You probably remember the ease of your first baby. It was you and your partner, bringing home your newborn son or daughter and starting a new life with just the three of you. You had extended family, but the bonding that occurred was simple, problem free. However, now that you are having another baby you may be feeling some discontent from your previous child or children, or you may be worried about how they will react once the baby is born.

Kids have different opinions and reactions when their parents tell them that they are going to have a new baby brother or sister. Some kids are very excited, others get scared or act out at the prospect of having to share you with another child. Whether your children are excited or not, there are ways to make the transition smoother.

Depending on the age of your other children, you may want to have them in the delivery room with you, witnessing the birth. Some kids will be comfortable with this, others won’t. If they are old enough but do not want to be in, having them in the hospital so that they can visit you during labor, and see the baby immediately after he is born is a good way to help your older child bond with the new baby.

Some people choose to have a gift for their child from the new baby, especially if it is the first sibling. A gift that says “I love you”, or “The Best Big Brother/Big Sister”. This will help the bonding start between the siblings.

It is important to let your child hold the new baby as soon as possible so that they know this is real. Even if your child is young, letting them sit on the bed with you, while you hold the baby and letting them hold the babies hand, rub the babies head, or sing to the baby, will help him build a connection with this new person in his life.

Remember that no matter how excited your child seemed about this new sibling while you were pregnant, now that it is “real” the excitement might go away. Your child might become clingy. It is important that you let them know they are loved by making time to spend with just the two of you during the day, possibly while your newborn is napping. Your older child will adjust to this new baby over time. Just remember to have patience with him and everything will work out ok.

Vegetarian parents oftentimes want their children to follow in their footsteps for ideological, environmental, or health-related reasons. However, teaching children to forego certain foods, especially when their friends are enjoying them, can be a real challenge. Here are some tips on how to introduce your child to a vegetarian diet so that he or she grows up making healthy dietary choices.

1. Start Young
   Adult eating habits oftentimes stem directly from the way that they ate as a youngster. By starting your children on a vegetarian diet early, you can plant the seeds for a healthy adult life.
   The younger the child, the easier the transition to a vegetarian diet will be. Infants and toddlers can thrive on vegetarian foods, and they can learn to love this diet early on in life. Older children can also make the transition to a vegetarian diet, but it will be simpler if you start your children on the diet when they are young.
2. Make Sure the Diet is Balanced
   Children’s nutritional needs are even more urgent than adults, since they are creating bone and burning energy at an even higher rate. With a vegetarian diet, it is particularly important that your children have a balanced diet that is high in calcium, protein, and minerals like B12 that are usually found in meats.
3. Lead by Example
   If you want your children to have a healthy vegetarian diet, you should show them how to do it by sticking to a vegetarian diet yourself. Children will learn faster by watching you than simply listening to your directions. Make sure that you not only stick to a vegetarian diet, but make healthy eating choices within that diet.
4. Explain Why
   Even very young children will want to know why they can’t eat the same foods as their friends and neighbors. Explain your reasons for sticking to a vegetarian diet in an age-appropriate way for your child so they will understand the need for making healthy dietary choices.
5. Provide Plenty of Choices
   Convincing your child to enjoy a vegetarian diet will be much easier if he or she doesn’t feel deprived. Keep a wide variety of vegetarian snacks, meals, and desserts on hand. Even strict vegan diets have room for cakes and cookies that are not made with animal by-products, so be sure to take full advantage of these recipes to keep your child satisfied.

Ultimately, your child is going to be the one to make the final decision about his or her eating habits. As children age, you can no longer watch over everything they choose to eat. However, if you can instill good eating habits when they are little, the chances are much higher that they will continue to make good choices as they age. By showing your child that a vegetarian diet can be delicious, healthy, and environmentally friendly, you can encourage him or her to hold to these ideals as an adult as well.

About this Article
Article provided courtesy of Only Cookware – a resource for cookware sets, stainless cookware and enamel cast iron cookware.

by Danna Henderson

With 61% of children between the ages of birth and 6 years in daycare, it’s important that parents work closely with their child’s care professional while potty training. When you child is ready for potty training, the right potty training guidance and supplies can make all the difference.

