How much time do modern day parents have to spend with their children?  We constantly ask ourselves this question as we juggle the rigours of modern day living and all that life has to throw at us along the way.

We look around and measure ourselves against other parents who seem to be getting the work life balance right and we even feel envious of those who do seem to have more time –did they make better choices than us along the way or were they born with a silver spoon in their mouth?.  Is this sounding familiar?

The stark reality is that most parents have a lot to juggle whether it is home life, work life, relationships, childcare; the list seems to go on and on.  The stresses of modern day living are all around us no matter who you are. The real question is how “do you deal with them?”

Sometimes we find ourselves wondering if the situation will change in the very new future.  We drift off to dreamland where we have all the time in the world and we’ve become the world’s best parents overnight.  We don’t have to worry about paying the bills, they just pay themselves!

Okay, back to reality.  We’ve decided to enjoy every moment we have with our children instead of worrying about the time we don’t have.  Every second counts and the time you share can be very simple like:

• Talking about the day on your way home from school together
• Sharing family meal time together
• Reading, singing or dancing together
• Spending time playing together e.g. playing in the park, going swimming, playing games, doing creative art together
• Going on bike rides, or taking the scooters into the park

Setting up our own children’s furniture, toys, gifts and accessories business has given us the opportunity to explore what is good for our children and “mummy and daddy” time is the highest priority on the list. Whether you have a lot or a little time, it’s the time that you do have that matters.

We choose all of our games, toys and creative art sets with the intent of “maximising the time spent together”. We are great advocates for giving parents greater control over the time that they spend with their children.

Even when the going gets tough, make every day an opportunity to enjoy your children. We do.

This is a guest post by Mr & Mrs Kinderroom, owners of Kinderroom, a website of unique children’s furniture and creative games and art sets.

Now that summer vacation time is here for your kids, are you more stressed as they relax, or are you well-armed in providing healthy and safe entertainment for the younger crowd and not blow your annual budget?

1) Annual memberships to zoos, clubs and museums are cheaper per visit than one-off ticket purchases. When you want or need a change of pace or scenery for awhile because everyone's been stuck inside out of the rain, spend an hour or two strolling through parts of science, history or ethnic museums. You don't have the pressure of trying to fit everything in all at once, and repeat visits can cover individual parts and areas more completely. By the time the membership has expired, your kids and you could view everything available at least once - and have had time to really enjoy it.

Keeping these visits short but frequent keeps the child more interested and reduces the chances of them becoming bored or exhibiting unacceptable behavior. You might even try a low-cost reward system: If they behave themselves, they get some kind of healthy treat at the end. Use the time to keep in touch with your children and to strengthen loving bonds.

2) Swimming in community pools or clubs provides a healthy outlet for energy and provides your kids with social interaction while you maintain a low but influential presence. Make the excursion timed to lessen the possibility of the children loudly protesting having to leave before closing time. If the pool is outdoors, limited time in the sun and water also reduces the odds of sunburns and skin damage.

3) Group outings as a whole family or with neighbors and friends can enhance any excursion and provide constructive socialization for everyone involved. Even trading supervision duties between adults on time-limited events can allow time for errands, reading a good book or taking a nap while your children are safely occupied. Be sure to return the favor, though. Pay for your kids' costs and be flexible in joining responsibilities and enjoyment.

If an excursion takes all day, don't pack and haul everything with you. Take breaks and return to your mobile headquarters for more sunscreen, liquids and a picnic-type meal or snacks. Brief rest periods for everyone keeps spirits up and behavior on the positive side. It also lessens stress and ensuing headaches. With infants, take this time to replenish the diapers and exchange toys. You won't feel like a pack horse and still have plenty available.

However, don't overdo the provisions. If public drinking fountains are available, you really don't need to pack a gallon of designer water. If everyone eats a healthy meal before heading out, you really don't need to empty the refrigerator and cupboards into your trunk.

