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Everyone, young and old, goes outside looking for water when summer heats up. Water toys can add enjoyment to any outdoor experience by offering hours of entertainment. Indoor or bath water toys can also be used in swimming pools. Remember, children should not be left unattended with water toys of any size.
While most parents hope that their child will be perfect and will not experience any problems in their lives, the truth is that some children are born with disabilities. Other children may develop these problems later in life due to an accident. A handicapped child has some goals that are different from those of the average child.
Your preschooler spends most of her day playing, but that recreation has a lot of value. Playtime allows children to practice skills they are learning. A variety of play experiences can enhance all areas of development including social skills or learning to share, intellectual skills of decision-making and problem solving, and language skills as preschoolers talk about what they are doing. Certain toys can make playtime conducive to learning as well.
Children are naturally curious about their surroundings. Things around the home, such as electrical outlets, can cause injury or even death if not properly child-proofed. A small child can electrocute himself or start a fire by trying to insert an object into an electrical outlet. The best way to protect your child and prevent an accident in your home is to cover the outlet. An inexpensive and easy way to do this is to purchase and install an outlet safety cover.
Loved ones who are living overseas often have a better day after receiving a package of baked goods from home. Whether you know someone living abroad in school or in a war zone, you can brighten their day by sending them a package of homemade brownies. Package your chocolate goodies according to the ultimate destination, and keep in mind your recipient's environment when deciding on matters of frosting and nuts.
The paper "Adapting and Modifying Toys for Children with Special Needs" notes that play has been recognized as a vital component of child development since the days of Plato and Aristotle. Encouraging development is especially important with special needs children but finding the right toys in an industry designed to mass market to typical kids is difficult and frustrating. There are a few basic principles to keep in mind when shopping for toys for children with disabilities.
Traveling with a baby requires taking almost everything in the baby's room on the journey. It is very important that all the immediate needs a baby has are met, especially when the trip is to a location where stores may not be open or may not carry what the baby needs. To help with this tedious task, create a list and post it on the fridge or with the baby's diaper bag. Check off the items after they are packed. Also, a few extra of the important baby items -- such as diapers, formula or clothes -- are always helpful…
Before babies can begin moving on their own, it can be a challenge to keep them occupied since parents are required to do almost everything for them. Once babies learn to jump, it is something they enjoy doing, but parents usually need to assist with the bouncing. The Fisher Price Rainforest Jumperoo changes all that by offering parents a mobile jumping station that helps babies bounce and also offers toys and a spinning motion. Putting the Jumperoo together and using it are both simple processes, but all instructions should be followed to guarantee your baby's safety.
Cloth diapers are environmentally friendly and can be made cheaply using old t-shirts and a sewing machine. Cloth diapers require more work as they have to be washed after each use, but are less expensive than disposables because they can be reused. They can be made in a variety of colors, depending on the t-shirts that you have.
The Graco 9350 Pack 'N Play is a play yard designed for use by babies and toddlers to sleep and play in an enclosed environment. Parents often find play yards to be a convenient place for babies to play in, and create a safe and controlled space that can be moved from room to room. Play yards can also be useful for travel and provide a place for babies to sleep and play while in unfamiliar environments such as hotel rooms or other people's homes. Setting up the Pack 'N Play is fairly simple for most adults.
NUK manufactures a variety of products for infants and toddlers, including pacifiers, breastfeeding accessories and feeding products, such as bottles and sippy cups. The NUK EZ cup is designed for use by infants between the ages of 6 and 18 months, and includes a soft silicone spout to help ease the transition to a cup for infants used to breastfeeding or bottles. The handle is ergonomically shaped and the cup is spill-proof. Sold at many grocery stores, drugstores and baby supply stores, using the NUK EZ cup is fairly straightforward.
When you are alone and far away, a care package is more than just a box of goods. A care package is a connection with home. When creating a care package, there are many things to consider. If the package is going far away, choose lightweight items to save the cost of postage. Consider temperature when filling a care package. Don't send chocolate or other items that easily melt to hot climates.
Assembling a baby swing properly is important for infants' safety and full enjoyment. The Graco Swing Gentle Choice baby swing provides motion by gliding the infant back and forth in a soothing manner while music plays. A toy bar is in the center of the swing giving him ways to entertain himself. The swing features a full harness strap system to ensure the infant stays in the swing seat. This swing can bring joy to an infant while he is exploring his surroundings.
The Little Tikes Swing extension extends the play of the Little Tikes Adventure PlayCenter. The Adventure PlayCenter has a variety of ways to assemble the parts including both a large and small slide. The swing extension adds to the versatility of the play set. The top of the swing set reaches 76 inches. The swing set extension includes space for two swings. The swing set accommodates younger children both inside and outside of the home.