Be Sure Your Child Is Ready – Before you begin potty training, make sure your child is ready. Your child should show the following signs of potty training readiness:

• Expresses an interest in the potty
• Tries to imitate family members
• Stays dry for two hours
• Express the need to go potty or indicates that he or she just has
• Able to pull pants up and down
• Irritated when diapers are wet
• Expresses interest in cotton underwear
• Has predictable bowel movements on a regular basis
• Diaper stays dry overnight

Introduce Potty Training
If your child is in daycare, he or she will probably notice that there are other children around who wear cotton underwear and use the potty. This kind of light peer pressure can motivate your child to want to use the potty as well. Start introducing the idea by watching a potty training book or video together. Be sure and tell your child’s daycare provider that you are beginning the potty training process. You child’s daycare provider can help by watching for signs of potty training readiness and answering questions from your child.

Discuss the Plan
When you begin potty training your child, discuss your plan with your child’s daycare worker. This person has probably potty trained many children and may have useful tips and tricks that he or she has found useful. Make sure your potty training methods are similar.

Set Potty Training Rules
Work together to set some basic potty training guidelines. For example, agree that neither of you will punish your child for accidents or that you’ll give stickers as rewards for using the potty. The potty training process will be easier for your child if both you and the child care worker are providing the same potty training guidance.

Progress Reports
Speak with the child care provider often to exchange progress reports. Both of you need to be aware of any successes or potential problems. If the daycare worker tells you that your child used the potty earlier that day, be sure and tell your child that that you heard about his or her success and that you are proud of him or her.

Copyright © 2004 ZIP Baby. All Rights Reserved.

Danna Henderson
ZIP Baby
101 Convention Center Drive, Ste 700
Las Vegas, NV 89109
www.zipbaby.com

About The Author
Danna Henderson started ZIP Baby in order to provide parents with comprehensive potty training information as well as a large variety of potty training products. For more information about potty training, visit the ZIP Baby Potty Training Store.

We all know and agree that breastfeeding your baby for the first year, only adding baby food between 4-6 months is best for your baby. Before the invention of bottles, mothers would have to keep their babies with them at all times while breastfeeding so that she could feed the baby when he was hungry. Bottles however create an ease and release some of the pressure from the breastfeeding mom’s shoulders.

Today, a woman can create a bottle of breast milk to have ready for her baby to eat in cases where she needs to leave the house for some “me” time, or go on the occasional “date” with her spouse. Bottles are a great tool in allowing a mother to still breastfeed her baby and have a little freedom.

Introducing the Bottle
Introducing the bottle to a breastfed baby does not always come easily and does not always go smoothly. Many times a breastfed baby will fight the bottle, in an attempt to only eat from the breast. This can lead to frustration in parents. It is important for both parents to remember to remain patient during this process. Your baby can feel your frustration which might make it harder to get him to calm down.

When to Introduce the Bottle
Breastfeeding experts say to give yourself at least two weeks of breastfeeding before introducing your bottle. This not only helps your milk supply be set, but helps avoid nipple frustration for your baby. Often if a woman gives her baby a bottle from birth, the baby learns that sucking from a bottle is easier than sucking from his mother’s nipple and tries to refuse the breast. Realistically you should try to introduce the bottle to your baby before he turns six weeks old. While you don’t want to do it too early, you don’t want to wait too long either as your baby may fight the foreign object going into his mouth and make it difficult for you to get him drinking from the bottle.

How to Introduce the Bottle
When it comes to introducing the bottle to your breastfed baby there is one very important rule. Act like it is no big deal. Your baby can feel anxiety, frustration and other emotions that you feel, so if you are relaxed it is likely your baby may be more relaxed.

A breastfeeding mother has a scent that a baby can smell. Because of this, it may be difficult for mom to get the baby to take the bottle. If you smell a juicy cheeseburger and are offered a piece of toast, which would you choose? It is the same for baby. Because of this it may be easier for dad, a friend, or another family member to offer the baby a bottle, while mom gets out of sight. A baby will eat when he gets hungry enough, and if his food source is not within reach he is likely to take it easier from the bottle.

It will probably be easier to get your baby to take the bottle when he is not starving. Wait till the end of a feeding and hand him off to another person to try feeding him. When his belly is already almost full, and he isn’t frantic, the bottle might be accepted easier.

Introducing the Bottle Late
If you wait too long to introduce the bottle to your baby all hope is not lost. You will have to remember that it may be harder, and take longer to get him to take the bottle easily. You will need more patience and more than likely will need an extra set of hands to help your baby get used to the bottle. Remember not to try and give him a bottle on an empty stomach when he is very hungry and likely to fight more. Act like it is a new game for you and your baby to play and when he does take the bottle, if only for a couple of minutes before he tires of it, praise him and upon tiring, take the bottle away. If you don’t make it a big deal, chances are your baby won’t make it a big deal either.

