whats the most natural way??

princessba

to get rid of thrush in my 6 mth old babs mouth???
white blobs on the corners of his mouth, looks painful coz doesnt wanna eat.

Answer
1) Antibiotics will CAUSE thrush, not prevent it.

2) Thrush doesn't normally present in the corners of the mouth but generally on the inside, so I would advise being seen by a nurse/doctor.

However, assuming it is thrush here are some ideas, and even if it isn't none of this will be bad for your baby.

1) Wipe down the area with dilute vinegar (1 part vinegar to 3 parts water)
2) Grapefruit Seed Extract is a natural anti-fungal that is safe for newborns, you can get it at most health food stores.
3) Give acidophilus pills or active cultured GOAT's milk yogurt daily. Check the bottle for dosing of the pills each brand is different. Just open the capsules the inside powder tastes pretty good. This is good for health in general and many people and children take every day all the time, not just when they have a problem.

If you are breastfeeding be sure to treat your nipples as well.

YOU MUST also treat the laundry as it is spread that way. Bleach is not an efficient way of killing yeast(thrush),. Wash your laundry in the hottest water possible and
Hot water over 122º F will kill yeast, either in the laundry, dishwasher, sink, or on your skin (not infants â too hot!). Add one cup of vinegar to the final rinse, you can use a fabric softener dispenser ball. (In addition vinegar is a natural fabric softener, and you should never use liquid fabric softener on infant clothes as it increases flamability)

*Microwaving your undergarments on high for 5 minutes will kill yeast (make sure thereâs no metal in the bra).

*Sunlight kills yeast.  Hang infected clothing outside to dry in the sun.


Sterilize bottle nipples or pacifiers â boil them for 20 minutes each day to kill the yeast that may be residing on them.

Wash toys that baby frequently chews on in hot, soapy water every day.

Gentian Violet is NOT a natural remedy, it just sounds like one, it is in fact a synthetic dye.

Infant frustration?

Q. When your child first started reaching for things, did he or she seem frustrated with not being able to grab them and put them in his or her mouth? My son is 4.5 months, and he just started reaching. He seems to whine and grunt when trying to grab some of his hanging toys. He's also very vocal, and he never talks this much when he's playing with me or his dad.

Answer
My son, now 8 mos, gets highly fristrated when he can't get something just out of his reach. It's normal for them to do that, it is just a natural phase. Babies love to vocalize with things around them most often. Mom and dad should mimic baby's sounds to 'talk' with him. It sounds silly, but it works. It'll bring out the kid in you too!

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Distant or online education in graphic&toy design??

BG

is there any online studies for me?
i want a degree or certificate in graphic design or toy design..
post graduate and i dnt live in the usa or europe..
i'd preffer it to be less than two years.
Please include websites and refrence..
Thanks alot!!

Answer
Try this site:
http://online.academyart.edu/degree_certificates/aa/aa_ids_furniture.html

Toy and game designers are industrial designers who specialize in making toys or games. They develop ideas and build prototypes. Interactions with children are part of the process.

Toy designers typically work as a member of a team to determine production requirements and cost implications. They may eventually help promote the toy or game. Toy designers are generally familiar with all phases of toy manufacturing, such as product design, methods of production, marketing, and engineering. Typically a model or prototype is developed using computer software.

Toys vary from soft, plush, infant, and preschool toys to action toys and vehicles, as well as large and small dolls, games or puzzles. Toy designers must be aware of activities that stimulate children of different ages and, like artists, they must be imaginative and be able to create toys that are safe and that work.

Training Options and Costs:
A bachelor's degree in industrial design, mechanical engineering, architecture, or fine arts is usually the minimum requirement for entry-level positions. College coursework should include liberal arts courses, child psychology, history of toys, art and modern art history, anatomy and ergonomics, concept creation, technical illustration, sketching and rendering, games and game theory, pattern making, safety regulations, manufacturing techniques, packaging design, and presentation.

An internship can give you some experience and help you land a job. You also need a portfolio of your work when you apply for a position.

After the first year foundation curriculum, students will take the following courses: Toy Design, Drawing, Technical Illustration, Model Making, Methods and Materials of Production, Conceptual Problem Solving/Brainstorming, English, Child Psychology, Applied Trigonometry, Communication Skills, Technical Problem Solving, Portfolio Development, Contemporary Art Survey, History of Toys, Games and Game Theory, Package Design, Business Practices, Toy Industry Practices, Natural Science: Anatomy and Ergonomics, Art History Elective and Liberal Art Elective. You will also need to complete an internship.

Infant photography props!?

I have an outdoor infant shoot tomorrow with a 3 month old baby girl. Im shooting at a gorgeous park with waterfalls and grassy fields. I have one cute white wicker basket i will be using as a prop but i need a couple more ideas for props. I love those cute little beds people use as props. I need quick/inexpensive ideas for props since the shoot is tomorrow.

Answer
I like the simple white cloths/blankets that are wrapped round babies in many of the proffesional photos. Also natural things work really well.. flowers/leaves
or just the babies favourite toys because it would make them feel natural. However you could try charity shops for baskets in the early morning at like 9-30 ish or any cushions that take your fancy. also they are good for things like fake flowers if you would want them :) sunflowers are nice, maybe go to your florist and grab a few?

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Is adoption natural...........?

Q. Was talking with my mother and she said yes adoption of a child by the community is very natural. The aunts, uncles, grandparents, and by good family friends. While if the parents died the child might only stay a day or 2 out of the week with their aunt before switching homes to stay with the family friend and so on and so forth.

I had to interject what about infant adoption? She stated that with infants during that time some mothers couldn't produce milk so another mother in the community would take the baby and nurse it and that child would have basically 2 mothers.

My question is: have man made laws made adoption of newborns, infants, and toddlers unnatural because they completely remove a child from their natural environment?

Answer
No. Adoption is NOT natural. It is a CLEARLY man made law... otherwise there wouldn't need to be a lot of paperwork etc and the bond between a mother and baby (actually related to each other) wouldn't exist.

NOTHING about adoption is natural. It is as unnatural as you can get.

Caring for children and taking them in under your wing to help them when they have no one else is not the same as adoption. There are many ways to care and look after a child who needs it that isn't adoption. People just don't want to look at that... or those who could lack the intelligence to come up with something more compassionate and loving than adoption.

ETA: 'Animal adoptions' are nothing to do with human beings. They are not cruel about it and it doesn't last forever. Animal adoptions are about teh SURVIVAL of an animal.... NOT to fulfil a lust by another animal to have a toy to play with. In human world, adoption is NOT about survival AT ALL. Some people need to get their priorities right!

an urgent question about disinfecting my infants' toys...?

julybabygi

my daughter (4 months old) puts her toys in her mouth a lot. my little toddler cousin came over and i caught him chewing on her toys. i do not want to let her play with them until i have disinfected them. i have heard about immersion into soapy water but most of her toys are mechanical. it will ruin them! is there some product or something that i can safely disinfect her mechanical toys with such as a wipe or something? ive heard lysol is really good for toys and stuff but idk what would be good when she puts everything in her mouth. i dont need to be poisoning her or anything! so if you have any advice i would love to hear it! thanks!!! :D

Answer
I have always wondered the same thing. I found this:

http://householdtraditions.com/benefect.htm

It is a botanical disinfectant.

"Benefect® Botanical Disinfectant:

The First & Only Botanical Disinfectant in North America
Kills Over 99.99% of Bacteria, Fungus, TB and HIV
No Rinse or Wipe Required
No Warning Labels or First Aid Statements
No Mixing"

Benefect® is ideal for Hard Surface Disinfection on:

Kid's Toys & High Chair Trays
Diaper Pails & Change Tables
Countertops, Sinks & Food Preparation Surfaces
Sports Equipment
Toilet Seats
Sickrooms
Pet Areas
Garbage Cans

...& other similar surfaces where bacteria, mold and mildew or odors are a concern and where a botanical product is sensible.

I have yet to get this, but I will be soon! I give you thumbs up for not wanting to give her the toys until you disinfect them. Your cousin may not have tuberculosis, but he could have a cold or the flu and sometimes symptoms aren't noticeable right away so he "could" be contagious if he were sick. Good luck!

