Monitoring Your Baby’s Nanny: What You Really Must Do …
 

One of the more important steps that you can take when it comes to caring for and tending to your baby is hiring a nanny. Therefore, because of this fact, it is crucial that you take certain definitive steps to monitor your baby’s nanny thoroughly and consistently.
 

At the outset, when you bring a new nanny into your life and into the life of your baby, you should not leave the new hire unsupervised with your baby during the initial period. This does not mean that you must hover over the nanny during the entire time she is on duty. However, it does mean that during the initial period following the hiring you must not leave your baby alone with the nanny entirely. In other words, you will not necessarily want to leave the house for an extended period and leave the nanny behind alone with the baby.
 

Of course, if you are a working parent, this can be a challenge. Therefore, you may want to block out some time away from work – perhaps a week’s time – to tend to the orientation of the nanny into the family and to follow through on your own observation of the nanny.
 

In addition to the preliminary period of the nanny’s employ and the steps you need to take during that time, you will also want to make sure that you maintain a constant dialogue with the nanny over time. The reality is that you oftentimes can pick up on troubles if you are in an ongoing state of communication with a nanny, if you have established a closer relationship with her individually.
 

Moreover, you will always want to closely watch your baby or child (or children) when in the care of a nanny. A parent that stays well connected to his or her children can more readily detect changes in behaviours – no matter how slight – which may signal some sort of problem or issue with the nanny.
 

An ever increasing number of parents are taking the step of having a so-called “nanny-cam” installed. Actually, these parents tend to be having a set of nanny-cams installed throughout the residence to best track the nanny and to record (literally) what she does or does not due when on duty. This might seem like a rather drastic step. However, nanny-cams have become very affordable products and when it comes to protecting your children … the nanny-cam can be a solid investment.
 

Tags: nanny, hiring a nanny, nanny-cams, baby’s nanny, baby nany, babies nanny

Avoiding Getting Blinkered: Consider Different Points of View on Raising Your Baby
 

If you are like more than a few parents, you likely have spent at least some time considering different books and DVDs designed to provide you with parenting information. If that is the case, do not make the same mistake that many people have made in this day and age. Specifically, just because you read it in a book or watch and hear it on a DVD does not mean that it is gospel truth.
 

By way of the information presented to you in this blog post, you are provided with elementary advice about how you can make the best use of information that is contained in books and on DVDs. By reviewing these materials, you will become a wiser consumer of the various types of advice that you can receive from books and DVDs about raising and rearing your children in the 21st century.
 

The fact is that there absolutely is nothing wrong with reading parenting books and viewing parenting DVDs. However, you would be best served by not wedding yourself to closely to one source of information.
 

When all is said and done, when parenting books and DVDs are closely considered, in many instances there are helpful tips, pointers and suggestions that can be gleaned from a number of different products of this nature. In other words, you really should took an approach that involves you contemplating what is offered in these books and DVDs, consider whether it makes sense generally and consider whether it fits into your own accepted concept of what will make you a good parent.
 

The fact is that very few people are devoid of their own innate parenting skills and abilities. Moreover, most people certainly are intelligent enough to foster their own ideas and thoughts pertaining to parenting. In the end, by using books and DVDs the result should not be merely to mimic the behaviour described in these products. Rather, books and DVDs should inspire you to be more thoughtful and proactive when it comes to the parenting of your children … today and in the future.
 

Parenting books and parenting DVDs are two of the many tools that you will want to consider utilizing as you work at your parenting skills, as you strive to improve the relationship that you have with your children.
 

Understanding Your Maternity Rights
 

The government of the United Kingdom has taken some significantly proactive steps when it comes to the maternity rights of mothers. As a matter of public policy, the government recognizes the importance of a mother being able to spend quality time with her baby during the early months of that child’s life. Therefore, if you are expecting a baby, it is important for you to know what your maternity rights are.
 

During your pregnancy, there are a variety of different laws that do protect your rights at work. These laws are designed to ensure that you have the ability to take off work to obtain appropriate medical care and attention during the course of your pregnancy and so forth.
 

As of 2007, a mum has the ability to take 39 weeks of work with pay following the birth of a baby. At the conclusion of this time period a mum has the right to go back to work at the same or comparable position.
 

Moreover, if a mother so desires, she can take additional time of 13 more weeks off for maternity leave without jeopardizing her job. However, this additional time will be without pay. If you desire to take this additional time, you must notify your employer in advance of the the expiration of the 39 weeks of leave with pay that you initially were entitled to following the birth of your baby.
 

Taking 39 or 52 weeks off following the birth of your baby presupposes that you worked up until the time that you gave birth. Many women are able to do so which gives them the chance to spend as much time with their babies as possible.
 

Some women cannot continue working until the end – or don’t want to do so. Therefore, if you so desire, you can begin your maternity leave at 11 weeks before you due date. Of course, it is also possible that you have a job that really doesn’t allow you to work effectively during the latter part of your pregnancy. In any event, you are protected.
 

If you are self employed, you may qualify for maternity leave which is paid directly to you by the government. You will need to make sure that you make appropriate application for these benefits in a timely manner.
 

