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What kind of obedience is to be expected from a 2-year old? My daughter is 2-years old, with what seems a good development overall. We also have a 7-month old son. My wife takes care of them at home most of the time, and they also see their cousin (also 2-years old) one day a week, and my own mother 2-3 times a week. ...	In the end, you need to decide what you expect of your child and be patient, it may take many reminders to gain compliance, but rules and boundaries are important to all children at all ages. If they never slip up, you are probably setting expectations too low. There isn't a fixed list of rules that all two year-olds a...
Is raising a child bilingually with English worth the effort? I am half Turkish and German (living in Germany) but did not learn Turkish when I was a boy, because back then it was still discouraged to teach two languages at the same time. Now as an adult it feels a shame to miss out on half the cultural ancestry. With...	For the parent though, it will be work because they have to have discipline themselves to speak the chosen language and monitor if the kid is getting enough exposure to each language they need to learn.
Does daycare mentally damage children under three? An article in The Times and plagerized here suggests that it may do children permanent mental harm to be left in nursery (daycare) when under the age of three. Jonas Himmelstrand, a Swedish sociologist, warned MPs last night that babies and toddlers aged under th...	It is a fact that most day-care is lacking the continunity that a child needs, but it is not true that day-care per se is the problem.
5 year old always yells when excited, and isn't learning when to use quieter voices I'll start by saying I don't think it's a hearing problem, as she uses a normal voice in non-excited conversation, and can hear questions asked to her in a normal voice (aside from what I suspect is normal tuning-out of my voice...) Wh...	A mildly silly strategy that works on my kindergartener is saying, "I can't understand you," when he yells.
3 year old will not take a nap some days We have a 3 year old who is wonderful (most of the time ;). Somedays, however, she will not settle down and take a nap. We wakeup, go to sleep and nap on the same schedule everyday. If she doesn't sleep in the afternoon, she is terrible to her little 2 yr old brother... and defi...	Giving her a quiet place (it doesn't have to be her bedroom) where she can sit alone and do something quietly until naptime is over might be your best option.
How to punish "unpunishable" 3y old My son is 3,5y old. Generally he's a good boy. But whenever he can he is very annoying at some time and just refuses to listen. For example he will take my cell phone and when we ask to give it back, it goes to the floor. Then I tell him to come to me so I can tell him that's not ok...	However, if you're anything but consistent, it won't work. It is all part of growing up, and learning and establishing boundaries. My wife and I have had a lot luck with 1-2-3 magic when we stick to it. This involves no screaming or trying to reason with the child just counting for each time he doesn't listen and putti...
What is a good age to start taking your kids to the cinema? What age can you expect a child to happily sit through a movie at the theatre and do you have tips to make this a good experience for both children and parents (e.g. which movie to pick, what to do if they are bored after 5 minutes, etc.)? <Q> It really depend...	It depends on the kid. My youngest has watched films since before she was 3 and could always concentrate for an entire film. I'm not sure their is a useful answer other than just to try them. If you think there's a chance your kids will be bored (or mentally overloaded) after five minutes, then they're not ready for th...
My 8-year-old daughter was taught by her classmates how to use the middle finger. How do I get her to stop this behavior? Two of my daughter's 8-year-old class mates taught my daughter how to use the middle finger. My daughter is now obsessed and won't stop. We don't use this at home and find it offensive. However, ...	If she intentionally continues to do it after being told not to then there should be a consequence, whether it be grounding her from something she likes for the night, no tv, etc.
At what age can a child be left alone in a parked car? I have heard that in some areas it is illegal to leave a child unattended in a car, even for an instant, and possibly even if you are within direct sight of the care. It seems that the laws for this vary from area to area. Barring specific laws, how old should a ...	Back when I was babysitting age, 12 was the magic age. I doubt there is any definitive literature out there on this, so answers will be somewhat subjective. I think the maturity of the child is the primary factor in this kind of decision. Children under the age of 8 may not be left unattended in a motor vehicle.
What qualities should be looked in cloth diapers? What kind of cloth should be preferred? What should be the thickness of the cloth? What should be the shape and size of the cloth? Do we have to use a polythene cover on the outer side of the diaper to prevent leakage? <Q> From an article by Laura Schmitt for Motherin...	It is best to avoid diapers that blend in polyester or other synthetic fabrics, as they repel water and therefore don't absorb as well as a 100 percent natural-fiber diaper." "A blend of cotton and hemp is unmatched in absorbency and comfort." You can use wool too, but either way, yes, you need a cover.
What should be the ideal sleeping posture in the third trimester of pregnancy? I have observed that in the seventh month when I lay down on the floor and turn right side (for a while), the baby starts kicking. Then when I turn on my back, the kickings decrease noticeably. Have observed this behavior many times. Does...	Spending large amounts of time on your back during pregnancy is not recommended, although the overall rate of stillbirth remains low no matter what the maternal sleeping position is.
newborn / 1mo : funny milk smell in the head? My newborn girl has a funny smell in the top of her head: it's like milk or strawberry yogurt. Very soft, very light, I have to come really close to feel it. But it's something I notice... She takes a bath everyday (we live in Brazil, and here it's considered ok, I know th...	If scales do not easily loosen and wash off, apply some mineral oil to the baby's scalp and wrap warm, wet cloths around his head for up to an hour before shampooing. If it's baby smell, then don't worry; it's harmless When the smell has gone, so has the cradle cap. Your baby may have cradle cap, which is a very common...