Edit: In the meantime (if you were to order the stuff above for later purposes), you could just wipe the toys down with a soapy rag and the wipe with a wet clean one. They say it takes a minimum of 20 seconds to kill germs with soap and
water.

Edit: Per the cdc website, germs can live from 20 min. up to 2 hours on a hard surface.

The disinfectant above is all natural. I would rather be safe than sorry, especially with an infant.

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Is adoption natural...........?

parenting

Was talking with my mother and she said yes adoption of a child by the community is very natural. The aunts, uncles, grandparents, and by good family friends. While if the parents died the child might only stay a day or 2 out of the week with their aunt before switching homes to stay with the family friend and so on and so forth.

I had to interject what about infant adoption? She stated that with infants during that time some mothers couldn't produce milk so another mother in the community would take the baby and nurse it and that child would have basically 2 mothers.

My question is: have man made laws made adoption of newborns, infants, and toddlers unnatural because they completely remove a child from their natural environment?

Answer
No. Adoption is NOT natural. It is a CLEARLY man made law... otherwise there wouldn't need to be a lot of paperwork etc and the bond between a mother and baby (actually related to each other) wouldn't exist.

NOTHING about adoption is natural. It is as unnatural as you can get.

Caring for children and taking them in under your wing to help them when they have no one else is not the same as adoption. There are many ways to care and look after a child who needs it that isn't adoption. People just don't want to look at that... or those who could lack the intelligence to come up with something more compassionate and loving than adoption.

ETA: 'Animal adoptions' are nothing to do with human beings. They are not cruel about it and it doesn't last forever. Animal adoptions are about teh SURVIVAL of an animal.... NOT to fulfil a lust by another animal to have a toy to play with. In human world, adoption is NOT about survival AT ALL. Some people need to get their priorities right!

an urgent question about disinfecting my infants' toys...?

julybabygi

my daughter (4 months old) puts her toys in her mouth a lot. my little toddler cousin came over and i caught him chewing on her toys. i do not want to let her play with them until i have disinfected them. i have heard about immersion into soapy water but most of her toys are mechanical. it will ruin them! is there some product or something that i can safely disinfect her mechanical toys with such as a wipe or something? ive heard lysol is really good for toys and stuff but idk what would be good when she puts everything in her mouth. i dont need to be poisoning her or anything! so if you have any advice i would love to hear it! thanks!!! :D

Answer
I have always wondered the same thing. I found this:

http://householdtraditions.com/benefect.htm

It is a botanical disinfectant.

"Benefect® Botanical Disinfectant:

The First & Only Botanical Disinfectant in North America
Kills Over 99.99% of Bacteria, Fungus, TB and HIV
No Rinse or Wipe Required
No Warning Labels or First Aid Statements
No Mixing"

Benefect® is ideal for Hard Surface Disinfection on:

Kid's Toys & High Chair Trays
Diaper Pails & Change Tables
Countertops, Sinks & Food Preparation Surfaces
Sports Equipment
Toilet Seats
Sickrooms
Pet Areas
Garbage Cans

...& other similar surfaces where bacteria, mold and mildew or odors are a concern and where a botanical product is sensible.

I have yet to get this, but I will be soon! I give you thumbs up for not wanting to give her the toys until you disinfect them. Your cousin may not have tuberculosis, but he could have a cold or the flu and sometimes symptoms aren't noticeable right away so he "could" be contagious if he were sick. Good luck!

Edit: In the meantime (if you were to order the stuff above for later purposes), you could just wipe the toys down with a soapy rag and the wipe with a wet clean one. They say it takes a minimum of 20 seconds to kill germs with soap and
water.

Edit: Per the cdc website, germs can live from 20 min. up to 2 hours on a hard surface.

The disinfectant above is all natural. I would rather be safe than sorry, especially with an infant.

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Infant photography props!?

I have an outdoor infant shoot tomorrow with a 3 month old baby girl. Im shooting at a gorgeous park with waterfalls and grassy fields. I have one cute white wicker basket i will be using as a prop but i need a couple more ideas for props. I love those cute little beds people use as props. I need quick/inexpensive ideas for props since the shoot is tomorrow.

Answer
I like the simple white cloths/blankets that are wrapped round babies in many of the proffesional photos. Also natural things work really well.. flowers/leaves
or just the babies favourite toys because it would make them feel natural. However you could try charity shops for baskets in the early morning at like 9-30 ish or any cushions that take your fancy. also they are good for things like fake flowers if you would want them :) sunflowers are nice, maybe go to your florist and grab a few?

tips for a teething infant?

Ambriel

My son is just over 3 months old and is an early teether. We can see the tooth poking through and he is unconsolable lately...chewing his fists and drooling, We've tried Hylands teething gel (benzocaine free) and been giving him a dose of infant tylenol every 4-6 hours. I've also been giving him a little gripe water as well. My nipples are so bruised from him biting! What's also odd is that its none of his front teeth coming in, but his incisor on the top.

Any tips, mothers? The poor guy has hardley been able to sleep lately since he's in so much pain! My husband and I feel terrible!

Answer
When my twin brother and sister were little ( 18 months now) we got them teething toys. We also gave them distractions ( baby shows, rattles ,etc ) Talk to your doctor for some tools . Here are some really good teething toys.




Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether

http://www.amazon.com/Vulli-Sophie-the-Giraffe-Teether/dp/B000IDSLOG/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1337876281&sr=1-1


One Step Ahead Teething Buddy Teething Toy & Blanket Bunny



http://www.amazon.com/Teething-Buddy-Toy-Blanket-BUNNY/dp/B004FA764Y

RiNGLEY Natural Teething Toys, Straight, Ages 0+

http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=390655&catid=183133&aid=337953&aparam=ringley_natural_teething&CAWELAID=1239174619


Sophie Giraffe Sophie Giraffe Vanilla Teething Rings


http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM3196511602P?sid=IDx20101019x00001a&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=SPM3196511602

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Would you please give some tips on how to babysit infants?

mightymous

I need a speach ready on it in four hours... Thank you.
Thank you Skivi... You have helped me the most. I cannot rate yours as a "best answer" yet.

Answer
the most important thing is to keep them busy. when small kids have got your full attention they tend not to misbehave. turn the tv off, get their favourite toys out on the floor and play whatever games they are interested in.

when it is getting close to bed time calm it down a little with a book or a bottle of milk (depending on age). don't ever make it a punishment to go to bed early as this will make it more difficult to get them to sleep the next time you babysit.

get kids involved in everything you do, don't spend time on the phone or doing your own thing as accidents happen when you are distracted. if you are making food, let them help.

you have been left in charge of somebody elses child and that is a huge responsibility. for the time you are there, make sure you are devoted to the childs needs, ie games, food, changing them etc.

when the child is asleep, check on them every half hour or so, if the parent calls to see if everything is ok, they will be put at ease if you can tell them when you last made sure.

finally, don't forget the parents, it's not always easy for mums and dads to leave their little ones, no matter how well they know you. if you are doing your job right, every time you turn up to babysit the child will be delighted to see you, this is the best gift a parent could have when it comes to childcare.

p.s. don't be upset or put off if the child cries when the parents leave, this is perfectly natural. take it in your stride, tell the parents that everything will be ok, try to distract the child with a toy or game and let the parents tiptoe out then. make sure you have contact numbers and emergency numbers to hand and a first aid course is invaluable to anyone around children.

Can dog toys cause cancer?

Minty

I'm thinking lately about the three dogs I've had when I was growing up that each died to cancer.

I was looking at the toys I get my puppy and I was thinking that there's no way the dog toys could be sold to infants because of the dyes and chemicals in some of the fabrics (as far as fuzzy squeaky toys) and even tennis balls.

Does anyone know if that's a logical connection? I'm sure that my puppy ingests some particles from her toys each time she plays with them. Couldn't that accumulate in her system and somehow be carcinogenic?

Also, does anyone know a way I can prevent cancer in my dog? She's 1 year old and I don't want to do something that harms her without knowing it.