By knowing your rights, you will be in the best position to be prepared for your new baby and to spend quality time with your baby after he or she joins you in the world.
 

Tags: maternity, maternity rights, maternity leave

Planning a party for Your children: Saving Money on Party Favors
 

In this day and age having a party for your kids can end up being a very expensive proposition. The costs of food, beverages and decorations can be amazing. Add to that party favors, little treats that the guests can take home with them, you very well can break the bank in the process of throwing a little do.
 

The fact is that there are some steps that you can take in order to save money on party favors. Through this article you are provided an overview of some of these steps.
 

First, in the brick and mortar world think about going to a party supply store. At such a shop you are likely to find a nice selection of smaller and affordable items that will make perfect party favors. Of course, while you are at the shop you can pick up some other necessary party supplies as well.
 

Second, the typical discount retail store likely will also have a selection of items that will lend themselves to becoming idyllic party favors. At many of these stores you will be able to find perfect party favors for a small price.
 

Third, as with so many things in this day and age, the Internet is a perfect resource when it comes to favors for a party for your kids. For example, there actually are specific sites that have been set up specifically to sell favors for celebrations and perfect party favors.
 

Fourth, the overstock sites on the Net are also interesting choices when it comes to your search for party favors. What you will find is that these sites have many different items available for sale at good prices. Many of these items really are not intended to be party favors as such. However, because you can buy them affordable prices, party favors they can become.
 

Fifth, and finally, you might even want to consider a sort of craft project with your own child or children. In other words, you can visit a craft supply store and get the materials you need to make your own party favors. This can be a wonderful project for you and your children. As an alternative (and depending upon the age of your children and their guests) the arts and craft project itself can be a part of the party. In other words, the guests will make their own party favors.
 

Tags: party, parties, party favors, children parties, children party, children’s party, perfect party favors, perfect party favors

Children today are eating more and more junk food and we are slowly getting into a diet crisis, so what are the facts?

The National Diet and Nutrition Survey found that:
 

The Chief Medical Officer has compared the crisis in children’s diets to a health ‘time bomb’ which must be defused.
 

Children’s dietary health, in particular childhood obesity, is widely recognised as one of our most pressing public health problems.  The recent Foresight Report on Obesity makes grave predictions for the future state of the nation’s health unless we act now. Without action, 55% of boys, and 70% of girls, could be overweight or obese by 2050 and obesity will cost the country £45 billion a year.
 

Above is shocking, but why are our children always choosing junk food?
 

Children are constantly bombarded with junk food marketing.  £480m is spent each year advertising products high in fat, salt and sugar on television alone. 
 

Junk food marketing contradicts all the messages about healthy eating children receive, undermining their ability to choose better food and their parents’ efforts to feed them healthily. 
 

Research by the Food Standard’s Agency, and others, has shown that junk food advertising directly and indirectly influences children’s food preferences, purchasing behavior and consumption.
 

So what can we do to help stop this?
 

A series of surveys have demonstrated that the majority of parents are in favour of a protecting their children from junk food advertising.  A recent British Heart Foundation survey found that 68% of parents were in favour of pre-9pm junk food advertising restrictions, with only 7% against.
 

Which? found in 2006 that 79% of parents believe unhealthy foods should not be advertised during the times children are most likely to be watching television.
 

Ofcom found in 2004 that 81% of parents and carers wanted some form of regulation of the advertising of junk food products, while just 11% wanted no change at all.  48% supported a ban on junk food advertising before 9pm (24 percent opposed); 57% supported a ban on junk food advertising during children’s airtime; 24% supported a total ban on junk food advertising.
 

For more advice or to support the fight against junk foods visit - sustain 
 

Tags: obesity, child obesity, junk food, diet crisis, junk food crisis, unhealthy foods, junk food advertising,

Children who attend daycare or playgroups cut their risk of the most common type of childhood leukaemia by around 30%, a study estimates.

Researchers reviewed 14 studies involving nearly 20,000 children, of which 6,000 developed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).
 

It is thought early infections may help the body fight off the disease.
 

The University of California, Berkeley study will be presented to a leukaemia conference in London.
 

This is the kind of research that brings us a step closer to understanding the causes of this complex disease and how we can prevent it Edward Copisarow Children with Leukaemia

Leukaemia is the most common cancer found in children in the industrialised world, affecting about one in 2,000 youngsters.
 

ALL accounts for more than 80% of leukaemia cases among children, and most often occurs in those aged between two and five.
 

Scientists believe that for most types of childhood leukaemia to develop, there must first be a genetic mutation in the womb, followed by a second trigger - such as an infection - during childhood.
 

However, it is also thought that contracting some childhood infections - which are often readily spread in environments such as playgroups where children are in close contact with each other - may prime the immune system against leukaemia.
 

Conversely, if the immune system is not challenged in early life, this is thought to raise the risk of an inappropriate response to subsequent infections, making the development of leukaemia more likely.
 

Source BBC NEWS
 

Pregnancy cravings
 

Pregnancy cravings are much more common among modern women than previous generations, a survey suggests.