A baby's first bath can be a very daunting task for new parents. So many things can happen in a split second that it is understandable to worry. Practice and a top-notch baby bathtub can make bath time a fun and safe experience for the baby and the parents. Since there are so many different types of baby bathtubs, each having different strengths, it is important to find the one that best fits your baby's needs.
A pram is a device used to transport a baby or small child, and is known as a buggy or stroller in the United States. Prams vary in their design, depending on the age of the child, and whether the baby faces towards the pusher or away. Despite this, there are certain aspects of a pram design that are constant, and exist in all pram types.
Infants and babies have super sensitive skin and scalps that require special hair-care products. Most infants will have cradle cap in the first month after birth, which makes the hair on the scalp peel. Dandruff, on the other hand, can develop and stick around on the baby's scalp for as long as the first year if hydrating or special sensitive products are not used to treat or prevent it. Many infant hair-care products are natural and free of allergens or harsh chemicals that may cause drying or other conditions of the scalp. Here are a few infant hair-care products that…
If you plan on taking your infant to one of the Disney theme parks, good preparation is essential. Unexpected accidents, leaks and spills can occur and, if you are not properly prepared, your exiting trip can easily turn into a nightmare. Disneyland and Disney World both have Baby Care Centers where you can bring your infant for diaper changing and feedings. If you forgot to pack something or need an extra diaper, you are most likely able to purchase it from the Baby Care Center.
Traveling is a logistical chore no matter what age you are, and doing so with young children is doubly hard. Because of the amount of care and fragile nature of their immune systems, newborns generally aren't great candidates for travel until they're a little older --- usually around the three month mark. But if you must travel with your newborn, extra care and preparation will help ease frustrations and avoid potential catastrophes.
While you may be tempted to fill your baby's closet with dozens of cute outfits, you may not need as much as you originally thought. Many clothing items are given to expectant mothers at a baby shower, so try to hold off on buying these items until after your shower. Babies grow fast, so buy 3-month and 6-month sizes made of soft and comfortable fabrics.
Babies spend up to 18 hours a day in their first weeks of life sleeping, which makes buying a crib or toddler bed mattress is about as important, if not more so, than buying the crib or bed itself. Knowing the differences between baby and toddler mattresses may help you more effectively choose which type is best for you, your family and your budget.
Bean bag chairs were invented in the 1960s and their popularity continues. Bean bag chairs for children are especially desirable because they are soft, safe, comfortable and playful. Bean bag chairs are also therapeutic for children, especially those with Autism Spectrum Disorder or Sensory Processing Disorder. Whether you're purchasing or making your own bean bag chair for your child, choose durable materials so these chairs will last for years of playing, studying and relaxing.
As any parent knows, looking for a stroller is serious business. This portable piece of equipment will practically be attached to your hands for the next few years, so you want to make sure you like it. The Baby Jogger City Classic Double has a lot of pros for the parent with twins or with an older child who still needs a ride, and its relatively affordable price tag makes it even more attractive.
Making the transition from middle school or junior high to high school can be intimidating for some children. For others it can be a new, exciting beginning to shed an unwanted reputation they may have earned when they were younger. Whether they dread the beginning of high school or welcome it with open arms, you can make their transition a little easier with a fun and useful gift. There are almost endless options, so finding the right gift for your high schooler should be a breeze.
Evenflo's ExerSaucer is an infant entertainment tool and an alternative to the walker-style activity centers. Daily use and typical infant activity can wear and damage the vinyl-padded seat of the ExerSaucer. If you need to replace the seat in your ExerSaucer, order a new one from Evenflo and change it in minutes.
Spicing up a plain white burp cloth with ribbon will create an adorable gift for a new mom. Burp cloth designs range from simple to elegant. You can buy them pre-made or you can make them yourself using basic plain burp cloths. The finished product will be a reflection of your personal creativity and any new mom will love a gift handmade for her new bundle of joy.
Decorating a room with a "Winnie the Pooh" theme makes it a fun place for children to play and sleep. Because a child spends a significant portion of her time in the bedroom, creating a safe and interesting environment is essential. There are several ways in which you can add some Pooh-like touches to a room, depending on your budget and aesthetic tastes. You can create a "Winnie the Pooh" theme with just a few furniture pieces, or go for the all-out overhaul and turn the entire room into a place right out of the 100 Acre Wood.
It is very important to shield your baby's developing digestive system from bacteria during the first few months of life, so it's vital that baby bottles be clean and free of germs. Dishwasher cleaning is sufficient in some circumstances, but you must sterilize the bottles after each use if they have contained milk or juice --- or if you use well water or suspect that your water source is impure. You can buy equipment made especially for sterilizing baby bottles, but all you really need is some basic kitchen supplies and water.