Answer
Yes, if certain amounts are ingested they can cause cancer and liver problems. I recommend reading a little more about it here: http://www.thewholedog.org/id66.html

How to prevent Cancer in Dogs: http://www.wellsphere.com/pet-health-article/cancer-in-dogs-natural-ways-to-prevent-and-treat-it/26046

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I would like to own a capuchin monkey?

best natural infant toys image

Santana Fr

I already know they are difficult to take care of, need constant supervision, must be fed and changed multiple times a day, and can still make terrible pets. I am ready for whatever is thrown at me (not litteraly). I just want to know I am supposed to prepare for a monkey. I know they need diapers, clothes, toys and stuff like that. I would love a website link that has no negative things about monkeys.

Answer
Please - pay attention to the facts - be compassionate - spare yourself and your loved ones and spare the monkey - DON'T get one as a pet! Why do you want a website that has "no negative things" about keeping monkeys? The reason that those "negative things" are all over the place is because they are TRUE! A website that leaves these things out is not going to be in any way reliable. Facts are facts!

Monkeys don't ever make good pets. Please don't even consider it. Your "freedom" to choose your pet shouldn't override the monkeys' right to live a decent life. You can NOT provide a pet monkey with a decent life. And though they're small, capuchins can be really dangerous! How wouyld you deal withthis monkey once he was grown up? Your choices, in order to protect yourself, would be to a) keep him locked up 24 hours a day or b) remove his teeth and nails and/or drug him - both of which are incredibly cruel. Why would you bring home an animal knowing that you'd eventually need to resort to one of these options? Why would you deny a very social animal the chance to do what he was meant to do - live with other monkeys? Why would you support an industry that pulls infants from mothers well before weaning age despite the firm evidence that this is acutely damaging?

There are groups that actively advocate what they call âresponsible ownershipâ of primates, but these groups are usually largely concerned more with the maintenance of their ârightâ to keep monkeys than with the welfare of the monkeys themselves. Groups and individuals that are seriously concerned with the welfare of individual monkeys as well as with human safety and conservation of threatened wild primate species inevitably agree: monkeys are not pets.

There is no such thing as a âdomesticâ primate â all primates (apart from humans!) are wild animals. Domestication is a process that happens over many generations of selective breeding. Simply being born in captivity does NOT mean domestication!

Chances are, upon reaching adolescence, pet monkeys will become unmanageable, unpredictable and dangerous as they try to assert themselves and as their natural instincts kick in and they do not know what to do with them. Their owners and their ownersâ friends and families are at real risk of serious injury. Even small monkeys can be dangerous as they are strong, quick and clever. Pet monkeys who have become threats are often confined to small cages to live out the remainder of their lives with no further hope of social contact.

In order to be kept as pets, primates are usually taken from their mothers as infants â whereas they would naturally depend on their mothers for long periods of time, and would maintain close bonds for years. This separation causes acute psychological suffering and lasting damage to both mothers and infants. This also makes infant monkeys particularly needy and responsive to human interaction â which is often mistaken for happiness by their new âownersâ.

All primates are social animals. Denied the opportunity to interact with others of their own kind, pet primates often develop serious psychological problems such as severe aggression, depression, and/or stereotypical behaviours such as rocking, pacing and self-mutilation.

Primates have physical and psychological needs which are very difficult to meet in captive situations, such as the need for high levels of intense natural light; the need for vertical space; the need for constant mental stimulation; and the need for an appropriate diet. They are built perfectly for survival in their natural habitats, and are not suited to lives of confinement and solitude.

Wild primates spend a huge portion of their waking hours travelling and foraging in search of food. They urinate and defecate wherever they happen to be. In the home, this translates into destruction and mess.

Capuchins can live for forty or fifty years â a factor which is rarely taken into consideration by prospective pet owners. When pet monkeys outlive their owners (or their ownersâ finances or patience!), provisions must be made for their future â but sanctuaries are few and many of these are filled to capacity.

All primates are threatened in the wild. The keeping of pet monkeys in places like the USA and the UK appears to have a negative impact on wild populations, whether directly (to feed these trades) or indirectly (by setting examples... if people in America can keep monkeys as pets, why shouldn't people in habitat countries?).

Why would anybody choose to keep monkeys as pets in light of all of the above? It is clearly not in the interest of any monkey to be kept as a pet - it is a selfish act that causes all kinds of misery. Please do not do it.

A question for all the mothers of infants?

xkiwimuffi

What things do you have for the baby that you couldn't possibly live without?
What items to do have that are completely useless and you couldn't imagine why you got them?

I'm adding items to my registry for my 'surprise' baby shower (I know its happening, but have no idea when..or where) and want to make sure I covered everything.

Feel free to tell me about toys your baby loves, etc.
I need to make sure I have it all =)
I'm due in 4 1/2 weeks!

Thanks!

Answer
Couldn't live without(and *= really nice to have):
teething rings,
wubbanub paci
moby wrap
40 x 40 swaddle blanket
sleep sacks
teething tabs
gripe water
johnson and johnson bedtime bath and lotion
baby tub
hooded towels and rags*
graco luvin hug swing
medela breast pump
boppy seat
boppy pillow*
bright stars toys (that drop from play time mat)
tummy time mat with above toys*
huggies natural diapers, or cloth
cloth wipes for new born
destin diaper rash cream
playtex dropins bottles for after 3 weeks or vent aire (if bottles)
happiest baby on block dvd

crap I thought I needed and never used
- high chair
- stroller (she hates it) maybe later but def not anytime soon
- bases for car seats, they dont fit right in my car, so i wind up strapping her in and she goes with me everywhere...no need for multiples
- pack and play
- more than one moby wrap
- lots of blankets
- ultimate crib sheet
- fancy bed linens for crib
- any dresses at all for her
- any coats for a baby
- papasan cradle swing- unstable and she outgrew it too fast, the other swing was life saver first 3 months
- fisher price chair that is sort of like boppy chair
- fisher price infant to toddler rocker
- ETA: angel care monitor- nice if your baby actually sleeps in a crib- which mine barely does now at 23weeks. if i had a do over i would get the video monitor.
i will update as i think of others, but bottom line, wait to meet your baby!

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My four month old infant has very spastic hand movements is this normal?

best natural infant toys image

Bella

My four month old daughter has very spastic hand/arm movements like she cant control them. And she was doing very good eating stage one baby food but recently, in the past two weeks or so, she has been having a hard time doing what looks like swallowing. Her tongue just pushes the food out of her mouth. When she concentrates on a toy, she can bring her hands to it but then soon drops it because her arms spaz. Is this normal or should talk to a doctor about possible signs of a tic?

Answer
If she is pushing food out with her tongue SHE IS NOT READY FOR SOLIDS. Forcing solids at this stage damages her natural gag reflex. Babies loose the 'tongue thrust reflex' around 4-7 months. This is a natural reflex that all babies have, and will go away on its own.
http://www.babycareadvice.com/babycare/general_help/article.php?id=41
http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/03/13/baby-essentials-that-arent-part-7-baby-food/

As for the spasms, she is still young. You can ask the doc for better advice on this.

How do I get my 7 year old son to stop playing with his penis in public?

ericwgross

He doesn't pull his pants down or anything. Everytime I turn around his hands are down his pants. He says he does it because it feels good and makes him happy. I don't want him to think that playing with it is a bad thing just a natural one. I have had many talks with him but nothing seems to work. Help.

Answer
He is a boy. Boys do that.
I was in the Walmart the other day and a boy was looking at toys with his hand pinching his penis. His mother scorned him and told him, "I told you to quit that", to which he replied he was sorry. I could tell he didn't even know what he was doing wrong.
My son who is now 21, spent a whole lot of time with his penis in his hand. He started when he was an infant, pinching it, flicking it and it went on clear to about the 2nd or 3rd grade. He would get excited and immediately go for the most comforting thing he had, his penis. He would get all excited about something and grab his penis.
You just gotta accept it as a boy thing. Its a freudian sort of event. Ignore him. He is normal.

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How common is it for a 3 yr old to have perfect handwriting with his left hand but mirror write with the right?