Three-quarters of those surveyed experienced a craving, compared to just 30% five decades ago.
 

It found a third of cravings were not for food, but items such as coal, soap, toothpaste and sponges. Ice and chocolate were also popular.
 

The poll of 2,231 pregnant women was carried out by the social network website gurgle.com.
 

UNUSUAL CRAVINGS Ice: 22% Coal: 17% Toothpaste: 9% Sponges: 8% Mud 7% Chalk: 6% Laundry soap: 5% Matches: 3% Rubber: 1% Percentages of women reporting unusual cravings, around 31% of total

Chocolate was the most common food craving, followed by ice cream, sweets, spicy food, pickled onions, tropical fruit, curry, doughnuts, marmite, peanut butter, potatoes and nuts.
 

Mothers-to-be reported cravings for odd combinations of food, the most common being pickles and peanut butter, followed by marmite and ice cream.
 

Other combinations mentioned included tuna and banana, and fried eggs with mint sauce.
 
 

Women reported that cravings mostly struck in the afternoon (40%) or in the evening (38%), with only 8% sneaking off for midnight snacks.
 

Tags: pregnant craving, pregnant cravings, pregnancy cravings, cravings, craving, pregnant women

A 73-year-old Austrian man has confessed to imprisoning his daughter in a cellar for 24 years and fathering her seven children, police have said.

Police said Josef Fritzl also confessed to burning the body of a baby that died after birth at the house in Amstetten, in the province of Lower Austria.
 

Authorities are caring for the woman, now 42, and her six surviving children. Police have released photos of the man’s basement which show a concealed network of tiny windowless chambers.
 

The woman, Elisabeth, disappeared aged 18 on 28 August 1984 when, according to her testimony, her father lured her into the cellar, drugging and handcuffing her before locking her up.
 

She is reported to have been made to write a letter which made it look as if she had run away.
 

The head of the criminal affairs bureau in Lower Austria, Franz Polzer, said Mr Fritzl had admitted sexually abusing his daughter repeatedly during the time he imprisoned her.

Mr Polzer said Mr Fritzl had told investigators Elisabeth had given birth to seven children, including twins in 1996, but one died shortly after being born and that he had thrown the body into an incinerator in the building.
 

The surviving children are now aged between five and 19 years
 

The cellar rooms, covering an area of approximately 60 sq m (650 sq ft), were equipped for sleeping and cooking, and with sanitary facilities.
 

A reinforced concrete door was built into the wall that separated the “dungeon” from the house and electronically locked - the code known only to the suspect, who provided his captives with food and necessities, police said.
 

Elisabeth had not been seen in public since August 1984

Three of the children were kept in the cellar with their mother and had never seen daylight, police told a news conference.
 

The other three children were adopted or fostered by the suspect, after he forced Elisabeth to write a letter saying she could not look after the baby, according to police.
 

His wife, Rosemarie, with whom he had seven of their own children, appears to have been unaware of the alleged crimes.
 

The case came to light when the eldest of the children in the cellar, 19-year-old Kerstin, was seriously ill and had to be taken to hospital.
 

A television appeal by medical staff for the patient’s mother was seen by Elisabeth on a TV set in the cellar and she urged her father to let her go to hospital.
 

Police arrested Mr Fritzl shortly afterwards and took all the children into care.
 

“If you look at him today, you would hardly believe he was capable of doing these things. This man led a double life for 24 years,” said Mr Polzer.
 

He said it was incredible that it had been kept secret for all that time.
 

Both the father and Elisabeth say no one else had access to the cellar, according to police, who are appealing to anyone with information about Mr Fritzl to contact them.
 

Source BBC News
 

What to do When Your are Having Financial Troubles:

Managing Your Credit Card Debt

If you are inclined to obtain credit cards, you are taking on some very specific responsibilities. Unfortunately, in this day and age many people really do not accept the responsibilities associated with credit cards.
 

The most important thing a person needs to do when he or she begins using credit cards is to take the time to manage the credit card debt responsibly. To this end, a person must take care to ensure that payments always are made in a timely manner. In addition, it is important to make certain that the balances on a credit card not grow to high. It is important to keep credit card balances at a reasonable level, no matter how high the top line balance permitted is at any given time. Additionally, it is important to pay more than the minimum due and owing on the card each billing period.
 

In regard to managing your credit card, you will also want to contact your lender immediately if you feel that you are facing financial problems that might effect your ability to make your card payments in a timely and appropriate manner. You need to understand that many credit card companies will work with you to try and help you better manage your account. However, you need to keep in mind that you really do need to make contact with the credit card company before you actually end up in default on the card.
 

Because you are a parent with a busy schedule, you may want to actually schedule appropriate time each month to sit down and pay your bills including your credit card. By planning in this manner, you will not end up finding yourself behind the eight ball when it comes to keeping you account current.
 

In addition, you should always try to pay off your balance each and every month. If you cannot pay your entire balance off each and every month, you certainly should strive to pay more than the minimum balance due on the account. By paying more than the minimum due, you will be improving your credit score and credit history to a larger degree.
 