As with any major transitions in their lives, our children will need our help adapting and adjusting to their new sibling. There are many things we can do to ease this transition.

Prepare Your Child for the Changes Ahead
Explain in realistic terms what changes will occur when the baby arrives. Tell your child that new babies cry a lot — when they are tired, hungry, hot or cold, have a wet diaper, need to be cuddled, or sometimes just because they are babies.

Setting up realistic expectations will help them through this challenging, exhilarating time. And, always refer to the baby as “ours” to let your older child have ownership in the arrival of your new member.

Let Your Child Discuss Things Bothering Him
Being heard is probably the most crucial thing you can do to help your child with the transition. And, understand that jealousy is universal. All children experience it in some manner. It is not a predictor of how well your children will relate to each other in later years. But, we do know that if children are not allowed, and even encouraged, to express negative feelings, these feelings will come out in non-productive ways.

Help your child talk through any negative feelings about the baby. This may be difficult for you to hear, but it is much better than the alternative. Anger, jealousy and confusion when kept inside can turn into violence. Children will find a way to express these feelings, through either physical or emotional outlets, if safe spaces for communicating these ideas are not created.

Reassure Your Child You Love Them
It is so important to keep reminding your older children how special they are to you, how much you love them, and how there is no one that could ever take their place in your heart and in your life. Lots of extra hugs and cuddles are a definite must!

Avoid Comparisons
We want to allow our children to be and become their own special selves. Highlight your children’s unique gifts and mirror those back to them so they can see and be proud of their own talents and qualities.

Comparisons are just one of the ways we can cause jealousy and anger. Be aware of your actions and words; children are very sensitive during times of change.

Set Aside Alone Time with Your Older Child
Have your partner, a friend or a sitter watch the baby and take your child out for special times (to the park, to get ice cream or for a walk — just the two of you). Also, use the baby’s naptime to read, sing, dance, play, and talk to your older child.

Time alone will be crucial to your child’s self-esteem and to let them know how important they are to you.

Ask Your Older Child for Help
Explain that babies need lots of extra attention because they can’t do anything for themselves. They will need help eating, getting dressed, bathing – and all of these are things that the big brother/sister can help with. Giving them responsibility with the new baby makes them feel special and a part of the new energy around the baby.

Don’t make the mistake of building an artificial wall between the baby and the older sibling in an effort to protect the new baby. Instead, broaden your already existing family circle to allow for your new member. Don’t shut out the older siblings, but allow them to nurture, cuddle, rock, feed and even help with changing diapers for the baby.

Allow your older child to keep special toys and clothes. Seeing all your toys disappear into the baby’s room can cause anger and jealousy. Know that your older child may have outgrown certain toys but still be attached to others (stuffed animals in particular).

Just Because He Is OLDER Doesn’t Mean He is “Older”
Overnight, your child’s role has changed in the family. Don’t expect him to grow up overnight just because he is the big brother. Many children revert to younger behaviors when the baby arrives and want you to call them baby, too. Knowing that this is perfectly normal (and only temporary) will help you deal with their changes.

Don’t Fuss
There will be enough relatives lavishing attention on the baby and plenty of time for that when your older child is not present. You should talk to your child about all the attention that the baby will get. Let your older child know that you understand how he feels with all the attention going to someone else.

Reinforce the Positives
Try to point out your children’s accomplishments and lavish praise on them. Reinforcing all the good things they do is extremely important at a time that will be full of “don’ts.” It is only natural that there will be many negative rules that will be established (Don’t scream around the baby, don’t pull the baby’s arms, etc.), but remember to focus on the positives.

Such a controversial topic in many households…when should you start introducing solids to your baby? What age is the correct age to start cutting back on breast milk or formula and start giving your baby cereal, and other stage one baby foods? What are the signs that your baby is ready for solids? And what is the best way to introduce solids into your baby diet?

When To Start
Back in the 60’s parents were starting their babies on baby cereal and stage one food as early as 2-3 weeks old. Over the years the recommended age to begin babies on stage one foods has been pushed back to two months to four months, and is now set between four and six months. If your baby is exclusively breastfed most pediatricians don’t recommend starting solids until he is six months old. Your breast milk naturally provides and the nutrients and vitamins to help your baby grow. The timing is dependent upon many things that are unique to your baby, so as your baby’s pediatrician what his opinion is and why, before you decide.