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Michelle

My 3yr old son is a dominate left hander and can write his name and many other words with great handwriting for his age. (hes better than my 5yr old daughter is already) But i noticed him doing something kind of strange in the past few months since we have started working on writing. When he uses his right hand to write, he does it in perfect Mirror image. Now it know it is common for children to mirror write, expecialy with him being left handed. But unlike pretty much all natural left handed mirror writers, he mirror writes with his right hand (his less dominate one.) Its really hard to get any info on this because most all right handed mirror writers have taught themselves, but his is all natural. And if i try to get him to mirror with his left hand he cant do it. If i try to get him to write the proper way with his right hand, he will start from the correct side of the page but all of the letters are still in mirror. Im looking for some input on if i should nurture this rare ability since it dosent affect his dominate hand. And on any info on how rare it may be. I know he is extremely smart just to the fact of his ability to write so well at such a young age. He is also very artistic, he loves to paint color and draw, infact he dosent touch any other toys any more...just his magnadoodle and art supplies....Please any info is so greatly appreciated!!!

Answer
He sounds a clever child! As his left hand is dominant and he writes correctly with, you should encourage it. I can't understand why you are trying to get him to mirror-write with his left hand? I used to get in trouble when I was in infant school [and was smacked with a ruler] for mirror writing. Looking back though, I am lucky that no-one tried to change me, as happened to many other left-handers.

Walkers, have they decided they are bad or good for babies yet?

Mom of E a

I have seen several posts on here saying that walkers are bad for babies. Are they for sure saying that (do you have a link) or is it just something someone said? I haven't seen anything on the news or net about this. My little one seems like she might be ready for one. I haven't decided to get a walker or push toy yet. Give me your opinions!
Thanks!

She's 9 months old and pulling to stand and taking 1-2 steps.

Answer
Timid Woman heard correctly. Most of us pediatricians dislike walkers because we have seen our share of accidents, some serious. Some accidents are the result of neglect as when a baby pushes the walker down the stairs, but others are less predictable, as when one collapses and pinches the fingers or hand.

From a theoretical standpoint, walkers emphasize use of the legs and hips at a time in development when the infant should be exercising and strengthening the arms and shoulders.

Sure, it's cute to watch babies toddle around behind a walker, but walkers disrupt the natural order of development, and that may be bad for some children.

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How can I go green with raising my infant?

best natural infant toys image

SayWhat?

How can I go green with raising my infant?
Glass bottles instead of plastic,
organic and petro free baby lotion, soap, etc
organic clothing and bedding,
wood floors in nursery,
cloth diapers.......WHAT ELSE? Thank you for your ideas!

Answer
Making your own baby food is a good one. That way your baby gets all the nutrition you get in mashed form. I use a KidCo food mill. You put the food in, crank the handle and baby eats what you eat for meals. It was a $13 investment that saved tons in baby food and you get to know exactly what baby gets.

Also instead of cloth diapers you could look into g-diapers. They have a website and are also sold at places like Whole Foods. They are a cross between a cloth and a disposable however instead of throwing away the diaper you flush a biodegradable insert down the toilet and wash out the outer shell. They have no pins and use velcro on the back so baby can't take off his or her own diaper.

And instead of wipes you could buy a box-o-rags that you re-use by cleaning with bleach or a natural cleaning agent (Shaklee makes a great one). You cut them into smaller pieces and dampen them when you have poopy diapers. They are usually recycled from old t-shirts so they aren't a rough fabric and very cost effective.

Getting fabrics that are made of soy, bamboo, or other natural replenishing fibers are not only safer but usually softer and last longer.

If you don't already have wood floors in your nursery, look for a demolition in your area of maybe a school, church or the like and ask about getting your wood from them. School gyms and churches usually have old wood floors full of charm and character and most often this stuff goes to the dump.

Buying wood toys (such as Melissa and Doug items) ensures your baby has child-safe yet fun, educational toys that aren't full of plastic and batteries.

One last thing I can think of. When storing baby food or breastmilk, buy cases of Mason jars. This eliminates the use of plastic ice cube trays (for freezing food), tupperware, and Saran wrap. The jars come in all sorts of sizes and are less expensive that Glad-ware in the long run.

What are the benefits from masturbating?

Raees

Is masturbating good for your health?
What are the disadvantages of masturbating?
Is it good to use a toy to masturbate such as the Fleshlight.
When i grow up and have my own kids (son and daughter), is it a good idea to buy then a fleshlight toy to masturbate with when they are at their teens?
Is it a good idea to buy them sex dolls?
Is it a good idea to buy them porn movies as they will have internet access and watch it over the internet?

Answer
Read on:
MASTURBATION is the deliberate stimulation of one's own genitals to achieve sexual arousal and pleasure. It is done at least occasionally by a majority of both men and women. In one recent national study, 95 percent of men and 89 percent of women reported having masturbated. It is the first overt sexual act for the majority of men and women, although more women than men engage in sexual intercourse before they ever masturbate. Most men who masturbate tend to do so more often than women, and they are more likely to report always or usually experiencing orgasm when they masturbate (80 percent to 60 percent respectively). It is the second most common sexual behaviour (coitus being first), even for those who have a regular sexual partner.
Most children - often from the time they are infants onward - find the occasional stimulation of their genitals sensually pleasing, but do not come to understand this behaviour as "sexual" until late childhood or adolescence. During adolescence, the percentage of both sexes who report masturbating increases dramatically, especially for males. Most people continue to masturbate in adulthood, and many do so throughout their lives.
The fact that this important source of sexual pleasure is still regarded by some with guilt and anxiety is partly due to ignorance of the fact that masturbation is not harmful. In addition, many of us have received negative messages about masturbation from our parents or have even been punished when caught masturbating as children. The cumulative effect of these influences is usually confusion and guilt that is often difficult to sort out. About the only time masturbation can be harmful is when it becomes compulsive. Compulsive masturbation, like all other compulsive behaviours, is a sign of an emotional problem and needs to be addressed by a mental health specialist.
So, contrary to ancient and popular beliefs, masturbation does not lead to unbridled lust, does not make you blind or deaf, give you the flu, drive you crazy, grow hair on your hand, and make you stutter, or kill you.
Masturbation is a natural and harmless expression of sexuality in both men and women and a perfectly good way to experience sexual pleasure. In fact, some experts argue that masturbation improves sexual health by increasing an individual's understanding of his or her own body and of what is erotically pleasing, building self-confidence and fostering self-acceptance. This knowledge can then be carried forth to make for a more satisfying sexual relationship with one's partner, both through each partner's comfort with mutual masturbation, and because of the ability to tell each other what is most pleasing. It is a good idea for a couple to discuss their attitudes about masturbation and to calm any insecurity a partner may have if the other should sometimes favour masturbation over sexual intercourse. In some relationships, masturbation may be mutually acceptable. Done alone or in the presence of a partner, the act can be pleasing and add to mutual intimacy if it is not experienced as a rejection.
(Tips to remember: It is better if you wear a condom to avoid spilling of seminal fluid on the floor or other areas)

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Walkers, have they decided they are bad or good for babies yet?

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Mom of E a

I have seen several posts on here saying that walkers are bad for babies. Are they for sure saying that (do you have a link) or is it just something someone said? I haven't seen anything on the news or net about this. My little one seems like she might be ready for one. I haven't decided to get a walker or push toy yet. Give me your opinions!
Thanks!

She's 9 months old and pulling to stand and taking 1-2 steps.

Answer
Timid Woman heard correctly. Most of us pediatricians dislike walkers because we have seen our share of accidents, some serious. Some accidents are the result of neglect as when a baby pushes the walker down the stairs, but others are less predictable, as when one collapses and pinches the fingers or hand.

From a theoretical standpoint, walkers emphasize use of the legs and hips at a time in development when the infant should be exercising and strengthening the arms and shoulders.

Sure, it's cute to watch babies toddle around behind a walker, but walkers disrupt the natural order of development, and that may be bad for some children.

What is the best teething toy to give my infant?

Gann

Those plastic rings you put in the fridge are not working.

Answer
The Best Teething Toys

By Miebeth Bustillo-Booth, ChildTrek Founder

Natural & Wood Teethers
The best teething toys are made of natural materials like wood. Wood is naturally anti-bacterial. (That’s why there are wooden cutting boards.) So it is self-cleaning. Wood is hard and will help ease teeth in. But not all wood toys are ideal. The best wooden teething toys are either unfinished or lightly finished with beeswax, water-based stains, or other non-toxic paints. It’s best to gain the manufacturer statements to this effect. At ChildTrek, only toys that have met or exceeded safety standards are available.