By appropriately and responsibly managing your credit card debt, a person can experience a whole host of related benefits. But managing credit card debt responsibly, a person will establish a solid credit record and credit history that will serve him or her well on into the future.
 

Indeed, in theory, one of the most important benefits associated with a student credit card is the fact that, if used correctly, you will be able to begin to establish a solid credit history that will be most beneficial to you into the future. You will be building a solid foundation for your own financial future.
 

Tags: credit cards, credit card , credit card debt, financial problems, student credit card, student credit cards, credit score, credit history

Like most parents you undoubtedly want to be able to buy nice and entertaining gifts for your children, including for a baby. However, at the same time, you want to be able to maintain your budget when it comes to buying gifts for babies. There are some tips that you need to keep in mind when it comes to saving money on baby gift items.
 

Perhaps the most important thing that you need to keep in mind when it comes to saving money on your next baby gift purchase is the great benefits that you can obtain by using the Internet and World Wide Web. In this day and age there are many different Internet merchants that can provide for you absolutely perfect baby gift options at remarkably low cost. By spending only a short amount of time surfing around the Net, you will be able to find the most ideal baby gift at a price that is well within your budget.
 

You will even be able to find websites that specialize in gifts and products for babies that offer great deals on baby gift options. In short, by identifying and patronizing one of another of these sites, you will have discovered a resource that will serve you not only today but into the future as well.
 

When it comes to saving money on baby gifts in the brick and mortar world, one step that you will want to consider taking is planning and shopping ahead. The reality is that most people wait until the last minute to make the purchase of a baby gift. When a person waits until the last minute, there simply is not time to shop around. As a result, in most cases a person buying a baby gift in these circumstances ends up spending more than he or she wants of needs to spend. The old adage that those who fail to plan, plan to fail, comes in loud in clear in this type of situation.
 

In the end, by paying attention to these pointers, you will be able to find not only the most suitable baby gift but you will be able to purchase such a gift at a price that ends up being a gift in and of itself.
 

For Baby Gifts Visit Here >> Baby Gifts Online
 

Tags: baby gift, saving money, buying gifts for babies, buying gifts, perfect baby gift, ideal baby gift

When your baby was still in your tummy, you had all sorts of wonderful images in your thoughts. You imagined cradling him in your arms, hugging him warmly, and kissing his little cute nose. Little did you know that a part of all this wonderful things is the dreaded reality that babies cry and they do it with all their might. Of course, your baby’s crying was not able to diminish your love for him.
 

In fact, you love him even more. But you surely wish that there were some way that you can magically make him stop wailing. The good news is you do not have to own a magic wand to put a stop to your baby’s crying spells. All you need is proper knowledge about babies and crying, and these simple tips on how to calm your crying baby:
 

First of all, you want to know: why does your baby cry?
 

Babies cry for many different reasons, the primary reason being they cannot talk and that crying is their only way to communicate. So when they are hungry, tired, thirsty, uncomfortable, wet, sad, bored, scared, or in pain—they only know one thing to express all these different emotions, that is to open up their mouths wide and let out a loud cry.
 

One thing that could help you a lot in dealing with your baby’s crying is to know that his cries mean different things. Yes, there are some hints in his crying (plus in his facial and nonverbal cues) that will tell you what it is that he’s crying about. Recognizing these hints will help you respond immediately to his needs.
 

Here are some examples. When your baby is crying but his diaper is dry and it’s been three to four hours since his last feeding, it’s likely that he’s just hungry. If he’s tired, his crying will be like a whining sound accompanied by rubbing of eyes, decreased activity and yawning. Now, if he’s uncomfortable, it’s likely that your kid will be squirming or arching his back while he cries. Quickly search for the source of his discomfort and take it away from him. When your kid is in pain, his cry is sudden and shrill.
 

Tips on how to calm your baby:
 

•  Hold on to him. Whatever it is that your baby is crying about, one of the most effective ways to pacify him is to give him a warm and comforting touch.
 

•  Breastfeed your little one. Breastfeeding does not only satiate your kid’s hunger but it also has a soothing and calming effect on him.
 

•  Distract your baby. Offer your kid various baby toys preferably those that are new to his sight and has bright and visually stimulating prints and colors. like educational baby toys. This is a good way to provide diversion especially if your kid is just bored or lonely.
 

•  Rock your tot gently. What baby is not fond of repetitive rhythmic motion? Put him on his rocker or sway him gently and it will make him forget all about his fussiness.
 

•  Let your kid listen to some soothing music. Lullabies have existed since time immemorial for a good reason. It’s because they are able to do wonders in calming a fussy baby and make it easy for him to doze off to dreamland. So if your baby is crying because he’s tired and sleepy, let him listen to soft and peaceful lullabies.
 

There are many reasons why your baby cries but there also many ways on how to calm him. As a parent, it is your duty to be able to recognize hints in his cries and respond immediately to his needs.
 

Tags: crying baby, baby’s crying, calm your baby, calming your baby, crying

Women could increase their chances of conceiving a baby boy by upping their calorie intake when trying to get pregnant, research revealed yesterday.
 

