering from dyslexia would find themselves comparing with other children of their own age. However some people do not understand this condition and find their children rather lazy or unwilling to learn or simply find them stupid. A lot of research has been done over past couple of years and the researchers have come up with certain help. Dyslexic children need a special program to be followed everyday with special care and attention.

If one's child is suffering from dyslexia then the condition could be improved by using an appropriate teaching method. However, if dyslexia is not mild then it would take some time for child to get better. One should remain patient, persistent, understanding also loving. Most of the cases would have reading and spelling problems. It would take some time however, it is better to be slow than not having the ability at all.

Various methods

It is necessary for one to identify dyslexia in a child. A child suffering from dyslexia needs to be given special attention and care. Certain special teaching program could help the children suffering from dyslexia. Multi sensory teaching method has proved to be very helpful by the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development. This method has proved to be effective on children suffering from dyslexia. Specialists could help the children suffering from dyslexia. These specialists could help the children with dyslexia remembering the sounds in new ways.

Children can learn easily by making use of sounds the way mouth can easily move. Flash cards or tapes could also be used as they are more effective than the notes in a classroom. Children may find it difficult to do their homework at home so they can get some tutors who would help them with it. There are special computer programs designed that would help children with learning the sounds in a better and in easy way. Special coaching and guidance can help children overcoming their deficiency. Confidence building would help children with dyslexia.

Children suffering from dyslexia often feel inferior and loose confidence when they see children of the same age performing better than them. Thus various teaching methods could help children to overcome with dyslexia.

By : Stephen Campbell

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Baby Diapers Tips for New Mother

Who ever thought that deciding on what diaper to use is a very tough decision to make? Well it involves the health and comfort of your baby, the environment, and your budget. Baby diaper tips come very useful for new mothers and expectant women. Imagine for newborn babies, they might need diaper changing around 16 times every single day for their first two to three weeks. Check out the cheapest priced diaper in the grocery and you will find out that you will be spending around $70. The expenses will double, triple, and so on before you know it. Wise diaper decision making is a must for parents.

Your Number One Concern You may here the cash register ringing every time you throw away a used diaper but the hurting pocket is not your primary concern. Your utmost priority is the comfort of your baby. It will be wise to read some baby diaper tips online to learn and be guided accordingly. Any good baby diaper tips will point to your baby’s health as top of their list. The comfort of your baby will mean avoiding wetness, skin irritation, and the dreaded diaper rash. The material that you will choose is big factor to consider.

Cloth diapers are made of cotton and are really breathable. This feature will help prevent diaper rash since air circulation and cooling are guaranteed. On the other hand, disposable diapers are fitted with substances to ensure that your baby will stay dry. It is really a matter of choice if you will go for the cloth or disposable diapers. Just remember that the comfort of your child should always be in mind. Cloth Versus Disposable Determining the right kind of diaper to use for your baby is a battle between cloth and disposable diapers. Each kind may have its own advantages and disadvantages.

• Being “Green” – If you will be thinking of the environmental impact, the cloth diaper have their pros and cons. Disposables have major issues on being non-reusable and contributing to landfill problems. Cloth diapers are washable and reusable. The downside of the cloth diaper though is increase water usage and energy consumption.

• Practicality – The disposable diapers are more convenient since they are on a wear, use, and dispose basis. The cloth diapers are less convenient since you have to wash them but they are cheaper in the long run.

• Health – Super absorbent disposable diapers are capable of decreasing occurrences of diaper rash. This is also true for cloth diapers which requires more frequent changing and skin breathing. As new mothers, you have to balance your concerns out and make sure that you and your baby are on a win-win situation.

Avoiding the Rash Whether you choose disposable or cloth diapers, rashes will come if you don’t take care of the baby well. Not changing diapers is the best formula to see the red bottom of your baby and the poor little creature crying their lungs out. It is a lot easier to avoid diaper rash than seeing your baby bearing the pain of them. Always keep diapers in a clean dry place.

Remember if you need to change the baby’s diaper, change them as soon as possible. Let the skin of your baby’s bottom rest and breathe. In between changes, let them dry for a few minutes. It is also wise to leave your baby without diapers for some time when just at home. Last baby diaper tip, make sure that the diaper is not to loose or to tight. The diaper must hug your baby’s bottom firmly to avoid the cloth or fiber rubbing your child’s skin, causing irritation.

By : Jamiehanson

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Top 3 Breast Milk Cures for Babies

Breast milk isn't just for babies to drink; it can cure a number of childhood ailments, too. Not only does breast milk have the perfect balance of nutrients for your growing baby, it also contains antibacterial properties that can heal. The truth is that breast milk is simply amazing!