Great Teething Toys
Grabbing Toy Giraffe with Wooden Teething Ring by Kathe KruseConsider the Infant Grabbing Toy Mah or Giraffe by Kathe Kruse. They are made out of non-porous beech wood, lightly finished with beeswax, and made using non-toxic dyes. There are no harmful chemicals to leach out while your baby gnaws on the hard wood. The wooden ring is extra large for easy handling by small hands. The lamb and the giraffe can be removed for machine or hand wash. And they are completely adorable!

The Grabbing Star Red or Blue also by Kathe Kruse has a wooden teething ring and interesting textures for early learning stimulation. A special feature is a velcro loop at one of the star ends so that it can be fastened as a stroller toy. This achieves a couple of things: the teether is always nearby and it doubles as a grabbing toy. Smart!

Girali Rattle by SelectaThe Girali Rattle by Selecta, aside from being a practical teething toy, is uniquely beautiful. It is made of native woods from Germany and finished with beeswax and non-toxic paints - completely safe for your baby.

Also, it’s hard to beat the Cherry Rattle by Camden Rose. It is lightly finished with beeswax. Its contoured design makes for interesting tactile stimulation. Its gentle rattle is soothing. As a teether - it is naturally hard to facilitate teething. Watch as your baby gnaws on this beautiful toy for hours.

Cold and Soothing
Organic Vegetabe Teethers by Under the NileOne of my personal favorites for the summer are the organic teethers by miYim and Under the Nile. Take the Bunny, Elephant, or Bear teether. Dampen, not soak it. Put it in the freezer. Then let your baby gnaw on this cool toy to help soothe tender gums. Do the same for the Fruits or the Vegetables by Under the Nile. Besides gently soothing for your baby, you are teaching your baby to “eat” his or her fruits and veggies!

Vary Teethers
It’s best to keep a few different teethers around that have varying textures and hardness. Some teeth come in easier than others. The molars, for example, are especially hard on infants.

Check out ChildTrek’s selection of ideal teething toys.

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How can I masturbate with my parents in the other room?

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kitie

Hi I am 16 and my mom has ALMOST caught me numerous times masturbating, and I don't use and toys or anything just my, like, hands. But is there a way to OrgÂ$m without them, like, HEARING?
Really sorry its SOO embarrassing thank u SO much for whoever answers.
P.S. I am a girl btw.

Answer
Any parent who doesn't *know* that 16 year olds masturbate is an idiot... and all you need is to remain in the privacy of your own room when you do it.

As for making noises when you orgasm, well, so did my daughter beginning when she was 11... we just ignored it (well, we *did* chuckle to ourselves about it sometimes if it happened while we were doing anything sexual ourselves).

Why upset and embarrass a kid over something as innocent and natural as an orgasm?


EDIT: "Nathan"...

Please get real.

There's no such thing as "being too young" for that.

I don't suppose you've ever been permitted to learn the truth about all the people that masturbate... but it might interest you to know that infants masturbate (often to orgasm if they do it at all and - rarely - fetuses even during the last week or two before they're born masturbate)... that by the age of 12, almost 1/3 of all girls have been masturbating to orgasm at least occasionally for half their lives or more... that at age 15 it's 2/3 of them who are doing it regularly (many of those have been doing it several times a day... for years).

How common is it for a 3 yr old to have perfect handwriting with his left hand but mirror write with the right?

Michelle

My 3yr old son is a dominate left hander and can write his name and many other words with great handwriting for his age. (hes better than my 5yr old daughter is already) But i noticed him doing something kind of strange in the past few months since we have started working on writing. When he uses his right hand to write, he does it in perfect Mirror image. Now it know it is common for children to mirror write, expecialy with him being left handed. But unlike pretty much all natural left handed mirror writers, he mirror writes with his right hand (his less dominate one.) Its really hard to get any info on this because most all right handed mirror writers have taught themselves, but his is all natural. And if i try to get him to mirror with his left hand he cant do it. If i try to get him to write the proper way with his right hand, he will start from the correct side of the page but all of the letters are still in mirror. Im looking for some input on if i should nurture this rare ability since it dosent affect his dominate hand. And on any info on how rare it may be. I know he is extremely smart just to the fact of his ability to write so well at such a young age. He is also very artistic, he loves to paint color and draw, infact he dosent touch any other toys any more...just his magnadoodle and art supplies....Please any info is so greatly appreciated!!!

Answer
He sounds a clever child! As his left hand is dominant and he writes correctly with, you should encourage it. I can't understand why you are trying to get him to mirror-write with his left hand? I used to get in trouble when I was in infant school [and was smacked with a ruler] for mirror writing. Looking back though, I am lucky that no-one tried to change me, as happened to many other left-handers.

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What is the best teething toy to give my infant?

best natural infant toys image

Gann

Those plastic rings you put in the fridge are not working.

Answer
The Best Teething Toys

By Miebeth Bustillo-Booth, ChildTrek Founder

Natural & Wood Teethers
The best teething toys are made of natural materials like wood. Wood is naturally anti-bacterial. (Thatâs why there are wooden cutting boards.) So it is self-cleaning. Wood is hard and will help ease teeth in. But not all wood toys are ideal. The best wooden teething toys are either unfinished or lightly finished with beeswax, water-based stains, or other non-toxic paints. Itâs best to gain the manufacturer statements to this effect. At ChildTrek, only toys that have met or exceeded safety standards are available.

Great Teething Toys
Grabbing Toy Giraffe with Wooden Teething Ring by Kathe KruseConsider the Infant Grabbing Toy Mah or Giraffe by Kathe Kruse. They are made out of non-porous beech wood, lightly finished with beeswax, and made using non-toxic dyes. There are no harmful chemicals to leach out while your baby gnaws on the hard wood. The wooden ring is extra large for easy handling by small hands. The lamb and the giraffe can be removed for machine or hand wash. And they are completely adorable!

The Grabbing Star Red or Blue also by Kathe Kruse has a wooden teething ring and interesting textures for early learning stimulation. A special feature is a velcro loop at one of the star ends so that it can be fastened as a stroller toy. This achieves a couple of things: the teether is always nearby and it doubles as a grabbing toy. Smart!

Girali Rattle by SelectaThe Girali Rattle by Selecta, aside from being a practical teething toy, is uniquely beautiful. It is made of native woods from Germany and finished with beeswax and non-toxic paints - completely safe for your baby.

Also, itâs hard to beat the Cherry Rattle by Camden Rose. It is lightly finished with beeswax. Its contoured design makes for interesting tactile stimulation. Its gentle rattle is soothing. As a teether - it is naturally hard to facilitate teething. Watch as your baby gnaws on this beautiful toy for hours.

Cold and Soothing
Organic Vegetabe Teethers by Under the NileOne of my personal favorites for the summer are the organic teethers by miYim and Under the Nile. Take the Bunny, Elephant, or Bear teether. Dampen, not soak it. Put it in the freezer. Then let your baby gnaw on this cool toy to help soothe tender gums. Do the same for the Fruits or the Vegetables by Under the Nile. Besides gently soothing for your baby, you are teaching your baby to âeatâ his or her fruits and veggies!

Vary Teethers
Itâs best to keep a few different teethers around that have varying textures and hardness. Some teeth come in easier than others. The molars, for example, are especially hard on infants.

Check out ChildTrekâs selection of ideal teething toys.

I would like to own a capuchin monkey?

Santana Fr

I already know they are difficult to take care of, need constant supervision, must be fed and changed multiple times a day, and can still make terrible pets. I am ready for whatever is thrown at me (not litteraly). I just want to know I am supposed to prepare for a monkey. I know they need diapers, clothes, toys and stuff like that. I would love a website link that has no negative things about monkeys.

Answer
Please - pay attention to the facts - be compassionate - spare yourself and your loved ones and spare the monkey - DON'T get one as a pet! Why do you want a website that has "no negative things" about keeping monkeys? The reason that those "negative things" are all over the place is because they are TRUE! A website that leaves these things out is not going to be in any way reliable. Facts are facts!