Eating a daily bowl of cereal was also linked to having sons.
 

The study found that women with the highest calorie intake before conception were more likely to conceive a baby boy than women with a lighter diet.
 

The researchers, from Oxford and Exeter universities, said the results suggested that the dieting habits of women in the western world could help explain the falling male birthrate.
 

The latest research, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, looked at 740 first-time mothers in the UK.
 

The women were asked to keep records of their eating habits before and during the early stages of pregnancy.
 

The study revealed that 56 per cent of women who ate more than 2,200 calories a day before conception had a boy, compared with 45 per cent of women who ate less than 1,850 calories.
 

The researchers found that 59 per cent of women who had cereal every day had a son, compared with 43 per cent of those who had less than one bowl a week.
 

Women with sons also had higher levels of nutrients in their diets, such as potassium, calcium and vitamins C, E and B12.
 

Over 40 years there has been a consistent decline in the proportion of boys being born in western countries – a drop of about one per 1,000 births annually.
 

Dr Fiona Mathews, one of the researchers from Exeter University, said: “This research may help to explain why in developed countries, where many young women choose to have low- calorie diets, the proportion of boys born is falling.”
 

IVF research suggests that high levels of glucose encourage the growth of male embryos, while inhibiting female ones.
 

In humans, skipping breakfast depresses glucose levels and so may be interpreted by the body as indicating poor conditions and low food availability.
 

Dr Mathews said having a boy was also linked to higher levels of potassium – which could amount to as little as an extra banana a day before conception.
 

Higher levels of salt were also consumed by those having boys, though the researcher warned that eating large amounts of salty food could raise blood pressure.
 

“We could say that if you increase your calorie intake slightly while trying to conceive you may be flipping the odds of you having a boy slightly in your favour,” Dr Mathews said.
 

Bridget Aisbitt, of the British Nutrition Foundation, said there were no specific recommendations for diet prior to conceiving, apart from taking folic acid supplements to prevent spina bifida.
 

Professor Stuart West, from Edinburgh University, cautioned against using diet to try to influence the sex of a child.
 

“First, the effect appears to be relatively small, with the sex ratio varying from only 45 per cent sons with low-calorie diets, to 56 per cent sons with high quality diets,” he said.
 

“Second, similar data in animals such as non-human primates shows huge variation between studies, and so it would be key to determine the repeatability of these results.
 

“Third, diet will have other effects for both the parent and offspring.”
 

Resources to Aid in Understanding Early Pregnancy Symptoms

If you think that you may be pregnant, you may be interested in finding some resources pertaining to early pregnancy symptoms. Through this article, you are provided with some basic information about early pregnancy symptoms and the resources that are available to assist you in determining whether symptoms you are experiencing might be signs that you are, in fact, pregnant.
 The best resource to determine if you are pregnant, to determine if you really are experiencing early pregnancy symptoms, is your doctor. Indeed, while home pregnancy tests have become more reliable all of the time, your best resource to confirm a possible pregnancy is your doctor.
 

If you are experiencing some symptoms and want to determine if they might be early pregnancy symptoms, you will want to spend some time on the Internet and World Wide Web. In this regard, your first stop in your search for confirmation regarding what you believe might be early pregnancy symptoms is a medical websites such as WebMD. These types of websites offer all sorts of medical and health related information, including an in depth analysis of early pregnancy symptoms.
 

In addition to the generalized medical sites, there are specialized medical sites in operation on the Net that deal exclusively with pregnancy related issues, including the early pregnancy symptoms. By accessing one or another of these websites, you will be able to make some determinations in respect to what you think very well may be early pregnancy symptoms.
 

In the brick and mortar world, in addition to your doctor, there are some other helpful resources that you will want to consider and access when it comes to the matter of early pregnancy symptoms. There are some wonderful and well written books on the subject of human pregnancy that devote a great deal of time to discussing the early pregnancy symptoms. In addition, there are also on the market today many maternity magazines that normally devote at least some space in each issue to a discussion of matters such as early pregnancy symptoms.
 

In the end, by availing yourself of these various resources, you will be able to better determine if what you are experiencing are early pregnancy symptoms. You will be able to determine what steps you should take in regard to the symptoms you are experiencing — including a possible pregnancy test.
 

Parent-Child Bonding: Crucial Aspect in a Kid’s Development

By Wendi Garcia

Child experts reiterate how the right kinds of kids toys contribute to the developmental progress of your kid. This has been proved by countless studies and is accepted as a fact by almost every parent. The right kind of educational kids toys indeed play a significant role in the honing of a child’s potentials and skills which are necessary for him to grow up as a mentally and physically healthy individual.
 

But this is not to say that it is suffice that you bombard your kid with every educational toy there is and leave him to play with them. Do not expect that the toys will turn him into a prodigy overnight. Toys help improve your kid’s skills but they cannot do this on their own. They will not be able to do the job without your help as a parent, without your constant guidance and support.
 

Here are some ways on how you can ensure that you are able to maximize bonding
and learning time with your little one:
 

•  Spend a part of your day with your child. Household chores and office work may take the top spot in your things to do. But you have to remember that among all these tasks, taking care of your kid should always be your number one priority.
 