4) If you have something in mind that you aren't sure your kids will embrace quickly, insert a sense of adventure and discovery into it. Playing "I Spy" while touring an art museum, for example, makes kids look more closely at what they are seeing, providing open opportunity to inject a touch of culture while they are "playing".

Make summer fun again for not just your kids but for you, too. Relax, have fun and keep things interesting. Before you know it, your kids will be off to college and living their own lives apart from you.

Post written by Sara Woods @ Coupon Croc, where parents and families can save on all of their travel plans with First Choice discount codes.

by Ashley Brady

Your baby's cold can be just as hard on you as it is on her. To keep your baby's infection and discomfort from getting worse, make sure she gets enough rest and liquids like formula if she's less than 4 months old or breast milk. Babies who are a little older can have some water and by 6 months they can have juice as well.

Try squeezing some over the counter saline solution drops into each nostril to relieve congestion, then after a few moments remove the mucus and liquid by suctioning with a rubber bulb syringe. This works well about fifteen minutes prior to a feeding if it's difficult for your baby to breathe nasally while nursing. A bit of petroleum jelly to the outside of your baby's nostrils can help reduce irritation.

Sitting with you in a steamy bathroom while the hot water's on in the shower for about 15 minutes, or using a cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier to increase the moisture in your baby's room should also help provide some relief for her. Also providing additional comfort is a hot bath.

If you try to sleep at a slight incline, postnasal drip can be relieved. But using pillows in her crib just to accomplish this is a bad idea because the risk of suffocation is too great. You may want to allow her to sleep in her car seat in a slightly upright position or place a couple of rolled up towels between the crib springs and mattresses.

At the first sign of illness in a infant of under 3 months old, contact your pediatrician especially if your baby has a cold or has a fever of 100.4 degrees. Guidelines about what constitutes a fever in older infants can be given to you by your pediatrician. If baby's symptoms don't improve within five to seven days, her cough worsens, she's wheezing or gasping (possible pneumonia or respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV), or tugs at her ear (possible ear infection), your pediatrician should also be notified immediately.

For more information on coughs and cold in babies and young children, check out the articles we have published over the last two years.

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by Damian Papworth

Are you ready to be a father? The first year is always the toughest. It's incredibly challenging; but the rewards are well worth it. So, just what does it take to be the best dad you can be? If you're worried about navigating the ins and outs of fatherhood, don't. It may be hard at first, but a little love and care go a long way.

Of course, there are some incredibly hands on, practicable things you ought to know as a new father. Babies obviously aren't simply cute creatures who will be easy to handle. They cry an awful lot. In fact, babies may be finicky. They may cry for hours on end and often, at first especially, it can be hard to decipher the reasons why.

Babies sob and snivel for a huge variety of reasons. When you're a fresh, out of the box parent, so to speak, it can be quite difficult to figure out what to do and how to make it all better. It's times like that when you can feel overwhelmed and also unworthy of being a father. But don't let things like that get you down. It's all natural. Simply try your best; hold your child, comfort her (or him). Don't get caught up on all the rules.

There are no firm, set terms that are the be all and end all of parenting. There's no golden rule that will help you to become the best parent ever.

Being a good father simply takes some effort and a whole lot of TLC. Even if you're clueless or tend to be the more hands-off type, you can still become the father of the year with some practice.

The first few months are probably some of the toughest you'll know. Both you and your partner will be knackered. A new mother has a lot of work to do, what with feeding and tending to the new baby; but that doesn't mean that she has all the knowledge nor does it mean that she should bear the brunt of the work.

The most crucial aspect of being a father is to engage in team work. Don't simply hand off tasks that you don't know how to handle to your partner. Even if she offers to take up for your slack, hang in there, try to do it yourself. Most likely, both of you will be pretty clueless in the beginning, so take this initial period as a time for both of you to explore the joys of parenthood.

There will be a fair amount of fretting and worrying; taking care of a new baby is hard work, and it can be doubly stressing if it's your first time. Although you won't be perfect, everything takes practice, after all, don't let that fact overwhelm you.