Monkeys don't ever make good pets. Please don't even consider it. Your "freedom" to choose your pet shouldn't override the monkeys' right to live a decent life. You can NOT provide a pet monkey with a decent life. And though they're small, capuchins can be really dangerous! How wouyld you deal withthis monkey once he was grown up? Your choices, in order to protect yourself, would be to a) keep him locked up 24 hours a day or b) remove his teeth and nails and/or drug him - both of which are incredibly cruel. Why would you bring home an animal knowing that you'd eventually need to resort to one of these options? Why would you deny a very social animal the chance to do what he was meant to do - live with other monkeys? Why would you support an industry that pulls infants from mothers well before weaning age despite the firm evidence that this is acutely damaging?

There are groups that actively advocate what they call âresponsible ownershipâ of primates, but these groups are usually largely concerned more with the maintenance of their ârightâ to keep monkeys than with the welfare of the monkeys themselves. Groups and individuals that are seriously concerned with the welfare of individual monkeys as well as with human safety and conservation of threatened wild primate species inevitably agree: monkeys are not pets.

There is no such thing as a âdomesticâ primate â all primates (apart from humans!) are wild animals. Domestication is a process that happens over many generations of selective breeding. Simply being born in captivity does NOT mean domestication!

Chances are, upon reaching adolescence, pet monkeys will become unmanageable, unpredictable and dangerous as they try to assert themselves and as their natural instincts kick in and they do not know what to do with them. Their owners and their ownersâ friends and families are at real risk of serious injury. Even small monkeys can be dangerous as they are strong, quick and clever. Pet monkeys who have become threats are often confined to small cages to live out the remainder of their lives with no further hope of social contact.

In order to be kept as pets, primates are usually taken from their mothers as infants â whereas they would naturally depend on their mothers for long periods of time, and would maintain close bonds for years. This separation causes acute psychological suffering and lasting damage to both mothers and infants. This also makes infant monkeys particularly needy and responsive to human interaction â which is often mistaken for happiness by their new âownersâ.

All primates are social animals. Denied the opportunity to interact with others of their own kind, pet primates often develop serious psychological problems such as severe aggression, depression, and/or stereotypical behaviours such as rocking, pacing and self-mutilation.

Primates have physical and psychological needs which are very difficult to meet in captive situations, such as the need for high levels of intense natural light; the need for vertical space; the need for constant mental stimulation; and the need for an appropriate diet. They are built perfectly for survival in their natural habitats, and are not suited to lives of confinement and solitude.

Wild primates spend a huge portion of their waking hours travelling and foraging in search of food. They urinate and defecate wherever they happen to be. In the home, this translates into destruction and mess.

Capuchins can live for forty or fifty years â a factor which is rarely taken into consideration by prospective pet owners. When pet monkeys outlive their owners (or their ownersâ finances or patience!), provisions must be made for their future â but sanctuaries are few and many of these are filled to capacity.

All primates are threatened in the wild. The keeping of pet monkeys in places like the USA and the UK appears to have a negative impact on wild populations, whether directly (to feed these trades) or indirectly (by setting examples... if people in America can keep monkeys as pets, why shouldn't people in habitat countries?).

Why would anybody choose to keep monkeys as pets in light of all of the above? It is clearly not in the interest of any monkey to be kept as a pet - it is a selfish act that causes all kinds of misery. Please do not do it.

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My four month old infant has very spastic hand movements is this normal?

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Bella

My four month old daughter has very spastic hand/arm movements like she cant control them. And she was doing very good eating stage one baby food but recently, in the past two weeks or so, she has been having a hard time doing what looks like swallowing. Her tongue just pushes the food out of her mouth. When she concentrates on a toy, she can bring her hands to it but then soon drops it because her arms spaz. Is this normal or should talk to a doctor about possible signs of a tic?

Answer
If she is pushing food out with her tongue SHE IS NOT READY FOR SOLIDS. Forcing solids at this stage damages her natural gag reflex. Babies loose the 'tongue thrust reflex' around 4-7 months. This is a natural reflex that all babies have, and will go away on its own.
http://www.babycareadvice.com/babycare/general_help/article.php?id=41
http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/03/13/baby-essentials-that-arent-part-7-baby-food/

As for the spasms, she is still young. You can ask the doc for better advice on this.

How do I get my 7 year old son to stop playing with his penis in public?

ericwgross

He doesn't pull his pants down or anything. Everytime I turn around his hands are down his pants. He says he does it because it feels good and makes him happy. I don't want him to think that playing with it is a bad thing just a natural one. I have had many talks with him but nothing seems to work. Help.

Answer
He is a boy. Boys do that.
I was in the Walmart the other day and a boy was looking at toys with his hand pinching his penis. His mother scorned him and told him, "I told you to quit that", to which he replied he was sorry. I could tell he didn't even know what he was doing wrong.
My son who is now 21, spent a whole lot of time with his penis in his hand. He started when he was an infant, pinching it, flicking it and it went on clear to about the 2nd or 3rd grade. He would get excited and immediately go for the most comforting thing he had, his penis. He would get all excited about something and grab his penis.
You just gotta accept it as a boy thing. Its a freudian sort of event. Ignore him. He is normal.

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Can you work at a Montessori school with a associate degree in early childcare education?

Q. I am currently getting a early childcare associate degree and for some reason Montessori learning really stuck out to me as fun. Can i work in it with just a associate degree?

A. The curriculum is actually very tedious/repetative and time consuming (a true montessori program has no time limits and wants kids to learn individually or in very small groups of 2 or 3 with hours at a time for one activity), and I think to teach Montessori at a center, preschool, or elementry school you need to go to a special montessori teaching school or get a special certificate/teaching credential (thats what one of my CD professors said).

Montessori also focus's too much on structered individual play with little to no unstructered group play- which is important too for building problem solving skills and creativity. I worked as a fieldtrip tour guide at an activity tourist property and I had different groups- FCC's with Infants/Toddlers, Preschools, Public schools, Private schools, and even 1 private Montessori school and those Montessori kids were the most out of control- they were hurting each other and running around chasing birds and the teachers didn't do much because I was on time schedual and had to transition kids to about 9 or 10 different activities in less than 2 hours. There are a few aspects of it I like, such as using natural materials (wooden toys/natural wool or cotton fabrics) and the child sized furnature. but not so much the long untimed projects (that was developed because the children she toughter were seen as "mentally retarded" by the public- but it is unrealistic in today's fast pace school and work environments; how will children adapt to middle school? High school? College? Workforce?) but I would say if you don't want to get a special certificate just try to adopt a play-based or Nature-based curriculum using the aspects of her teachings you like.

Original Question

Which dog breed is the best for families having children under ages 3?

Q. I got to know that the best dog for families having children under ages 3 are labrador retrievers! Is that correct? What is your opinion?

A. generally larger breeds are a better choice. Larger breeds tend to be less timid, less likely to be easily frightened and also less likely to be accidentally injured by a toddler falling on or over them. This is still highly dependent on the individual temperament of the dog however. The more dogs are socialized with very young children the more accepting they will be.

Some breeds of dogs that are known to have almost unlimited patience with very young children include the Bulldog group of breeds as well as the Mastiffs. These dogs as a group are more sedate, very calm and slow moving and seem to have a natural love of really small children. Kids still need to be carefully supervised around any type of dog but the Bulldogs and Mastiffs are universally known for their toddler friendly attitudes.

Another breed that is very good with children when raised with infants is the Akita Inu. This very large sized Japanese dog is a natural protector and will quickly see children in the family as its pack, meaning that the dog will keep the toddler close to the rest of the pack, gently steering the child back towards the parents as they move around in their space. In Japan it is often the case where the dogs are left to watch over children playing outdoors, working like a herding dog to keep the young children within their territory or area. The Akita is also a very docile dog, happy to let children climb on them and even involve them in their games with toys.

The Basset Hound, a solid yet low to the ground hunting type of dog is an excellent companion dog for young kids. They are slow moving, very affectionate dogs that seem to thrive on the attention that a toddler provides. They are solid dogs that are happy to just lie down and watch the child play but also have a good sense of play themselves for when the child gets a bit older. Often the Basset Hound that is raised with kids will be seen happily following the children about as they learn to crawl and walk. The Basset tends to not be easily alarmed by anything that a child does, especially when well socialized.

Standard Poodles, Golden Retrievers, Collies, English Setters, Samoyeds, Newfoundlands and Bernese Mountain Dogs are all good matches for households with very young infants and toddlers. Choose a dog that has a calm temperament and that has been raised in a household with children for the best possible match.