The Graco iMonitor baby monitor is one way to know your baby is safe and sound during naps and bedtime. The iMonitor features a vibrating notification to let you know the minute your baby awakes, even if you don't hear her. The 900 MHz frequency allows you to operate your phone or computer without the fear of interference, and the 2,000 foot range will allow you to go about your daily home life while keeping your baby's every sound close.
Safety First is a company that manufactures safety products for infants and young children. The company makes everything from car seats to electrical socket covers. One of their products for toddlers is the Safety First Bed Rail. Safety First designed this rail for any toddler bed. It creates a protective barrier to prevent toddlers from rolling out of their beds.
Improvements in breast pumps have made it easier for working moms to continue to feed their babies breast milk, even when they can't be there with them. Like any machine, Medela Harmony breast pumps need regular maintenance to keep working over time. If the pump seems to be losing suction, a faulty o-ring might be to blame. Luckily, a new o-ring is easy to obtain and install to get your pump working like new again.
Medela is a company that manufactures breastpumps and accessories for nursing mothers. The company manufactures both manual and electric breastpumps. Prior to using an electric breastpump for the first time and daily thereafter, all parts of the breastpump should be removed from the motor and washed in warm, soapy water. The motor should be wiped down to remove germs, dust and dirt.
Summertime for many kids means playing at the park, swimming at a local pond and bike rides to the ice cream shop. Unfortunately, summer also has rainy days that must be spent indoors waiting for the clouds to part. Make these long, otherwise boring days more fun by building an indoor fort for the children to play in. Adults can also get into the fun by turning the fort into a reading nook or a miniature movie theater.
Whether your child has gotten hold of a permanent marker, or you dropped it on yourself or your couch mistakenly, permanent marker stains stand as one of the most difficult stains to remove--difficult, but not impossible. Keep in mind that the sooner you treat the stain, the better are your chances for removing it.
The idea of taking an injection at home may make some people uneasy. However, with fertility medications there are often so many injections required that it becomes impractical to have a doctor deliver each shot of medication. In this case, you may be provided with medication and syringes or injection pens. These injections are given on specific days as determined by a doctor and should only be used under a doctor's supervision; however, the injection itself can be performed at home in a few simple steps.
The Gerber baby has been around since 1928 and continues to be one of the most recognized baby faces of all time. Gerber baby spoons are another tradition born from the Gerber Company (now owned by Nestle) that has continued through the generations to this day. Feeding your baby from a keepsake Gerber spoon for the first time is a wonderful memorable moment. Getting a personalized spoon for your baby is easy and creates a lifelong keepsake for your child to cherish forever.
Parent taught drivers education is an alternative for the standard driver's education classes. Parent taught drivers training is recognized by the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety and will help teenagers achieve an unrestricted driver's license easier than other with no drivers training classes. The class is a type of correspondence study and must be through an approved Parent Taught Drivers Education provider. There is usually a fee to take part in the program for Parent taught Drivers education, this fee is for the curriculum. Students will be required to complete 30 hours of "classroom training" and 55 hours of actual…
The Fisher Price Aquarium Cradle Swing is a popular choice of baby swing. With its fun underwater theme and soothing ocean noises, it has the remarkable ability to calm as well as entertain your baby. However, assembling the swing can be intimidating, especially if you cannot find the instructions that came in the box. Although there are quite a few steps to take to put this swing together, it is a straightforward process and can be completed relatively quickly.
A Moses basket allows you to take your baby with you if you need to move to another area of the house. It doesn't take up a lot of room, and when the baby is too big to use it, it can be used for something else. Using a Moses basket is simple, however, like most baby products, steps need to be taken to ensure the baby's safety. Moses baskets range in price from fairly inexpensive to very expensive depending on brand and quality. A Moses basket is ideal for a parent who may not have a baby monitor. They…
Before you begin decorating a nursery, you’ll want to consider the arrangement of the furniture. Most nurseries include a crib, dresser and changing area, as well as a bookcase or storage shelves, and perhaps a rocker or glider. Some nurseries may also include swings, bouncers, large toys or a play area. If your baby’s bedroom is small, you may need to measure and plan before you start acquiring furniture, to make sure it will fit in the room comfortably. By planning the arrangement of nursery furniture before you start setting it up, you can save a lot of time and…
Everyone over the age of 6 months should get an annual flu vaccination, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but the vaccine is not 100 percent effective. If someone in your household comes down with the flu, it's important for all families members that the home be as sterile as possible to prevent contagion.