It is highly recommended that before you do any tasks for the day, you should first spend quality time with your kid, teaching him while playing with him. This is very important because if you put quality time with your kid at the very end of the day, you may be too exhausted and too drained to even lift a finger, thus the purpose of quality time will be wasted.
 

•  Always make bonding time a fun time. As a parent, it is easy for you to get into that strict disciplinarian mode when you’re teaching your kid. There’s nothing wrong with that. However, if possible try to lighten things up by not forcing learning into your kid and making him feel that playtime is a chore. The educational value of playtime is a natural process that need not be forced.
 

•  Insert valuable lessons during playtime. As mentioned earlier, learning takes place naturally during play but of course, it would also help to make it a point to inculcate priceless lessons into your kid’s playtime especially moral values such as respect, courtesy, honesty, and many others.
 

•  Practice utmost patience. It’s easy for kids to get bored. One minute they want to play this game, the next thing you know they’re gearing towards another. Sometimes, you can’t help but get exasperated. But you must strive hard to be patient all the time because your kid needs you to play with him and make him learn about things.
 

Needless to say, parental attention and guidance are indeed a crucial aspect in a kid’s development. It is up to the parents to reinforce and nurture proper learning while playing with their toys. It is your duty to oversee that their kids are in the right path of developmental progress both in terms of the physical and mental aspects.
 

Supermarket staff were mystified when a cream for baby’s bottom began selling like hot cakes.
 

Then they discovered the reason - mums were putting it on their own faces.
 

At £2.49 a pot, Waitrose’s own-label Baby Bottom Butter is only a fraction of the cost of designer products.
 

And its new-found fans claim it is the answer to their prayers.
 

The buying frenzy began after it was given glowing endorsements on parenting websites.
 

One contributor to mumsnet.com wrote: “I can’t even remember what made me put it on my face one day but OMG - it is fab.
 

“I have been using it constantly for 2 weeks now and my skin now has the smoothest texture, which I don’t think it’s had since prepubescence.
 

“And it makes my foundation look super dewy and youthful too. It is SO much better than all the expensive face creams I have tried - including Creme de la Mer.”
 

While some complained that it left their skin spotty or greasy, another mum gushed: “I have taken to putting it on twice a day, I am eighteen again!”
 

And a third added: “Really really impressed with how plumped and smooth it makes my skin look, especially around the eyes”.
 

The butter is free from artificial chemicals and contains olive oil, camomile - for nappy rash - and lavender.
 

Waitrose says it has seen sales of “natural” baby toiletries rise by 38 per cent after it removed parabens, petrochemicals and colours from its own-label products.
 

Sales of Baby Bottom Butter doubled to around 30,000 tubs in the first part of this year, taking its Hampshire-based supplier by surprise and leading to shortages on the shelves.
 

However, women keen to try it have been assured that new stock should be on sale from Monday.
 

Waitrose’s baby care buyer Jo Maclaine said: “It seems that the botty butter gives softer cheeks wherever they are.
 

“The feedback we have had has been amazing and proof that looking good does not have to cost the Earth.”
 

Of course it is not the first time an unlikely item becoming the new musthave beauty product.
 

Haemorrhoid ointment has also been championed as face cream by the likes of actress Sandra Bullock.
 

However cosmetic surgery expert Dr Patrick Bowler, who appeared on the TV programme Ten Years Younger, said he was sceptical about the supposed benefits of Baby Bottom Butter.
 

“The women buying this may think it will make their faces as smooth as a baby’s bottom, but the truth is that while it’s likely to be quite a good moisturiser there’s really nothing extraordinary about it.
 

“And if they’re buying it because they have babies, they’re likely to be quite young themselves, which means they’ll have pretty good skin anyway.”
 

Source Daily Mail
 

Tags: baby, bottom, butter, baby bottom butter, bottom butter, baby bottom, butter cream, face cream

Dr Rob Hicks and Yoplait registered dietitian Elphee Medici offers exclusive advice on nutrition for your child
 

Being a parent these days isn’t easy.  Not only do you have to be a chauffeur, a counsellor, a cleaner and an expert chef but now you also have to be a nutritionist as well.  Although getting your child to eat 5 portions of fruit and veg every day is important it’s not the only factor to consider when it comes to your child’s diet.  Research by Petits Filous shows that 9 out of 10 parents think their child is getting enough calcium, but parents are unclear how much calcium children actually need. 74% of parents wrongly believing that 2 portions of dairy a day offers sufficient calcium for their child when in fact at least 3 portions of dairy every day will meet calcium needs to help develop strong bones.
  

If you’re worried about whether or not your child is getting enough calcium, click below to watch an exclusive video hosted by Dr Rob Hicks and Yoplait registered dietitian Elphee Medici. They will talk you through ways of making sure your child gets enough bone building calcium in their diet, explaining which foods are good sources of calcium and how easy it is to meet all your child’s daily calcium needs through three portions of dairy every day. As well as all this Dr Rob Hicks will also be explaining the benefits of ensuring your child gets plenty of calcium in their early years as well as hints and tips to help your children develop strong healthy bones..
 