Growing up, we had a great dane. She was an amazing dog and to this day one of my favorites!

Original Question

How do I cure an earache on a 4 year old?

Q. I think my son has water in his ear from swimming. He wont let me touch it and it getting red behind his ear. Is there a home remedy that I could use to ease his discomfort. I gave him Motrin and he is resting but how do I get him better?

A. Home Care Dos and Don'ts

Since ear infections can be quite uncomfortable, pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen and home remedies like a warm washcloth placed over the ear can ease the pain.

Be sure not to put drops in the ear, like sweet oil, deYbarrondo warns, because they can obscure or cloud the eardrum, making it difficult for the doctor to get a good look. They can also cause irritation.

And, best to hold off on Q-Tips: it just impacts the wax, and pushes it farther down. "Besides, wax is a good thing-it protects against swimmer's ear ( otitis externa ) and keeps the canal's natural acidity in balance, which prevents bacterial growth," de Ybarrondo says.

Infants who lie down while drinking from a bottle rather than propped up in Mother's arms are more prone to fluid backing up in the tubes. De Ybarrondo strongly discourages parents from leaving a baby alone with a baby bottle under any circumstances. And she reminds parents to hold their babies at some incline when feeding them, to let gravity do its work by letting fluid run downhill.

Secondhand smoke leaves its mark on the ears, as well. Children who live in homes where parents smoke are at risk for ear infection because the irritating smoke causes chronic inflammation of the eustachian tube.

If your child is in day care, please keep in mind that the more youngsters your child is exposed to, the more viral illnesses they will meet. "This is no reflection on the day care. No matter how many times the adults wash their hands between diapering or feeding, odds are still high that viruses are being passed around on toys and tabletops," de Ybarrondo says.

Original Question

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I would like to own a capuchin monkey?

Q. I already know they are difficult to take care of, need constant supervision, must be fed and changed multiple times a day, and can still make terrible pets. I am ready for whatever is thrown at me (not litteraly). I just want to know I am supposed to prepare for a monkey. I know they need diapers, clothes, toys and stuff like that. I would love a website link that has no negative things about monkeys.

A. Please - pay attention to the facts - be compassionate - spare yourself and your loved ones and spare the monkey - DON'T get one as a pet! Why do you want a website that has "no negative things" about keeping monkeys? The reason that those "negative things" are all over the place is because they are TRUE! A website that leaves these things out is not going to be in any way reliable. Facts are facts!

Monkeys don't ever make good pets. Please don't even consider it. Your "freedom" to choose your pet shouldn't override the monkeys' right to live a decent life. You can NOT provide a pet monkey with a decent life. And though they're small, capuchins can be really dangerous! How wouyld you deal withthis monkey once he was grown up? Your choices, in order to protect yourself, would be to a) keep him locked up 24 hours a day or b) remove his teeth and nails and/or drug him - both of which are incredibly cruel. Why would you bring home an animal knowing that you'd eventually need to resort to one of these options? Why would you deny a very social animal the chance to do what he was meant to do - live with other monkeys? Why would you support an industry that pulls infants from mothers well before weaning age despite the firm evidence that this is acutely damaging?

There are groups that actively advocate what they call ‘responsible ownership’ of primates, but these groups are usually largely concerned more with the maintenance of their ‘right’ to keep monkeys than with the welfare of the monkeys themselves. Groups and individuals that are seriously concerned with the welfare of individual monkeys as well as with human safety and conservation of threatened wild primate species inevitably agree: monkeys are not pets.

There is no such thing as a ‘domestic’ primate – all primates (apart from humans!) are wild animals. Domestication is a process that happens over many generations of selective breeding. Simply being born in captivity does NOT mean domestication!

Chances are, upon reaching adolescence, pet monkeys will become unmanageable, unpredictable and dangerous as they try to assert themselves and as their natural instincts kick in and they do not know what to do with them. Their owners and their owners’ friends and families are at real risk of serious injury. Even small monkeys can be dangerous as they are strong, quick and clever. Pet monkeys who have become threats are often confined to small cages to live out the remainder of their lives with no further hope of social contact.

In order to be kept as pets, primates are usually taken from their mothers as infants – whereas they would naturally depend on their mothers for long periods of time, and would maintain close bonds for years. This separation causes acute psychological suffering and lasting damage to both mothers and infants. This also makes infant monkeys particularly needy and responsive to human interaction – which is often mistaken for happiness by their new ‘owners’.

All primates are social animals. Denied the opportunity to interact with others of their own kind, pet primates often develop serious psychological problems such as severe aggression, depression, and/or stereotypical behaviours such as rocking, pacing and self-mutilation.

Primates have physical and psychological needs which are very difficult to meet in captive situations, such as the need for high levels of intense natural light; the need for vertical space; the need for constant mental stimulation; and the need for an appropriate diet. They are built perfectly for survival in their natural habitats, and are not suited to lives of confinement and solitude.

Wild primates spend a huge portion of their waking hours travelling and foraging in search of food. They urinate and defecate wherever they happen to be. In the home, this translates into destruction and mess.

Capuchins can live for forty or fifty years – a factor which is rarely taken into consideration by prospective pet owners. When pet monkeys outlive their owners (or their owners’ finances or patience!), provisions must be made for their future – but sanctuaries are few and many of these are filled to capacity.

All primates are threatened in the wild. The keeping of pet monkeys in places like the USA and the UK appears to have a negative impact on wild populations, whether directly (to feed these trades) or indirectly (by setting examples... if people in America can keep monkeys as pets, why shouldn't people in habitat countries?).

Why would anybody choose to keep monkeys as pets in light of all of the above? It is clearly not in the interest of any monkey to be kept as a pet - it is a selfish act that causes all kinds of misery. Please do not do it.

Original Question

A question for all the mothers of infants?

Q. What things do you have for the baby that you couldn't possibly live without?
What items to do have that are completely useless and you couldn't imagine why you got them?

I'm adding items to my registry for my 'surprise' baby shower (I know its happening, but have no idea when..or where) and want to make sure I covered everything.

Feel free to tell me about toys your baby loves, etc.
I need to make sure I have it all =)
I'm due in 4 1/2 weeks!

Thanks!

A. Couldn't live without(and *= really nice to have):
teething rings,
wubbanub paci
moby wrap
40 x 40 swaddle blanket
sleep sacks
teething tabs
gripe water
johnson and johnson bedtime bath and lotion
baby tub
hooded towels and rags*
graco luvin hug swing
medela breast pump
boppy seat
boppy pillow*
bright stars toys (that drop from play time mat)
tummy time mat with above toys*
huggies natural diapers, or cloth
cloth wipes for new born
destin diaper rash cream
playtex dropins bottles for after 3 weeks or vent aire (if bottles)
happiest baby on block dvd

crap I thought I needed and never used
- high chair
- stroller (she hates it) maybe later but def not anytime soon
- bases for car seats, they dont fit right in my car, so i wind up strapping her in and she goes with me everywhere...no need for multiples
- pack and play
- more than one moby wrap
- lots of blankets
- ultimate crib sheet
- fancy bed linens for crib
- any dresses at all for her
- any coats for a baby
- papasan cradle swing- unstable and she outgrew it too fast, the other swing was life saver first 3 months
- fisher price chair that is sort of like boppy chair
- fisher price infant to toddler rocker
- ETA: angel care monitor- nice if your baby actually sleeps in a crib- which mine barely does now at 23weeks. if i had a do over i would get the video monitor.
i will update as i think of others, but bottom line, wait to meet your baby!

Original Question

Any ideas on getting rid of the pacifier?

Q. My daughter will be two in a few weeks and we were wanting to get her away from the pacifier. She is in daycare and she goes all day w/o it (even at nap) but the minute she gets in the car she wants it. Also we have a 3 month old who has one so she will constantly be seeing her sister's pacifier. Any suggestions?