Simply get involved. Don't sit out on the sidelines. Always make time for your children.

Spending quality time with your newborn child is crucial to developing a healthy relationship later on.

Damian Papworth is a dedicated father and husband. He recently took his wife shopping for women's shoes. He found some great information here on women's running shoes.

by Tiffany Windhurst

We all think our home is safe for our children, but until you get on your child's level you can't be sure. Even before your baby begins to crawl, walk and climb you should start looking for hazards. The best way to determine what may harm your baby is to get on the floor and crawl around at a toddler's level.

Some general things to look for are cords on blinds, chemicals in low cabinets, outlets, sharp edges on furniture, small toys or jewelry within a child's reach, and things to climb. There are lots of devices on the market today that you can use to protect your child against these hazards. However, nothing replaces proper supervision of your baby and child.

Chemicals and other toxic substances should be placed out of the reach of your child or cabinet safety locks should be installed. You can purchase specially made soft bumpers to place on the edges of sharp furniture, or simply tape a wadded cloth on the corners. Cords on blinds should hang individually or be rolled up out of baby's reach. You can also get child safety locks for drawers. Tall furniture that can be climbed should be anchored to wall to prevent it being pulled over on the child.

You should also make sure the areas where your child plays are kept picked up free of small objects. Cords for appliances should not hang down off counter within your child's reach. Keep handles on pots turned toward the wall to prevent accidental spilling. Sharp objects like knives and forks should be kept out of reach.

Your child's safety is very important and parents should take all the necessary precautions to prevent injury. A child does not know what will harm him and what will not, he is constantly learning and everything looks fun to him. You can never prevent every injury or protect against all hazards, but using common sense will prevent most injuries.

Learn more about baby shower centerpieces at our baby health care website.

Spanking teaches children, especially younger ones, that is okay to hit. Often, parents spank when they are angry and hit the child harder than they intend to. There are many ways to discipline your child without spanking them or being physical with them.

Time Out

Putting a child in time out gives the child time to think about what they did wrong and why they are in trouble. The child should not be in the corner or wherever the time out is to take place longer than there age. They should have 1 minute for each year. If the child speaks, gets up or out of the corner, the time starts over. An egg timer is a good tool to use. The timer is good for the child to be able to know when there time is up. Just saying how long they will be in time out does not work because children have no concept of time.

Take Things Away

Taking things away as punishment often works instead of spanking. Be sure to tell the child why you are taking the object away. Try to make the child understand what it was that he/she did wrong.When taking things away, it should only be one item at a time. For example, don't take all the matchbox cars or barbies away the first time the child does something wrong. Take 1 away and if they repeat the bad behavior then take more away. The favorite toy being taken away usually has the most desired effect. The length of time you keep the item away from the child depends on the child's age. Younger children may not understand why the item is gone for a long period of time and will forget why it was taken in the first place.

Assign Chores

Assigning chores for bad behavior usually only works for older children. A child that doesn't play with toys anymore or is to old for time out will benefit more with assigning chores than younger children. Different household chores can be assigned. Taking out the trash and doing dishes are a couple. Dusting, sweeping or moping are a few more that work. Kids hate to clean the bathroom or there bedroom so those work really well. The idea is to pick something they do not like to do. If your child likes to dust then don't make that a punishment. Older children also tend to learn from what they did wrong when they are made to write sentences about what they did wrong. Usually making them write a sentence saying they will never do whatever it was they did wrong again 100 times works.

Grounding

Sometimes if the offensive/bad behavior is severe enough grounding the child works best. Not letting the child outside to play gets the point across of there bad behavior not being acceptable. Grounding the child from there game system and TV programs also has the desired effect.

Lindsay Blanche writes and blogs at her Grants for Single Mothers, to find more about her just visit the blog, where you will find lots of information and helpful articles.

by Tiffany Windhurst

Babies, toddlers and young children are constantly learning. A toddler, one to three years old, is learning to feed himself, to walk, to sleep on his own, to use the big boy potty, to play with other children, and assert his independence is some ways.