Is it appropriate for parents to cry in front of their children? Sometimes a parent may be feeling sad (for whatever reason) and needs to cry. Is it harmful, or could it even be good, to cry sometimes in front of your children? What does research say? <Q> There's a lot of research about fighting in front of your chil...	It also helps children recognize for themselves when something is making them sad, and that is why they are crying. I think you shouldn't hide your emotions.
Party games for the 4-th birthday We are organizing a big party for our 4-year old daughter. We rented a room, and expect 20-30 kids (most similar age) and the party is from 2pm to 5pm. What is the best way to manage the party (in terms of party games, toys, etc.), so that the kids are happy, and there are no casualtie...	Have a few games prepped and ready to go, like the ones Vicky suggested, but I would mainly just have lots of age appropriate toys and let hem kind of just have fun.
When to pull loose teeth My 5 year old is starting to have some teeth become loose. Specifically her lower two front teeth. I just noticed today that one of them is really loose. However, I don't know how loose it should be before pulling it out. I'm also curious about how to pull them (or should I just let them f...	Then I would get floss and tie a loop hooking it onto the exposed edge and then either have my dad or myself pull it out suddenly or unexpectedly. There is no need to pull loose teeth; If the tooth hasn't fallen out, it's because there is still some periodontal ligament that needs resorption. If you try to pull it out ...
How soon until I can take my newborn to take a walk outside? I understand that newborn's immune system is still weak and crowds/strangers are to be avoided. Knowing this, how soon can I take my newborn outside, for example to take ~1 hours walk in a non-crowded park? Any particular things to pay attention to when doing...	Your greater concern in going outside is the weather - keeping baby warm/cool enough and avoiding too much direct exposure to sun. Personally, in a non-crowded situation, I would not hesitate to take the baby for a walk as soon as I felt up to it - usually within days of birth. The main reason to stay away from crowds ...
Can my 18 months old boy learn from watching movies? Everyday, my 18 months old boy is always asking to watch a movie by coming to my laptop and requesting to watch movie by talking with his baby talk style. I have a good serial cartoon movies for him. But sometimes he feel bored with the same movies which I chosed for...	What I've found to be a better alternative is to explore short video clips that address specific interests or questions your child may have. I pretty much agree with everyone elses answer (screen at the youngest ages is a waste of valuable awake time)
How long should a 3 year old be sent to his room? Our son is almost 3 years old and he's been getting worse about talking back and not obeying our directions (such as "put on your shoes" or "pick up your toys"). We're thinking about implementing John Rosemond's ticket system where he gets 5 tickets per day and after h...	In my experience, the most effective time limit at that age is until you're ready . Sending an almost 3-year-old to their room for, potentially, all day seems a bit excessive. The first few times, it might take a long time, like an hour or more, but they will eventually catch on that the effort isn't worth it.
How do I make my 7-year-old son stop using bad language? I am at a loss as to what to do with my seven-year-old son. He constantly uses bad words. Occasionally, he uses curse words but mostly it is words like "dumb," "idiot," "stupid," etc. He says the words when he is mad and when he is bored...there is really no rh...	I think he will soon realise that showing positive behaviour is the only way to achieve some attention. There is no way we can prevent kids from learning bad language. In our house we set clear rules about what language is acceptable, when other family members are around. One thing I have learnt is, it's all about repe...
When can I stop baby-proofing the house? I see that my six-month-old is getting to be a dangerous guy and we're going to start baby-proofing. Eight-year-olds typically don't need baby-proofing, though, so there's a light at the end of this tunnel. At what age (of my youngest child) should I expect to be able to ret...	I think it also depends on your patience threshold! Also, the age you can trust them to stay away from something is sometimes lower than the age you can trust them to use something unsupervised.
How (and when) do you teach a child patience? My son, 2 and a half, clearly does not grok the concept of waiting for something. If he asks for something, and I say "okay, I'll give you x right after we finish doing y ", he'll say okay, and then continue to ask for x throughout activity y (even if it is someth...	If he asks the question enough times, he might wear you down. The best solution I have found for the Impatient Boy is repeat the restriction (" x will happen right after y ") each time he repeats his request -- ignoring the question doesn't really work, and at least answering him is acknowledging his concern, even if I...
Can a Stepfather and Stepson relationship work well? I am in relationship with a woman with a 6 year old son. I entered his life when he was 4 and so far we have had a very close relationship. He seems to listen to me, enjoys activities with me, and also he takes orders more from me than his mom. I am not married to th...	I know of quite a few step-father/step-son relationships that I would consider to be good ones. A resounding YES!!
When should an infant stop needing milk through night? Just curious on this one, but does anyone know when a 1yo should stop needing bottles through the night Our first child was breastfed up to 16 months and when moved to bottles only needed 1 through the night for a short while before none at all. For various reaso...	According to Marc Weissbluth, a pediatrician who has written books on sleep in infants and children and fussiness in infants, most babies are able to sleep through the night without a feeding at 9 months of age.
How do I persuade my 4 year old daughter that School is Cool? As a kid, I used to like School more than anything else. Perhaps, because I came from a broken home and school is the only place where I have friends and people listen to me. Now that I've a daughter, I want to be there for her and perhaps in that endeavor,...	When the school is starting, I hope your daughter will be getting interesting in entering the new school, because she feel that she has interesting friend at school. In my opinion, it is because your daughter already felt comfort in home. iPads (and electronic screen toys in general) are not good for children, so the l...