Breast milk has a special enzyme that prevents bacteria from attaching or living on certain membranes in the body. So what can breast milk be used for? Many things, however, in that this is not a medical opinion, you need to exercise your best judgment and consult with your pediatrician to be sure there is not a more serious health concern. Here are the top four uses for breast milk:

1. Pink Eye. Pink eye is another name for conjunctivitis, a bacterial infection of the membrane surrounding the eye. The property of breast milk that prevents bacteria from attaching to body membranes works especially well for the eye. Just a couple of drops in each eye twice a day can clear up pink eye in a matter of days.

When used on adults, the results are the same. Adults will note that there is an initial cold sensation that subsides quickly - it is actually very soothing. Additionally, vision is blurred for a few minutes and then clears up.

2. Nasal Congestion. Breast milk can be used as a decongestant. Apply by placing a few drops in the nose and holding it there for 10 seconds. The congestion is likely to subside and breathing will be easier.

3. Earache. Again, when a bacteria is involved with the outer and middle ear canal, breast milk can help by preventing it from living on the membranes therein. A couple of drops directly into the infected ear can help resolve some infections. Of course, ear infections may also reside in the inner ear, where drops cannot penetrate, so you should always consult your pediatrician.

4. Eczema, Skin Rashes and Diaper Rash. Again, the antibacterial properties of breast milk can help with these common infant ailments. Breast milk is sterile and can be used to clean the baby's skin. Since breast milk is natural and contains no harsh chemicals that may irritate the baby's skin. Let a thin layer of breast milk dry on the skin. It will serve as somewhat of an antibacterial shield. The eczema, skin rash or diaper rash will be relieved within hours or a day or two.

5. Insect bites. Breast milk applied to an insect bite will help it heal and reduce itching. Quick relief for baby that is all natural.

These remedies are useful for times when you cannot get to a physician right away, like in the evening or on a Sunday, for example. And sometimes the problem will clear up quickly. Additionally, these breast milk remedies can be a helpful compliment to prescribed medications to bring comfort quickly.

By : Nicholas Lombardi

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Baby Sleep Tips

Probably one of the hardest adjustments of having a new baby is the lack of sleep that goes hand in hand with your baby needing regular feeds throughout the night. If your baby is hungry it needs to be fed, but there are a few things that can help your baby settle for longer until it is only hunger that will wake him or her in the night. By six months most babies do not need a night time feed if they have fed well during the day and are not ill.

First 9 Months Sleep Advice

• When your baby is newborn, after having 9 months of a nice snug womb and your body noises and motions to settle them, sometimes the adjustment to the outside world can cause more night wakings than is just down to hunger. It is important to remember newborn babies have no concept of time, night or day, so it will take time for them to fall into a pattern. With your help though, it is perfectly possible to have them sleeping through by six months.

• Making sure your baby is ready to sleep first of all is most important. With newborns, as they are so tiny they will mostly drift off to sleep when they are ready but from around 3 months this can change and they may need you to notice the signs of tiredness and help them to settle.
  

Ready to Sleep Checklist

• Is your baby well fed, clean, dry and winded?


• Is your baby in good health? Illness can either make babies sleep more or make them find it hard to sleep.


• Is your baby tired enough? Some say most newborns up to three months of age find it hard to stay awake more than two hours without becoming overtired and miserable. Some babies yawn, rub their eyes or pull at their ears when they are tired, watch for signs.


• Is your baby too tired? Overtiredness can mean that a baby will find it very hard to settle due to too much stimulation and lack of sleep. A nice dim lit room, a bit of soothing can help your baby to sleep in this case. Trying to catch your baby before he or she becomes overtired will also help.

If your baby is most of these he or she will most likely be ready for a sleep.

• Getting a balance with day time naps can also help your baby to sleep longer. It is generally agreed most babies before 6 months need around 3 naps in a day and will sleep roughly an hour before waking, however all babies are different! If your baby is waking a lot int he night and you dont think it is caused by anything but lack or tiredness have a look at your babies sleep in the day and see if you can help encourage your baby to have less or more at certain times. You can never force a baby though, so if your baby really wont tweak his or her naps, you may have to try again in a few weeks or so.

• Have a think about your babies sleeping place as well to help encourage a more settled sleep. Is the room warm but not too warm? It is recommended a babies sleeping room should be constant between 16-18 degrees. Is the room very light? Some babies may find it hard to settle in a bright room, having the room kept dim can help them settle better and also begin to teach them the difference between night and day as well as teach them that when they go into a dark room it is most likely time for a sleep. Is the room noisy or the surroundings of it? Some babies like to hear noise when sleeping, others can be easily disturbed by it so it could be something to watch for.