Click here to watch the video
 

For more information visit calciumeveryday.com
 

Tags: parents nutrition confusion, strong healthy bones, healthy bones, calcium, daily calcium, child’s diet, yoplait, nutritionist

Finding Pregnancy Tips on the Internet and World Wide Web
 

If you have found yourself pregnant, you may be wondering what pregnancy informational services are available to you in the brick and mortar world and on the Internet and World Wide Web. In point of fact, when it comes to pregnancy information and pregnancy tips, the Internet and World Wide Web is a significant source and a powerful resource. Indeed, over the course of the past ten years, a significant number of pregnant women have relied heavily on the Internet and World Wide Web to find pregnancy tips.
 

In this regard, there are a number of websites that can be very useful to a woman on the hunt for pregnancy tips. First of all, there are many medical sites — WebMD, for example — that provide a wide range of health information for men and women. Included at these websites is a significant number of different types of pregnancy tips.
 

When it comes to pregnancy tips at these types of websites, you will be able to find such things as articles written by doctors. These types of materials are invaluable sources of pregnancy tips for a women with questions pertaining to her own pregnancy.
 

In addition to pregnancy tips for women, these medical sites generally also include some helpful information for a man who has questions about pregnancy. This includes gender specific pregnancy tips intended to describe how a man can assist his wife or partner in working through a pregnancy.
 

Beyond the Internet and World Wide Web, there are some wonderful and well researched books on the market today that deal with pregnancy tips. These books can be accessed and purchased at any major bookseller in the brick and mortar world. (Of course, these books can also be purchased through a Net based bookseller as well.)
 

There are also some well researched and well written magazines on the market today that deal with issues including pregnancy tips. These maternity publications continue to gain a broader audience and more readers with each passing year. These magazines can also be found at most major booksellers. Additionally, they are available for home delivery through subscription. Finally, these wonderful magazines can be ordered with ease over the Internet and World Wide Web.
 

Tags: pregnancy tips, www, world wide web, maternity publications, maternity magazines, WebMD

Nicole Kidman may have looked stunning in a fitted red dress on the CMT Awards red carpet last night, but Nicole Kidman had one awful morning.
 

The actress told Access Hollywood’s CMT special correspondent Maureen McCormick, she, like many moms-to-be has had some stomach troubles during her pregnancy.
 

“I’ve had severe morning sickness,” Nicole said.
 

As for her pregnancy in general, Nicole said things are going well.
 

”[I’m] good actually, really good. Waiting for the third trimester,” she said. “Everyone says that is hard work.”
 

Nicole accompanied her husband, country crooner Keith Urban, to the awards ceremony.
 

Source accesshollywood.com
 

A mother has told a court how her two-year-old son was hit and killed by a speedboat on a beach in the Bahamas.

Paul Gallagher, two, from Orpington, south-east London, was on a sunlounger when the boat mounted the beach in August 2002, his mother Andrea said.
 

“I knew where the boat was going, it was 8ft in the air,” she told the Supreme Court in Nassau.
 

Driver James Bain and owners Clifford Nottage and Evangeless Williamson deny manslaughter through negligence.
 

Under cross-examination, Mrs Gallagher admitted that she and her husband asked the boat’s co-owner Nottage for a $3m (£1.5m) cash settlement after her son’s death.
 

She denied seeking to extort money in lieu of a prosecution and said, “We were in a desperate situation and we were just thinking of our other two children.”
 

Describing the day of the accident Mrs Gallagher told the court her family had been playing on the Atlantis Resort beach.
 

Paul slept on a sunlounger while her other son Andrew, aged one at the time, was asleep on the beach.
 

Source & Full Story BBC News
 

Like many parents you likely find yourself on the hunt for inexpensive activities in which you children can participate. Through this blog post you are provided with some suggested inexpensive craft projects that you can line up for your children.
 

Because of all of the high tech advances made over the course of the past generation, many parents today have forgotten about simplicity when it comes to projects for their kids. The reality is that children truly can enjoy doing art projects that employ such ingredients as construction paper, paper mache, noodles, paste, paint, toothpicks and so forth. You simply do not have to go overboard when it comes to buying items that can be used in craft projects for children.
 

If you are struggling with finding ideas for projects that you can do with your children, if you are struggling in finding inexpensive craft projects for your kids, keep in mind that you can find numerous suggestions on the Internet and World Wide Web. In fact, there are websites that are dedicated exclusively to providing craft project ideas for children.
 

Beyond the Internet, there are some very basic books that can be purchased or lent from the library that can provide you with interesting ideas for craft projects for children. What you will want to consider doing in this regard is to try and track down older books on the subject, perhaps even books that were written in the 1960s and 1970s. Through these books you will be able to find some unique, interesting, time tested and inexpensive ideas for craft projects for your kids. You will be surprised at how available these older texts actually are when it comes to exploring your local lending library.
 