Should my 13-month-old's tummy be this fat? My daughter's tummy seems strangely fat. I know babies are chubby and they usually grow out of this, but it seems oddly distended. Looking at her standing up in profile, her tummy sticks out about half an inch more than her head. Her tummy has been like this for a few month...	My daughter since she was quite small has been skinny everywhere except for her belly. By the percentiles, she does seem to be overweight, though I'm not sure that's something to worry about yet.
How to read an English story book to the kid when we don't talk in English at home? I am not a native English speaker nor is the country I live in. However since English is given a higher preference here over the native language I would like my kid to learn English from an early age. English teaching starts here from ...	If you don't think you're proficient enough in English to read those books, try getting someone who is proficient enough to read them in English. It's best not to put undue pressure on yourself, but to find a routine that works for you and can be adjusted as your situation changes.
How to motivate yourself to read stories to a kid whom you know cannot understand and respond accordingly? From: How to read an English story book to the kid when we don't talk in English at home? If you start immediately, it won't matter what language you're speaking; either way it will be babble :) Language compre...	If you want your child to understand language, you have to talk to your child. Your motivation is simply the enjoyment of reading a story with your child. Explain what you are doing, and why, even when doing routine chores.
How to teach a toddler a second (foreign) language? We live in India. I'm Russian, my husband is Indian. At home we speak with each other in English, and school education here is also in English. My husband is a sailor, so he is often out of the country, and when he is here he is busy with our business. We have a 1.5 ...	My suggestion is to send your child to an English medium playschool as soon as possible since he has to learn English if he's supposed to study in India and other problem You can try telling him something first in Russian and then English (or vice-versa), or try having English-only days.
My pre-schooler does not listen to anything I say or do! I have a five year old that is out of control. If I ask him to sit down and relax (because we live in a one bedroom apartment), its very frustrating because I repeatedly have to say it to him. If I yell at him he'll usually yell back along with my two yr old....	Losing privileges is probably an appropriate response if he continues to engage in poor behavior. As for his agression, keep calm and consistent. If you find yourself losing your calm, take a moment or two to remove yourself from the situation, gather yourself, and then come back. The number one step would be to keep o...
How to deal with a toddler who has formed a habit of throwing things including food? My 18ish month old baby loves to throw. She has several balls that she likes to toss around with me and her coordination with throwing is getting quite good. The problem is that she likes to throw other things too. While I have gotte...	As she develops even more skills, the attraction of throwing things (even those meant to be thrown) will probably diminish. My son has gotten a lot better about throwing his cup when he's done drinking.
Do we have to wrap an infant in the warm clothes after his birth? My all relatives have been telling me that the inside of the womb is warm so when the baby comes out he needs to be wrapped from head to toe in warm clothes so that he doesn't get ill due to the temperature difference. I would have followed that advise ...	Wrapping the baby also has a lot to do with comforting as well as keeping bub warm.
Does the kid who is active at night in the womb retain his night activeness once he comes out? I have always noticed that my kid (not born yet) is mostly active at night in the womb. I just wanted to know that will this activeness pattern have an effect on his sleeping schedule when he comes out? Is there any re...	Some newborns have a very difficult time learning to sleep, some seem to have been born to do it.
How to know whether your child is being bullied? Being a working person I may not be always near my kid. Also, it is a possibility that he may not tell me that he has been undergoing bullying somewhere because of fear or some other reasons. How would I get signals about him being bullied somewhere? OR How do I tea...	you don't have to teach him to tell you something; just let him know how to be a good person and to be confident in his own values.
Grandparent put a diaper on my toilet trained child I was out for 5 hours and my mom put a pull-up on my 25 month old daughter who refused diapers at 19 months. She never used a pull-up before though she has 2 cloth trainers that are thick but they still made her feel wet. She did pee in the pull-up btw. I took them o...	Maybe she has a concern about pottying that you might be able to figure out (for example, my daughter was scared to go potty because she didn't know what happened to the waste after the flush; once the process was explained, she felt much more sanguine about the whole thing). Don't put too much pressure on yourself or ...
I love my step son so much but it irritates me when he compares me to his dad My step-son keeps comparing me to his biological father, and I don't know why. I've been in a relationship with this woman for almost 3 years. She has been married previously and has a 6 year old son. I have a great relationship with her so...	He also sees the positive traits of his father as positive traits of a part of himself, which is why he likes to point them out.
How to deal with a 4 year old child who doesn't like parting with his friends? Our 4-year old son is unpacifiable when it comes to saying bye-bye to his friends after playing. He would cry like anything and doesn't mind lying on the street, adamantly not wanting to part with his friends. What could we do about this? ...	When it goes off, remind him that the timer has gone off, and tell him to start packing up immediately - and enforce it, with time outs or whatever your normal discipline is, strictly. Immediately, off the bat, I recommend to never, ever give in to this type of behavior. We involve her in the cleanup process (putting t...
How do parents have sex when there's a toddler in the house? Scenario: 1-bedroom apartment and there's no one else living in the house to watch the toddler. Any recommendation? <Q> <A> In my book the living room on a Saturday afternoon is a perfectly acceptable place & time to get jiggy with it. <S> As long as the chi...	Wait until the toddler is asleep. To add to Dave's excellent answer I also recommend trying to let go of any inhibitions you might have in regards to when and where you have sex.