• Swaddling is something that can be considered for helping your baby to sleep well. Swaddling is the method of wrapping your baby nice and snug in a blanket, with arms and legs by its sides and only the top of the shoulders and head uncovered. The reason this is believed to work so well with some babies is that it replicates the snug feeling of the womb and also that babies are born with the 'moro reflex' (startle reflex) meaning that sometimes when they are drifting off to sleep and their arms and legs begin to go limp, they can get the sensation of falling and suddenly jerk awake. Also any loud noises near by can cause a new baby to fling out its arms and legs in shock and begin to cry. Having your baby swaddled helps control the moro reflex, but it should be understood that not all babies necessarily will like being swaddled. By six months old the moro reflex is minimal or totally gone. Swaddling is really only for the first 3-4 months of a babies life after that, your baby will need to move about a bit and be able to release body heat to prevent over heating.

• If your baby is one who does not like to swaddled, some mums swear by a baby gro bag (baby sleeping bag) that leaves babies arms out and whilst the legs are obviously inside they are not held firm like the swaddle. Being in a baby gro bag has the added benefit that baby will not wriggle out of it and so wake up cold in the night. Be aware though that like duvets there are different thicknesses of gro bags from 0.5 tog being extra light to 3 tog being extra warm. Most gro bags come with instructions regarding this but make sure you have a read before use.

• Having a 'wind down' routine can help as well. Although babies below six months are very young to use a routine with, it is possible to have the beginnings of one. Giving your baby a nice lukewarm bath, a baby massage with some oil (even f you dont know how to do this, your baby will love you to just stroke him or her) followed by a breastfeed or a warm bottle of milk in a dim lit room, perhaps even with some low music playing will help your baby realise that when all this is happening, he or she will be in bed soon and be ready to sleep.

• Using aids such as rocking, dummies or feeding to sleep do all help though sometimes your baby can begin to rely on whichever as the only way he or she can settle to sleep, so when your baby wakes in the early hours of the morning, he or she could come to need you to provide whichever aid they are used to sleeping with. If you would like to avoid this, it can help to use rocking or dummy or a feed as a wind down to get your baby sleepy but try to avoid them actually falling alseep whilst in the process. Gently rousing your baby slightly as you settle him or her into bed for the night will help them begin to learn how to settle off to sleep by themselves. If your baby is waking for a feed after 6 months of age and you are certain he or she does not really need to be feeding (talk to health visitor first) then you can begin to dilute down your babies milk to encourage him or her to drop the feed.

By : Maxine Williams

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Important Tips for Home Schooling Your High School Kid

Home Schooling is gaining popularity as it provides the best possible education to enable your child to do well at the high school and college level, and in the future chosen career or profession.

Home-school is a boon that keeps your child away from devastating peer pressure. Your child becomes conscientious of the effort needed in a home-school program and thereby works harder.

How Should You Go About Home Schooling for Your High School Child?

During the elementary stages of a child's education, it is easy to organize and home-school the child. The uncertainty arises when it concerns your high school child. Your child will soon be at the stage when he or she needs to find a place in this world and will be evaluated accordingly by the outside world.

How should you go about home schooling this stage? Here are some important tips to help you home school your high school child.

The first thing to keep in mind and to take into consideration the expectations and apprehensions your child may have when doing a home school program. What is your child's interest and what career or profession is your child bent towards? You and your child together will need to research the net for suggestions and options and how and where to go about such studies.

You should as a parent, be able to talk and discuss the kind of options that are available and possible for your child. Judging from the child's interests, you will be able to make suggestions about the direction in which his talent blooms. One should, however, remember that a child's interests may be inclined towards one profession today and towards another the very next day. As friend, philosopher and guide it will be your job to inform the child about all the professions and what will be required to qualify for it. The final choice and decision, however, should be left to your child.

You should prepare your child at the high school stage for future education in college. There would be a certain level of proficiency that would be required and you need to build that base in your child. Find out what is the level required for college admissions and prepare your child accordingly.

In choosing a home school program for your high school child, it means that you will be able to direct the course of study and supervise the learning. You would also be able to provide a sense of security and bonding thus making it quality time spent with your child. The good thing is that you do not need to rush through a program and are free to discuss and opine on the subject being studied.

The best thing about home school is that your child has reached a stage of maturity and independence to carry on with his studies without constant assistance from you. You should take advantage of this independence in his method of study.

All this enables freedom, flexibility, and bonding between you and your child. Home schooling is a program not only for the younger age group but also for the high schooler.

By : Kris Koonar

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com