The ages children switch from a crib to a toddler bed vary greatly. On average, a child will switch anywhere between 12 months to 3 years. However, there are some that go before that age, and some that make the switch after. I am lucky enough to be surrounded by parents of young children, nurses, mommy and me instructors, and family members.
Fortunately, each one of these people helped my husband and me decide when the timing was right to switch our daughter from her crib to the toddler bed. There are a few indicators that will tell you when your child is ready to make the toddler bed switch.
Athleticism
No matter how old your child is, if he/she shows you that climbing out of the crib is a breeze, it is time to switch to a toddler bed. Unfortunately, cribs can become dangerous once they are treated like jungle gyms My family was lucky. My daughter climbed out of her crib without any injury. However, there are other toddlers that wind up with bruises, scrapes, and other crib boo boos. Once climbing out of the crib is an option, it is no longer safe, and a toddler bed is necessary.
Social Readiness
Perhaps your toddler is not emotionally ready to make the switch over to a toddler bed. If he/she has not climbed out of the crib, look for emotional signs For instance, a baby that is ready for the transfer will take interest in mommy and daddy’s bed or older siblings’ beds. They might begin tucking their babies and dolls under the covers in a real bed. When children begin to do this, they are beginning to understand that a bed is the next step to getting bigger.
Article provided by Mary, who writes for kids uggs and kids ugg australia boots review.
There’s no better way to take a person for granted than by spending all your time with them. All parents adore their kids, but you’ve got to admit: being with them all day can sometimes lead to undervaluing them. When you’ve spent an hour scrubbing “washable” crayon off the wall, the Play Doh sculpture your child has created looks more like a mess and less like the proud product of his creative genius. It’s often easier to appreciate them more when they’ve been away - say, at their grandmother’s house for the weekend. It helps you to realize the importance of using your time with them to the utmost.
Make Quality Time a Priority
Just because you spend all day with your kids doesn’t mean any of that is quality time-and “quantity time” just isn’t as special. But even if your schedule is (am-packed, there are plenty of opportunities to squeeze in a meaningful moment here and there.
•Grocery Shopping
Point out colors, textures, unfamiliar fruits and veggies; older children can help read labels and compare prices.
•Cooking
Let your kids help. Even if it means cleaning up a little extra mess, the fun they’ll have is worth the hassle - and it benefits everyone. Even the smallest children can stir or help gather ingredients.
• Doing Laundry
Sorting clothes and measuring out detergent gives kids a sense of purpose and provides a good chance for conversation.
• Riding in the Car
Turn down the radio and sing songs that everybody knows; talk about the passing scenery make up stories.
• During Evening “Downtime”
Every once in a while, turn off the TV and have a family fun night with games, crafts, stories or puzzles that get everyone involved.
Remember: multitasking diminishes the quality of quality time, so be fully present and attentive to your kids during these moments!
Article written by Audrey from best toddler swing and Papasan swing review
For several years, there’s been an ongoing debate about whether or not pregnant women should indulge in caffeine. Some studies have indicated that high levels of caffeine negatively affect pregnant women and their babies. However, the real question may be regarding how much caffeine is safe to have while pregnant.
Caffeine is both a diuretic and a stimulant that increases heart rate and blood pressure, both of which aren’t good for pregnant women. It also causes frequent urination and this can lead to becoming dehydrated. You control how much caffeine you intake but you baby doesn’t. So it’s good to remember that caffeine affects your baby just as it does you, only more so.
In preparation for pregnancy, many women start practicing better health habits to make sure their bodies are healthy when they become pregnant. Reducing your caffeine intake is a great idea because studies have linked high levels of caffeine consumption to delayed conception. Low to moderate amounts of caffeine seem to be safe, but if you’re a heavy caffeine drinker, you should start cutting down when trying to get pregnant. Caffeine effects on sperm haven’t been conducted.
A daily amount of less than 300 mg of caffeine seems to be fine after conception. There are some studies that have found more miscarriages in women that take in over 300 mg of caffeine daily along with pre-term labor and low birth weight. Animal studies have shown reduced fertility, birth defects and other reproductive issues with caffeine but human studies aren’t showing these so far.
Something else that women need to consider is that drinking too much caffeine during the later stages of pregnancy will cause babies to absorb it from their mothers. This can lead to increased breathing rate, faster heart rate and tremors. In addition, women that consumed high amounts of caffeine late in their pregnancies can expect the baby first year to be a busy one. Babies that get too much caffeine before birth have been shown to have terrible sleep patterns.
If you’re thinking of becoming pregnant and you drink more than 3 cups of coffee daily, you may want to start weaning yourself down to a safer amount of caffeine before conceiving. It will be much healthier for both you and your baby.
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