Parenting Trends

Non medical remedies making a comeback?

From Parents.com

Chicken soup is so in!

Due to new warnings about the dangers of using cough and cold medicines on kids, parents will be employing more traditional techniques to soothe their sick tots. "Parents are going back to basics," says Jennifer Shu, MD, who recommends trying nasal washes and chicken soup, which eases inflammation, to help kids feel better (she also loves Breath Right strips for her own 8-year-old son). "Medicine never sped up the healing," she says, "It only provided relief." More natural approaches are increasingly seen as the safest route, considering medicinal overdoses send an average of 7,000 kids to the ER every year. You can't overdose on soup.

Trend Tip: Next time your child has a cold, Dr. Shu suggests trying a nasal wash like NeilMed Sinus Rinse, which can help her blow out some congestion (you can also suck it out with an aspirator if your kid's too young to blow her nose). Or make a saline solution at home with 1/4 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm water. If your little one is eating solids, try giving her some chicken soup or broth to boost the immune system and keep her hydrated. At night, place a Breathe-Right strip on her nose to help her breathe. Studies also show honey can soothe a cough if your child is older than 1.

15 All-Natural Cold and Cough Fighters

14 Natural Remedies for Colic, Headaches, and More

Making the change from diapers to pull-ups

From Mamasource.com

From:Holly BDate:Tue. Aug. 25, 2009
Just getting advice on when and how to get my son out of pull-up's at nightime. He's been potty trained for a year (he's 3 1/2) but still wakes up a little bit wet most days...I try not to give alot of fluids after 7'ish and he goes potty before bedtime, usually, but he is just a little wet when he wakes up. Also, i'm trying to tell him it's ok to get up and go potty if he needs to....but he's such a sound sleeper, i don't think that will work either. Is he still too young? Should i wait until he's dry most days? He has good control during the day and even at naptime, no accidents at all! Any advice would be appreciated...Thanks! holly

A little about me:

Im a 34 year old working mom of an almost 3 1/2 yr old boy.(whew!) Motherhood is the best ride of my life! My husband and I bought a house and are hoping to grow our family soon.....but i'm still learning....parenting is tough! I always feel i'm not doing stuff right....but i learn more every day!

Respond to Holly on Mommasource.com here

As a Grandpa who never had the experience of extended family I'm discovering stuff I wasn't prepared for. Jealousy for one, my counterpart on the father's side of the family views me as competition?

And I'm learning to keep certain things to myself:

I spend more time with my granddaughter than any other human being, including her Mommie and Daddy... I was the first one to see her stand on her own, she balanced herself upright with her little hands hovering over my knees.

I was the first person to see her take her first step.

I bragged about it (bragging is a codependent trait ) Well neither daughter or her husband were very pleased about that. I need to learn to keep that sort of thing under my hat.

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Quick Fix for Discipline Problems

The 5-Second Discipline Fix

By Diane Debrovner From:

If you want your kid to wash his hands, pick up his trains, or give his sister's tiara back, don't ask -- tell.

The Friendly Approach to Discipline

Let's face it: If you had a dollar for every time you wanted your child to do something, paying the bills would be painless. You need him to listen up so you can make it through the day -- and keep your home from becoming a total disaster zone. Yet, like most parents, you probably don't want to be a nag (or a drill sergeant), so you constantly ask your child to cooperate. You figure he'll be more likely to pick up his towel off the bathroom floor or sit down at the dinner table if you come across as friendly rather than bossy. After all, you'll catch more flies with honey, right?

It seems like a reasonable approach, especially since that's the way that we typically talk to adults. "Being polite in our society requires making indirect requests, such as 'Can you pass the salt?'" explains developmental psychologist Linda Acredolo, PhD, a Parents advisor and coauthor of Baby Hearts. "If you interpret this question literally -- as young children always do -- it isn't actually a request for salt, it's a question of whether or not the person is capable of passing the salt." (Of course, you'd never expect your dinner companion to simply answer, "Yes.") So when you ask your child, "Would you like to take a bath now?" he thinks that you're actually offering him the opportunity to say no -- even though you really meant it as a polite way to make a direct command. The result? "You get upset and your child gets upset -- and confused," says Dr. Acredolo.

read more...

Helmet or No Helmet on a tricycle?

My Husband and I differ on this issue. - Shari M
Our son just turned 4 and suddenly took an interest in his tricycle. It's an antique one (circa 1948) that my Dad refurbished that all us kids used and then all the grandkids. It is a little tall and somewhat "tippier" than a modern tricycle that has a lower center of gravity. My husband was mad when I asked him if he'd put a helmet on him when our son rode it all the way down to and around the park. He thought I was insane for suggesting it "Cos a tricycle doesn't go very fast" I said it isn't about fast - it's about the distance from sitting on the thing to the ground which if you fall wrong he can crack his head on the concrete which is the whole point of a helmet. I'm a little mad that he is making this decision cos it would seem "not tough" or "uncool" for his BOY on a tricycle. What do you ladies think? FYI: He doesn't have a problem with helmets on bicycles.
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A little about me: I'm 47 and a SAHM. My only child is a 4 yr old joyful little boy!! It took me a long time to have this baby and I stayed at home so I wouldn't miss one second with him. I'm working on several creative business ideas so I can have a business at home and stay a Full Time Mom - even when he is in school!

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