Is feeding the right time to talk and read to a kid? The kid will be born tomorrow. I wish to know if feeding time is the right time to "talk" to him and read him stories? I am asking this because I have heard that kids fall asleep while breast feeding and I think my continuous chatter will not let him sleep. Also, ...	The child is learning how to eat, and reading a story can be distracting to that (plus, it is hard to hold a book and an eating baby simultaneously).
How do I determine developmentally-appropriate projects for my toddler? I'd like to start planning out projects that my son and I can work on together. My goal is to create learning opportunities through interactive play, within 20-60 minute time periods. I'm pretty open-ended on the types of learning opportunities t...	I think it would be useful to choose rather open ended projects that let you be agile about what your child will do in them and
Why does tight swaddling calm babies? The kid is 4 days old. I have noticed that tight swaddling DOES work in calming the kid down. I wish to understand the reasons. Why does tight swaddling calm babies? Answers with credible references will be appreciated. <Q> Dr. Harvey Karp, a peditrician, is one of the major pr...	As studies proved swaddled babies sleep better in the back sleeping position, swaddling has become increasingly popular and recommended so parents avoid the dangerous stomach sleeping position.
When do infants and/or toddlers develop survival instincts? I am a father of a 10 month old son. I love to observe my son acquiring and developing new skills like crawling, responding to questions, and imitating other's behavior. Moreover, I was flabbergasted when I witnessed my son operating our TV remote. As a recen...	Babies actually have survival instincts from the very start. Instincts are ingrained from the very start.
What are the causes and remedies of constipation in toddlers? My 1 1/2 year old baby daughter is having difficult with her bowel. She seems to have a constipation sensation. I have personally never seen small aged children having constipation in my life. I like to seek guidance on the causes, cures and prevention for...	If keeping an eye on your toddler's diet and steering it in a better direction alone is not enough to relieve chronic constipation, your pediatrician may recommend a fiber supplement or stool softener. Any time my daughter seems to have constipation I increase her water and offer her prunes, pears, or raisins. Limiting...
How to clean the face of a newborn? She is 14 day old. The cord clip has fallen off. How to clean the face of a newborn without letting the soap go inside the eyes and mouth? <Q> For a 10 day old, I'd not use soap at all. <S> From the Mayo Clinic : <S> The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends sponge baths u...	You can use soap or just water.
How can I explain to my child that I'm not superman? If you asked Grace (2 1/2) right now "What can't daddy do?" she would probably not understand the question. Daddy can move anything, fix anything, run as fast as lightning ; simply put, there's nothing Daddy can't do. Except honestly, I'm a programmer for a living,...	Not doing things you could have done but that would have been wrong to do, is the very basis of a strong moral character and being superdaddy means you have lots of chances to teach that kind of behaviour. She'll slowly learn how the World works and some time, probably in her teens, she'll make a break with the idea th...
How can I help my toddler with his booger problem? Warning: this one may be a bit gross... My son, who is almost three, fairly regularly gets large clots of dried mucus wedged deep up his nose. They can stay there for days without coming out on their own, and they cause a noticeable whistle when he breathes. The ...	You can use an infant nasal bulb (aspirator) to help remove the mucus. Turn the child on the stomach to help the mucus drain.
Baby always rolling over and ending up sleeping on his stomach, is it dangerous? Our 3 months old baby is very keen on rolling over and being on his stomach. Most of the time he automatically rolls over in a few minutes after we put him on his back, including during bed time. Is this dangerous? We are particularly worr...	Make sure your child is sleeping on a relatively firm surface, without squishy bumpers on the sides, and the baby will be fine. Once your baby can move allow your baby to sleep in whatever position he or she assumes.
How to prevent a 1-year-old from getting hurt while learning to walk? My 1-year-old child is now trying to walk. She got hurt many times. Sometimes we had to rush her to the pediatrician. Mostly she used to hurt her tongue, cheek and head. My parents and I cannot prevent her from falling. Sometimes out of frustration I...	Just may your world safe so that when they fall, they are less likely to do any severe damage. For the smaller ones, like the ones you describe, she sometimes cries, sometimes just says "bonk" and sometimes is furious.
How to make our 3-year-old son stop being violent towards his older sister? My daughter from a previous marriage was 8 when our son was born. Pretty much since the day he could move he has been hitting his sister with his hands or objects, biting, scratching etc. He is now 3 and she is nearly 11. He goes out of his w...	We used time outs for our children, but we had to be consistent every single time, we had to recognize their triggers and catch them in the "wind up" if at all possible, and we had to teach them alternate ways to express their frustration. Ask him if he’d like to be hit for no reason. The key to effective discipline is...
Getting a 5-year-old up and going in the morning Ok, so this question was somewhat helpful, but my son's problem is not quite the same. He is 5 and will be starting kindergarten in a few weeks (August 7th). Right now, we have the luxury of taking our time in the morning; even on days that my kids go to daycare we...	My wife and I often play music to wake our little one up, sometimes we will even start a movie on a laptop to help her her fully awake and aware. Again, the key is inertia - once you get them going you can't stop them. Anything exciting she can look forward to always works.
How should I deal with a 6.5 year-old misbehaving boy? My son is six years old, quite intelligent,grasps things easily, is really sharp at school really, good with teachers, and often very nice with friends. But he is showing opposite behavior to me; he is misbehaving, very aggressive, doesn't listen to me, says "NO", ...	Removing this source of frustration, if it is indeed the case, could turn the kid around, but I would also consider seeking professional help. Stop fighting with your child. You cannot control him. Try to point out how what he does affects his life, so explain that hitting people will make people dislike him, not play ...