Finally, by using your creativity, and by including your children in the process of selecting craft project idea, you will be able to come up with products that are both enjoyable and inexpensive. More importantly, the time that you spend with your kids on these projects will be priceless. In the end, you will be making memories that will last a lifetime.
 

Tags: crafts, activities, inexpensive crafts, paper mache, art projects, inexpensive craft projects, craft projects, inexpensive activities

If you are over forty and pregnant one of the tasks that you face is very basic and fundamental. A woman over forty who is pregnant generally will have a significant number of responsibilities to balance when pregnant – and following the birth of a new baby. The reality is that as a general rule a woman in her forties likely will have more responsibilities to tend to than might a younger woman who is expecting a baby.
 

In most instances, a woman in her forties likely has some pretty significant professional or employment responsibilities to tend to on an ongoing basis. With this in mind, it is important for a pregnant, forty year old woman to be proactive in dealing her job duties. By making arrangements and getting organized in advance of the latter part of a pregnancy, a woman will lessen the pressure that she might otherwise be facing.
 

A woman in her forties actually likely has a great deal of responsibilities at home as well. A woman in her forties may have other children in the house, for example. Once again, it behooves a woman to be proactive when it comes to dealing with at home responsibilities early on in a pregnancy. Depending on your own circumstances, this might include reorganizing household responsibilities and duties between other families. Or, if possible, it might include hiring someone to deal with at least some household tasks either during the pregnancy itself or after the birth of a new baby.
 

Finally, one overriding responsibility that a pregnant woman in her forties has is to make certain that she obtains appropriate medical care throughout the course and term of the pregnancy. Health considerations are always important during a pregnancy. However, they become more significant and serious when a woman finds herself pregnant and in her forties.
 

By following these suggestions, a woman in her forties will have an easier go of it when she finds herself pregnant at this juncture in her life. She will find that her pregnancy will be smoother and a more enjoyable experience.
 

The mother of Shannon Matthews has been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged in connection with the nine-year-old’s disappearance.

Karen Matthews, 32, of Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor, West Yorkshire, faces charges of child neglect and perverting the course of justice.
 

The second charge states she “repeatedly concealed information” in relation to Shannon’s whereabouts.
 

Ms Matthews was remanded in custody until 16 April.
 

Shannon vanished on 19 February and was found 24 days later after one of the county’s largest missing person hunts.
 

The details of the child neglect charge state that she “wilfully neglected or abandoned” Shannon “in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to her health”, between 18 February and 15 March.
 

The second charge states that Ms Matthews “repeatedly concealed information in relation to the whereabouts of Shannon Matthews in interviews and other contacts with officers with the West Yorkshire Police and claimed to have no knowledge of her whereabouts.”
 

Source & Full Story BBC News
 

Limit the Use of Styling Products In and On Your Hair
 

When it comes to beauty and personally grooming products, items designed for use in or on the hair make up a significant share of that market. Indeed, men and women the world over spend literally billions of dollars on items used on the hair. When all is said and done, in many, many cases, people tend to use far too much product on their hair as they go about their daily grooming routines. From mousses to gels to hairsprays, people laden their hair with significant amounts of product each and every day.
 

In point of fact you would be well served to try not to use too many styling products as they tend to make your hair look dull. There are a number of reasons why the use of so many of these products can work to make your hair look dull.
 

The primary reason why these products can make your hair look dull is based in the fact that these products build up over time. In a very short amount of time, some of these products cause so much build up on your hair that your mane ends up looking dull and becomes limp.
 

By using these products sparingly, you will limit the amount of build up that occurs in your hair. Of course, by limiting the build up, your hair will look healthier and will not become dull and limp.
 

There are some useful products on the market that can assist you in lessening the build up that can and does occur when you do use certain types of hair products. You hair care professional can assist you in selecting an anti-build up product that can be most effective when it comes to your particular type of hair.
 

Tags: hair, hairsprays, hair products, styling products, hair look dull, beautiful hair, healthy hair

Jane Danson plans to ban her son from watching Coronation Street because she is appalled at her character’s antics.
 

The actress, who plays Leanne Battersby in the ITV1 soap, said 20-month-old Harry would have to wait a few years before viewing the show.
 

She told Teletext: “Leanne isn’t exactly a good role model for him.
 

“She’s involved in arson and insurance fraud after burning down her restaurant. I’m going to stop him watching it until he’s older!”
 

Danson recently revealed that her co-stars helped her overcome the death of her father in February.
 

Source: Digital Spy
 

Tags: jane danson, coronation street, leanne battersby, corrie

Opera singer turned TV presenter Charlotte Church, 22, has praised boyfriend Gavin Henson, 26, for being such a hands-on dad and revealed that their daughter Ruby Megan, 7 months, is a daddy’s girl.
 

To be honest, I’m not that busy with motherhood. She’s a daddy’s girl through and through. Gavin’s really good with her. She’s gorgeous and it’s a joy to be her mum.

The mum-of-one also said recently that she plans to take Ruby back to work with her when she starts filming the new series of The Charlotte Church Show on channel 4.
 

Source: Daily Express
 

Tags: charlotte church, ruby megan, gavin henson, charlotte church show, daddy’s girl