A. people are so judgemental when it comes to using a pacifier arent they?

HEre are some loving techniques suggested by Dr. Sears:

A While pacifier use can get a child's mind off of teething pain, it's not beneficial to the process of teething itself. The act of sucking is very soothing for an infant, and it increases saliva production, which serves as a natural antiseptic that is good for oral hygiene. Despite these supposed benefits, extended pacifier use can, more likely than not, cause dental problems. The extra pressure exerted during sucking can cause dental malalignment (known as an overbite). Overbites are more common with thumbsucking than with pacifier use, but the risk is still there. And it is true that the longer you let her use it, the harder it will be to wean her off of it later. Here are some tried-and-true weaning tips:

Get her mind off of it. Identify what situations trigger your child's desire for the pacifier — many toddlers love to suck on something when they're upset. Also, examine your own reactions to your baby when she is upset. Do you find yourself reaching for a pacifier instead of reaching for her? Next time she needs soothing, try offering Mommy-comfort rather than paci-comfort. Think of this as an opportunity to deepen your bond with her, since she'll be spending a lot more time in your arms and on your lap.

Teach her other self-soothing techniques. In addition to being her human pacifier for a while, teach her ways to self-soothe (aside from thumbsucking, of course!). When she's upset or anxious, distract her with a fun play activity. Give her a cuddly doll or other transitional object to help her make the switch from the rubber pacifier to a more suitable soother.

Trade it in. One paci-ditching trick that has worked for several of my patients is to take your child and pacifier to a toy store and let your child pick out a new toy or stuffed animal that will act as a substitute. At the checkout counter, "trade in" the pacifier for the toy. There are many experienced toy store clerks who are used to this little trick and willing to play along!

Use peer pressure. Surround her with non-pacifier-using playmates to help her get the idea that pacifiers are not needed.

If you try these tricks and she resists to such an extent that she becomes a sadder child, take stock of the situation. She simply may not be ready to give the paci up, and that's fine for the short-term. If you conclude that your infant still needs her favorite pacifier for a few more months, go ahead and oblige, using these precautions:

• Above all, always try other ways of comforting her first.

• Don't dip the pacifier in honey or any sugary solution that could damage her teeth.

• Let her use the pacifier for only short periods of time, and when you feel she particularly needs it.

• Gradually shorten the frequency and length of time she's "plugged in" to the pacifier.

Rest assured that whether it's now or later, your child will outgrow the need for her silicon soother.

http://www.parenting.com/parenting/article/0,19840,1123768,00.html

Original Question

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A question for all the mothers of infants?

Q. What things do you have for the baby that you couldn't possibly live without?
What items to do have that are completely useless and you couldn't imagine why you got them?

I'm adding items to my registry for my 'surprise' baby shower (I know its happening, but have no idea when..or where) and want to make sure I covered everything.

Feel free to tell me about toys your baby loves, etc.
I need to make sure I have it all =)
I'm due in 4 1/2 weeks!

Thanks!

A. Couldn't live without(and *= really nice to have):
teething rings,
wubbanub paci
moby wrap
40 x 40 swaddle blanket
sleep sacks
teething tabs
gripe water
johnson and johnson bedtime bath and lotion
baby tub
hooded towels and rags*
graco luvin hug swing
medela breast pump
boppy seat
boppy pillow*
bright stars toys (that drop from play time mat)
tummy time mat with above toys*
huggies natural diapers, or cloth
cloth wipes for new born
destin diaper rash cream
playtex dropins bottles for after 3 weeks or vent aire (if bottles)
happiest baby on block dvd

crap I thought I needed and never used
- high chair
- stroller (she hates it) maybe later but def not anytime soon
- bases for car seats, they dont fit right in my car, so i wind up strapping her in and she goes with me everywhere...no need for multiples
- pack and play
- more than one moby wrap
- lots of blankets
- ultimate crib sheet
- fancy bed linens for crib
- any dresses at all for her
- any coats for a baby
- papasan cradle swing- unstable and she outgrew it too fast, the other swing was life saver first 3 months
- fisher price chair that is sort of like boppy chair
- fisher price infant to toddler rocker
- ETA: angel care monitor- nice if your baby actually sleeps in a crib- which mine barely does now at 23weeks. if i had a do over i would get the video monitor.
i will update as i think of others, but bottom line, wait to meet your baby!

Original Question

Any ideas on getting rid of the pacifier?

Q. My daughter will be two in a few weeks and we were wanting to get her away from the pacifier. She is in daycare and she goes all day w/o it (even at nap) but the minute she gets in the car she wants it. Also we have a 3 month old who has one so she will constantly be seeing her sister's pacifier. Any suggestions?

A. people are so judgemental when it comes to using a pacifier arent they?

HEre are some loving techniques suggested by Dr. Sears:

A While pacifier use can get a child's mind off of teething pain, it's not beneficial to the process of teething itself. The act of sucking is very soothing for an infant, and it increases saliva production, which serves as a natural antiseptic that is good for oral hygiene. Despite these supposed benefits, extended pacifier use can, more likely than not, cause dental problems. The extra pressure exerted during sucking can cause dental malalignment (known as an overbite). Overbites are more common with thumbsucking than with pacifier use, but the risk is still there. And it is true that the longer you let her use it, the harder it will be to wean her off of it later. Here are some tried-and-true weaning tips:

Get her mind off of it. Identify what situations trigger your child's desire for the pacifier — many toddlers love to suck on something when they're upset. Also, examine your own reactions to your baby when she is upset. Do you find yourself reaching for a pacifier instead of reaching for her? Next time she needs soothing, try offering Mommy-comfort rather than paci-comfort. Think of this as an opportunity to deepen your bond with her, since she'll be spending a lot more time in your arms and on your lap.

Teach her other self-soothing techniques. In addition to being her human pacifier for a while, teach her ways to self-soothe (aside from thumbsucking, of course!). When she's upset or anxious, distract her with a fun play activity. Give her a cuddly doll or other transitional object to help her make the switch from the rubber pacifier to a more suitable soother.

Trade it in. One paci-ditching trick that has worked for several of my patients is to take your child and pacifier to a toy store and let your child pick out a new toy or stuffed animal that will act as a substitute. At the checkout counter, "trade in" the pacifier for the toy. There are many experienced toy store clerks who are used to this little trick and willing to play along!

Use peer pressure. Surround her with non-pacifier-using playmates to help her get the idea that pacifiers are not needed.

If you try these tricks and she resists to such an extent that she becomes a sadder child, take stock of the situation. She simply may not be ready to give the paci up, and that's fine for the short-term. If you conclude that your infant still needs her favorite pacifier for a few more months, go ahead and oblige, using these precautions:

• Above all, always try other ways of comforting her first.

• Don't dip the pacifier in honey or any sugary solution that could damage her teeth.

• Let her use the pacifier for only short periods of time, and when you feel she particularly needs it.

• Gradually shorten the frequency and length of time she's "plugged in" to the pacifier.

Rest assured that whether it's now or later, your child will outgrow the need for her silicon soother.

http://www.parenting.com/parenting/article/0,19840,1123768,00.html

Original Question

Can you work at a Montessori school with a associate degree in early childcare education?

Q. I am currently getting a early childcare associate degree and for some reason Montessori learning really stuck out to me as fun. Can i work in it with just a associate degree?

A. The curriculum is actually very tedious/repetative and time consuming (a true montessori program has no time limits and wants kids to learn individually or in very small groups of 2 or 3 with hours at a time for one activity), and I think to teach Montessori at a center, preschool, or elementry school you need to go to a special montessori teaching school or get a special certificate/teaching credential (thats what one of my CD professors said).

Montessori also focus's too much on structered individual play with little to no unstructered group play- which is important too for building problem solving skills and creativity. I worked as a fieldtrip tour guide at an activity tourist property and I had different groups- FCC's with Infants/Toddlers, Preschools, Public schools, Private schools, and even 1 private Montessori school and those Montessori kids were the most out of control- they were hurting each other and running around chasing birds and the teachers didn't do much because I was on time schedual and had to transition kids to about 9 or 10 different activities in less than 2 hours. There are a few aspects of it I like, such as using natural materials (wooden toys/natural wool or cotton fabrics) and the child sized furnature. but not so much the long untimed projects (that was developed because the children she toughter were seen as "mentally retarded" by the public- but it is unrealistic in today's fast pace school and work environments; how will children adapt to middle school? High school? College? Workforce?) but I would say if you don't want to get a special certificate just try to adopt a play-based or Nature-based curriculum using the aspects of her teachings you like.

Original Question

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