How to brush the teeth of my 1-year-old baby? My 1-year-old baby has 8 teeth and enjoys eating chocolate very much. Some of my relatives have suggested that I brush her teeth with a baby toothbrush, but I am confused about whether a child of this age needs to have their teeth brushed or not. If it is required, how am...	To brush her teeth, put a small amount on the brush and brush her teeth gently. When my kids were around 12 months we considered that (plus as-needed use of a finger brush like Valkyrie mentioned) was sufficient.
How to minimize diaper usage or replace it with greener alternatives Is it possible to minimize diaper usage for infants , are there any greener alternatives to diaper and diaper pads , one alternative is cloth diapers but for many its difficult to clean it , are there any innovative products / DIY stuff or strategies ...	My advice is just to start early and keep a carefree attitude, and you will save a ton of diapers.
How to make my 20-month-old son stop biting other children in the kindergarden? My 20-month-old son bites other children in the kindergarden. He does it in the course of play, and sometimes he bites me, too. The kindergarden teacher says, this is normal, it's just an episode. How can I make him stop? <Q> We used the e...	" If you are holding your child when they bite, I'd put them down for a minute.
How to handle copycatting? My six year-old son has gotten in the habit of copying his little sister. It feels like he is taking her behavior as cues to what is acceptable, but the act of copying itself (and usually amplification) pushes it over the line. For example, yesterday my daughter was singing quietly in the c...	He wouldn't want her to interrupt him and start singing his song even louder than him, so he shouldn't do it to her.
How to positively teach a toddler dishonest actions are bad While on vacation my family and I were at a store and my 4 year old daughter had picked up a toy and placed it on the checkout belt. At this time we did not notice the toy and proceeded to checkout and leave the store. While driving down the road my daughter...	To call this stealing or to take the toy back to the store in some obvious way will create a feeling of shame, and shame is not a source of good learning.
How should I deal with a child who intrudes on adult conversations? The 4 year old will often engage herself in adult ( age not content ) conversations. While it doesn't specifically bother us, we actually find it amusing, it could pose a problem when dealing with others. She is one to ask many questions and does well ...	Personally, I detest people who don't talk to kids like they are people but instead talk to them like they're a dog or something. If she's participating civilly, then I'd encourage her to talk with others in general non-private conversations. We just say "We're having a grown up conversation, which isn't for your ears....
Is confusing red and blue at age 3 a possible indication of color-blindness? My son knows his colors pretty well, but still frequently seems to say "blue" for red items, and "red" for blue items (although it seems more common for him to call something red blue than the other way around). We have a color matching game ...	Color blindness usually makes it hard for those that have it to tell apart Red and Orange or Blue, Green, Black and Purple, but rarely does it mean the color blind person can't tell a warm color (red) and a cool color (blue) apart.
Bedtime vs amount of sleep? I am a single dad who has custody of my 11 year old daughter during the school year. During the summer, however, she stays with her mother in another town. I have become concerned about the lack of bedtime regimen that she has while she's there - she's basically allowed to stay up as late a...	So it's not so much when they sleep, but that they get enough of it. The sun will come up (especially in the summer) and raise the light levels in her room, which will cause her to sleep less deeply. Unsupervised access to TV and the internet is, regardless of the time of day, not a good thing for an 11 year old.
My 11-month-old child is shaking arms and legs when excited. Should I be worried? I kind of feel like this is "normal" but I am also worried that while I am in awww over her preciousness and loving her cute little moments that I may actually be watching her having some kind of neurological problem. I have asked the do...	Babies are still learning how to control their bodies. Something to think about is that if it were something bad neurologically, it would probably be involuntary, and she probably wouldn't do it consistently in response to stimuli if it were neurological.
When to teach daughter to dry herself after urinating My daughter is five years old and my wife is out of town for a while. While I am taking care of her on a daily basis, she seems old enough to dry herself after using the toilet. Are there any generally accepted guidelines on when a young girl is ready to take care ...	All kids are different, but assuming she's not wearing nappies anymore, then she should be able to do this
Why do humans require assistance in childbirth so frequently? I have always found this fascinating. We are the most intelligent beings on the earth. Still, a rat can give birth to its offspring all by itself, but why is that not happening with humans? Is it just for psychological reasons? Or have humans become weak? If...	Because of our civilisation and technology we know that by even some basic intervention the risk of mother or child dying in child birth can be reduced . So many people prefer to have this assistance with them, just in case. Tradition, herd mentality, increased medical knowledge, and (unfortunatly) economical gain have...
Causes and prevention techniques for crooked teeth? I had horribly crooked teeth and my mother has them too. I was told that I used to touch my gums with my fingers that's why my teeth were crooked. What are the facts and myths regarding crooked teeth and what are the preventive measures? <Q> The truth seems to be t...	Additionally, early intervention by a pediatric dentist can assist in the development of permanent teeth, and prevent them from growing in crooked: A pediatric dentist can identify crowded or crooked teeth and actively intervene to guide the teeth as they come in the mouth.
How to prepare my 4-year- old for his 4 year vaccinations? My 4-year-old is going to have his vaccinations. It seems like when they are younger, you can handle it better. Sow that he is older, and understands more concepts, are there any tricks or things you can do to make the 3 shots better? I have talked to him abou...	The key to lessening pain of a vaccination is not to tense up your muscles. Show him the sweeties that he is going to get once he's had his shots. Seeing me go through it, understand that we all have to do it, and that it's not a big deal or especially painful, makes it less of an anxiety when he needs to have one hims...