How Will You Know Your Baby is Ready
As you will come to learn, the key to knowing your baby and understanding his wants and needs will be to watch his signs. There are many signs and developmental milestones that your baby should hit before he is ready to begin eating solids. Some of them include:

• Being able to hold head up and sit upright
• Absence of the extrusion reflex (the natural reflex babies have to push foreign objects out of their mouth)
• Reaching at least 15 pounds
• Starting to make chewing motions with their mouth
• Reaching for your food

This doesn’t mean that your baby can reach one of these milestones and be ready for solids, or has to reach ALL of these milestones before you can start him on solids. Some babies who are big when born may hit the 15 pound mark within the first two months, but they are probably not sitting on their own yet. Some babies who can sit can’t necessarily chew yet. Some babies will reach for your food and make chewing motions with their mouth, but may be on the petite side only weighing 10-12 pounds. Along with your pediatrician you should weigh your baby’s progress and determine when he is ready to start on solids.

How To Introduce Solids
When introducing solids you should start slowly with thinned down baby cereal mixed with either breast milk or formula. Most pediatricians suggest starting with rice cereal as there are rarely allergies related to this. Once your baby has mastered cereal, start introducing more of the stage one vegetables. It is suggested that you start with veggies because they are not sweet and will not make your baby start craving sweet foods. When you do introduce a new food, refrain from introducing more than one new food a week. This will help you determine what foods your baby likes or doesn’t like or has an allergic reaction to if a rash appears.

When introducing your baby to solids check with your pediatrician, watch for your baby’s clues and above all else remain patient. Remember this whole eating thing is much newer for your baby than it is for you and is a learning experience for both of you.

Babies do not pop out knowing how to talk. Language like every other part of your baby’s life is a learned process that develops overtime. For some children it develops more quickly than it does for other children and there is no set time or definite age that your baby will say his first word, or be able to hold a conversation with you.

Before entering into a discussion about milestones of speech development, it is important to remember the following:

• Children generally understand much more than they will be able to express
• Girls often develop language skills at an earlier age than boys

  Speech skills may not come quickly and easily

• Just like other milestones, you can not compare your child’s speech development to that of other children
• If you suspect a problem, ask your child’s pediatrician at his next well-check.

Speech Development Milestones
It is important to remember that these things ages are averages and that some babies will reach them earlier or later than others. If your baby does not reach one of these speech milestones at the specified time it does not necessarily mean that there is something wrong with your baby’s development. If you are concerned then ask your pediatrician.

One week – An infant can distinguish her mother’s voice from another woman’s voice.

Two weeks – An infant can distinguish her father’s voice from another man’s voice.

Three months – An infant can make vowel sounds.

Seven months – An infant may say “dada” or “mama,” but does not necessarily connect them to mom and dad.

One year – A baby will be able to connect “mama” or “dada” with his parents. He may be able to respond to one-step commands (”Come here.”)

15 months – A baby continues to learn a mixture of new words and new gibberish, may be able to speak a handful of words.

18 months – A toddler can say nouns (ball, bottle, and food), names, and a few action words/phrases. He may add gesture to his words, and may be able to follow a two-step command (”Go to your room and bring me a book.”)

Two years – A toddler can make simple sentences like “Hungry mama”.

Two and a half years – A child can make longer sentences, follow simple instructions, and often repeat words he/she overhears in conversations.

Three years – A child can understand most of what you tell him, and can possibly hold a conversation with you, understand direction, can say his/her name, age, and sex, and uses pronouns. Strangers will be able to understand your child.

Four years – A child will be able to understand and respond to almost everyone and everything around him whether it is you, the TV, a pet or a stranger.

How You Can Help Your Child
There are many things that parents can do to help their child develop his language skills. They are very simple things and can go a long way in being able to understand your child at a faster pace.

• Read and sing to your child beginning in pregnancy and on a daily basis after birth
• Introduce new words frequently
• Speak directly to your child giving him a chance to converse with you
• Let your child finish his thoughts and sentences before you jump into assist him.

Remember, these are just estimations of your baby’s speech development and not a calendar to go by. If you feel that your baby is behind or is not meeting developmental milestones on time be sure to ask his pediatrician at your next visit.