How to deal with two boys becoming sucky and clingy when around their mother? We have two boys aged 3.5 and 2. They are your average rambunctious boys. Pretty good at daycare and with dad, but when it's just mom they start acting out. Not listening. Don't stay in time out. Difficult to put to bed. Fighting with each ot...	I also promote the idea of explaining the moral reasoning behind the behavior at a young age. Many boys at this age behave in a self-centered way unless this is overpowered by another "force" which can be a positive or a negative influence. So much of the frustration they felt at daycare they release not there, but in ...
At what age is it no longer appropriate for your child to be naked in public (e.g. on the beach)? We live in the UK. My 3½-year-old son loves to be naked. He spends a lot of time running around naked in our garden on hot days. We went to the beach during the Summer, and - since we forgot to bring any swimming trunks,...	Its well accepted for children to be naked and shameless about it. This is entirely subjective according to where you live.
3 year old won't get out of bed without assistance? I seem to have the opposite problem to what everyone else has. My kid sleeps well. He stays in bed well.. too well. In the morning he can hear activity and everyone talking yet he will not get out of bed himself until he hears his name called. Instead he will stay ro...	Just keep hollering at him, and work on convincing him, day after day, that he's capable of getting up and coming to you on his own. The important point is to now focus on positive reinforcement if you want him to get up - but be aware that you may regret this decision. But I would guess that your child is staying in b...
How to deal with the child when both the parents are not on the same page? The kid will soon grow up to the age when she'll need to be disciplined. My husband and I are NOT on the same page regarding disciplining the child. I think if the kid cries because one parent has refused to give into her demands and decided t...	For discipline of any sort to be effective you really, really need it to be consistent, and that means both parents discussing and agreeing and compromising where necessary. DO NOT PARENT BASED ON FEAR. Just do what you think is best and be prepared to reverse if the situation warrants it.
Is it normal for a 3 year old to change their clothes every 10 minutes all day long? My 3 year old grandson changes his clothes every ten minutes. He even puts his baby sister's dresses and t-shirts and socks on. He came down with five t-shirts on yesterday and even chases his friends around until they give him their...	As your grandson is 3, I imagine that he has only recently been able to change his clothing fully unassisted, so it could just be the novelty of having a new outfit.
My 6-month-old falls asleep late and wakes up several times. How to make him sleep through the night? My 6-month-old son will take 2 naps a day, but when it comes to be around 10 or 11 o'clock he is wide awake. He usually doesn't go to sleep until 2 in the morning and wakes up 3 to 4 times a night. I have tried the cer...	Again, in the main, you should move his sleep time by getting him tired a little bit earlier, so in few weeks you will get it to the schedule you want. When he wakes, go in to him, cuddle, sing quietly, be nice, possibly offer a bottle but on no account take him out of his room.
How do we deal with potty training at daycare? Our situation is that potty training is going well at home, but really badly at daycare. We have an appointment with the daycare staff next week to discuss strategies. My son, who is 2.5 years old, is showing signs of stress for the first time in his life, which also means...	I will always be positive if a child is running up to me telling me they have to go potty and simply can't hold it any longer. Try going back to diapers for a week or two, or until he settles down and indicates he's ready to try again.
How to preserve the daily extracted breast milk in freezer for a long time? Baby won't be with me for around 15 days. Is it is safe to add fresh breast milk to already frozen breast milk? If not, then how to preserve the daily extracted breast milk in freezer for a long time assuming I don't wish to use 8 different ve...	Soem sites say that you can keep it freezed for as long as 6 months, as long they are in the freezer (source: http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/milkstorage/ )
How can we convince our son to take his pants off to sit on the potty? My son (who is turning 3) has his own potty, and is quite content to sit on it, sing his "potty song", stand up, and "flush" (it's a plastic training potty that plays a sound when you pull the lever). However, he will generally only sit on the po...	We had a different issue with our daughter: she was afraid to actually use the potty, because as it turns out she didn't know what happened to the pee and poo when they left the potty.
How to explain to your child why a grandparent isn't around My parents divorced when I was 10 and that was the last time I had a relationship with my father. My father still lives close to me locally but he doesn't contact me, and if I see him in public I do not address him for personal reasons. Now I am married an...	Practising your responses helps you not panic when asked. Talk about your feeling about it.
What are the signs other than crying which indicate that the infant is hungry? Age: 3 months I don't wish to wait for her to cry whenever she needs food. What are the signs other than crying which indicate that the infant is hungry? <Q> At 3 months they don't actually have many ways to communicate. <S> Crying isn't ...	You may see your baby try to nuzzle for milk if you are holding her, or she may curl up or arch her back if she has a hungry stomach, but the simplest route is to learn the different types of crying noise she makes and respond when she cries. Infants cry, it's their job.
how do I help my 4.5 year old socially? My son likes to play with other kids, but he's shy and will usually join someone else in their game and not initiate. That is fine with us, the problem is that English is his second language, and he seems to be afraid of opening his mouth and speaking it. He's much more relaxed w...	Also make friends with other parents in your childs class, generally parents that you get on well with who have nice kids will make good play dates.
Do I need to put cloth diapers through two wash cycles? Currently, I store my cloth diapers in a dry pail. Every two days or so, I need to wash the diapers. I put about 10-20 cloth diapers through two wash cycles: a COLD wash, then add other clothes to fill up the washer and do another COLD wash. The function of the fi...	Since first rinse is only done to wash out urine and poop, and later you wash it again more thoroughly with clothes, you don't really need any detergent for that first wash.
What are some alternatives to bouncing on an exercise ball? Our 2 month old loves to be held while we bounce on our exercise ball. It is a great technique for soothing him, but our backs are tired and sore! What are some alternative bouncing contraptions, mechanisms or techniques we could try? We have found that all ...	Alternatively, well, train your muscles and instead of bouncing on a ball just shake/rock your arms.
What's a good choice for a baby's first sign in sign language? My guide to using sign-language for babies recommends starting out with one single word, and repeating it frequently until the baby begins using it too. I'm having a lot of trouble picking a good first word, though. I'd like something relatively easy for a...	Babies learning ASL will often simplify the signs down to something that is easy enough. So under the theory that kids talk about what they care about, milk is on the top of the list. For that reason I think the book that recommends "please" as a good first sign is very useful.
Treating diaper rash for a teething toddler My 13 month old baby girl is teething. Her nose is leaking, she has red cheeks and super red bum (rear-end). With urine and feces, it gets worse, and two spots become red flesh (like road rash) so it is getting worse everyday (not that bad, but not getting healed anyway). S...	Over five days we applied Desitin Maximum Strength to the butt rash each diaper change, gave her an hour of diaper-free time in the morning, and gave her a bath at night with Aveeno Baby Soothing Baby Bath The rosy cheeks bit we're just trying a moisturizer for now, because if it is related to teething it sounds like t...
Balancing children's needs with a parent's own needs For me, as a new parent I found it difficult to find a balance between meeting the needs of my son and my own needs. I was inclined to view my own needs as being selfish and an inadequacy within me that equated to selfishness. In my case, I grew up perceiving my mot...	A parent's need for some alone time is equally important, so it's okay to postpone the book reading for a while when you need a break. Kids need their parents now, or at least they think they do. Things can be both important and urgent, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, or neither important nor urgent...
What direction should baby gate swing when installed at top of stairs? My son is crawling and I need to install the baby gate that we got from the baby shower. This will be installed onto the wall but before I do that I need to determine what direction I want it to swing. The directions say I need to determine this no...	Given this and the design of our particular stairs and landing, it only makes sense for the gate to open "outwards" over the stairs.
Minimize time to pack child's things Whenever you go outdoors for a stroller walk or car ride etc., you must pack some essential items, for instance: Diapers & towels Extra clothing Food & water Medicines Favorite toys Finding these things and making sure they are packed could take forever. What is the best w...	For this reason, I'm considering buying a fishing bag which has lots of compartments (including layers of plastic boxes for smaller items such as medicines), where you easily can store items so you quickly know where to find them.
Should we be concerned about our 2.5-year-old grandson suddenly stuttering? My 2.5-year-old grandson came for visitation and he's very smart. He had a lump on his forehead and is stuttering. He always speaks in complete sentences. Like "May I have that cookie", or "Pop Pop I would like bacon, dippy (fired (eggs and p...	Kids with stammers can get help from speech therapy which may mean he loses it, or learns to control it. But equally, this could just be something transient . I personally would rather be safe than sorry, but in your shoes I wouldn't stay awake worrying if his mother isn't concerned. Kids do bang their heads all the ti...
How do I help my third-grader focus on homework? My child just entered third grade, and the homework load is much higher this year, with a lot of writing and math drills. It is all work that she can do easily, but it's causing the whole family a lot of pain, because she's have a really hard time just sitting down and d...	Specifically, remove yourself from her work area for increasing amounts of time, with the idea that eventually she's working by herself for the most part, with you popping in now and then to help refocus if necessary. The solution my parents came to was a reward program. We have a quiet, distraction-free area upstairs ...
How to handle disclosing a parent's suicide to friends and their parents I have three children 12, 13 and 19 and their father committed suicide 10 years ago (when they were 1, 3 and 9). They have suffered through many childhood taunts, at times, including: "Your father killed himself because he didn't want to look aft...	While horrific for your children to experience, taunting is something children do as they learn how to navigate social circumstances. In other words, I would leave the decision to disclose or not up to the child who will have to deal with the fallout on a case by case basis.
How do you prepare a pre-schooler for potentially permanent separation from a close friend? My three-year-old son attends a small, in-home daycare. The other kids in the daycare range from about 1 year to 5. There is one other boy my son's age, and the two of them are very good friends. My son looks forward to going...	I would suggest to tell him in advance, and then just remind him the day before the other kid is actually leaving. In my experience, drawing something nice for the other kid, or drawing a cartoon on where he's going helps. Talk to him about it, and encourage him to talk to his friend about it. If he seems to cope well,...
For a long flight, would freezing breast milk simplify transporting it? We have a three-month-old child and several long haul flights coming up (the shortest is five hours, the longest is twelve) and I'm mindful of problems with transporting expressed milk. There are restrictions in many airports on taking liquids thro...	Airports we've experienced (not in the USA) have been very reasonable about breast milk.
Handling coughing for 3 month old baby Our baby is coughing (wet) and sneezing , hence wanted to know what home remedies one can apply to her? Also I heard that there are not many general medicines for infants below 3 months. <Q> Valkyrie is right. <S> Steam was most definitely the best way to help alleviate coughin...	The air purifier is mostly preventative, but may provide some relief to children that already sneezing. At that age, we had the best luck with steam. At this age, you cannot use lots of home remedies.
Why are there so many snaps on infant clothes? Sometimes it seems like infant clothes are custom designed to be difficult to put on a wiggling baby. I find the multitude of snaps to be particularly difficult to navigate, especially when you miss a snap in a long series and then need to undo all of your work to refasten...	The simple answer is that there is nothing easier (with the possible exception of velcro, but one side of velcro is scratchy so a baby might not like that, and you sometimes have to pull velcro really hard) Regarding why "so many", it's because baby poo goes everywhere.
Combing head lice from very curly frizzy hair This question is not about head lice treatments, it's specifically about using a nit comb on a child with very curly hair, mixed ringlets and frizzy hair. The problem I am faced with is, getting the fine tooth comb to go through the hair without pulling some of the hair o...	Then I would use a lice comb but make sure to keep adding heavy amount of conditioner so that it will go through the hair easier.
Why does my 4 month old playful infant suddenly start screaming at the top of her voice? This is not a normal cry. This cry indicates extreme sudden pain. For example: If you were sitting peacefully somewhere and someone threw burning coals on your body, how would you scream? She is swaddled and fed, then sh...	By all means consult a doctor if that will help ease your mind, but also ask some experienced parents you trust when it happens when they are visiting. We never quite got to the bottom of it, but we have a strong suspicion that it was some urinal tract infection so it would hurt often when he would pee. Babies at that ...
How important is it to brush infant's teeth before vs. after the goodnight milk bottle? My little guy gets a bottle as the last thing before we put him to bed, it greatly helps him to wind down and relax for sleep. As the teeth start coming, we realize it's important to brush his teeth, but this wakes him up and makes ...	It's safer than no brushing at all, without having the downsides of brushing right after eating or waking them later at night.
Why is it important to support a newborn's neck? Newborns have such floppy necks that they need support while being held. The question I have about this is, what are we trying to protect in supporting the head/neck ? My wife and I have a few possible ideas about this but aren't sure which (if any) are accurate. You w...	If an infant's head is not properly supported the primary concern is that the airway will close and they will not be able to cry to tell you there is a problem.
Bed gets wet nearly each night although diaper is worn Our 5 (nearly 6) year old son has had problems with potty training for a long time now. When he sleeps at night, he wears diapers, as he is not aware of peeing during the night yet and does not wake up in time. So far that's ok, we've contacted a specialised docto...	I think a wool mattress pad may be a good idea too, and will further protect the sheets/bedding. The more you take responsibility for his toileting, the longer it will take him to master it. If you can determine WHERE the leakage is coming from, attach a maxi pad (for menstruation) or a urinary incontinence pad to that...
Can contact with cat feces be harmful for pregnant women? Is it true that coming into contact with cat feces can harm the unborn baby of pregnant women, whether by a mishap handling kitty litter or gardening in an area where cats may have relieved themselves? If this is true, how can pregnant women make sure that they...	Risk may be reduced if the litter box is changed every day. Do not bring a new cat into your house that might have been an outdoor cat or might have been fed raw meat. It's only dangerous if you contract it during pregnancy. The Centers for Disease Control report that there is a risk of exposure to toxoplasmosis, an in...
Three year old gags when he tries new foods I spend a lot of time caring for a three-year-old that is a pretty picky eater. However, the stuff he does eat is generally fairly healthy stuff. Lately he has started gagging on food he isn't sure about before he tries them. Normally, I'd just continue with the "you need ...	: Actually eat a bite - a very small bite, again for several meals, and then gradually increase up to a "normal" portion. But there's an interesting new approach where you ask the child to try a tiny bit, and reward them with a sticker.
Things to do while breastfeeding, other than watch TV What are some activities that one can do whilst breastfeeding? A quick Google turned up lists that boiled down to "watch TV" or "enjoy doing nothing". I'm interested in some more creative solutions to feeling bored / limited by nursing. <Q> You may end up getting ...	Basically, if you can get comfortable with feeding easily, you can do it anywhere - which gives you a lot of flexibility and freedom. listen to music but also, kept going with our normal active life with pauses to feed: hiking, then feeding on hilltops to appreciate the view boating, on both punts and yachts Getting co...
How can allowing children to participate on Halloween be helpful in reinforcing good habits? I recently wrote this: "Halloween: the one day where we encourage children to accept candy from strangers, go to strangers' homes, and vandalize property and terrorize people if they don't get their own way." I spend a fran...	I see the activity as a very useful part of growing up for the following reasons: a little bit of being scared is good for children.
What are appropriate boundaries between siblings? I have three children, my younger two are a 13 year old boy and a 12 year old girl. They are both maturing and going through puberty. Gone are the days of my little son doing little naked dances, like a cherub. My son will frequently walk through the house in underpa...	You need to let your son know that it's none of his darn business what clothes his sister wears.
What to do with many painted pictures/ handicraft work Our son produces tons of painted pictures and handicrafted things . We like them very much, but we are not sure what to do with them, as they need a lot of space, storage and time. It is not easy for us or for him to decide to throw some/most of them away, as he...	You can take picture of his art and make a beautiful creative photo album with all of his painted pictures and handcrafted things, that is a nice way to keep a memento of his early art days :) I've found with my child that after she has had a little distance from her creations she is able to let go more easily; it's al...

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