Basically, children are trying to figure out where they fit in the family, and where they fit in the bigger community as well. While a normal part of growing up, this can scary for the toddler, as well as the parents. Realizing how a child develops between ages one and three will help you understand his behavior and help you relate better to him.

Children love to play games, even when you as the parent don't realize you're playing a game. Children learn through games and discovering new things. Children ages 1 - 3 generally have short attention spans and will easily move from one activity to another all through the day. Organized games should be age appropriate and have fairly simple rules. Giving children some small responsibilities at these ages, which are age appropriate, will help them find a role in the family. It's never too early for children to learn simple chores like picking up toys when play is finished.

Toddlers will also begin asserting their independence by defying mom and dad. Often this defiance results in screaming, crying, and a very upset little boy or girl. It's important for parents to continue to show authority and stick to their guns. Giving in to fits only reinforces the behavior in the child, and tells the child that with enough crying he or she gets the desired outcome.

Gentle discipline (not punishment), lots of encouragement, and overflowing unconditional love are important at all stages of a child's life, but especially while the toddler is learning to relate to you, other family members, and society as a whole.

As watching long hours of television every day has become more common all around the world, it has raised some serious questions about the healthiness of spending too much time in front of the television. One of the main concerns is about babies who watch television; is there a limit that should be placed on how much they can watch?

It's been suggested by many experts that babies shouldn't watch television at all, but many infants are still allowed to watch it. Take a look at the video section in your local chain store and you'll see lots of videos targeted at babies.

The huge market for television shows for babies was only brought about because of the demand for it. Parents quickly realized that babies enjoy television and that they can become engrossed in it. The question still remains though: how much TV should a baby be allowed to view before it's considered unhealthy?

There are many factors that contribute to whether or not babies should be allowed to watch television. Before you discuss the amount of television a baby should watch, you should first consider the type of programming. Some shows completely fail to provide any kind of useful entertainment, such as cartoons.

Thankfully, there are many educational videos for babies as well. These programs can teach infants new skills that will benefit them throughout life. Some popular options include programs that teach babies how to read, speak another language, or recognize sign language.

In fact, it hasn't been proven that television is harmful to babies under two years old as long as the time spent watching television is controlled and the programs are educational. Many parents feel that their children have grown intellectually through educational programs for babies.

Even beneficial television shows don't provide a quality substitute for the interaction between parents and babies. Still, they can be useful when a parent just needs to get a few things done while the baby stays occupied with a television show. It's really something that a baby can expand his or her mind while the parent takes care of things around the house.

Of course, a baby's exposure TV should always be carefully monitored. Babies should watch no more than an hour of television in a day, with this time preferably split up between two half-hour segments.

The babies who are most harmed by television are the ones who are allowed to sit in front of the set all day. As with many things in life, moderation is the way to go.

author Arthur Goldberry - editing Les Scammell

Many parents are concerned about how to teach their baby to walk. It seems to come naturally, and in a way it does. However, there are things you can do to prepare your baby for walking.

You know, babies don't just wake up one day and start walking. There is a natural progression from rolling over, sitting up, scooting, crawling, and then pulling up to walk. If you want to teach your baby how to walk, it will depend on how he/she masters those steps. It should also be remembered that some babies skip steps, or seem to take sometime to progress from one to the next - in most cases, this is normal.

Once your baby has become mobile, providing a safe environment in your home is very important. If you're going to teach your baby how to walk, you need to inspect your home for dangers in order to prevent your child from getting hurt on sharp corners, stairs, and ledges etc.

You could also be tempted to buy a walker from the store. They are great playthings but they do not teach your baby to walk. Some specialists believe they hold your baby back. Occasional use of a walker is harmless, so don't leave your baby in it for hours.

You may also be tempted to buy your baby the perfect pair of shoes when you're teaching him/her to walk. Recent research suggests that babies actually learn to walk better when they're not wearing shoes. Here's a little known tidbit - babies are born without kneecaps. It is not until they are around 12 months that knee caps start to form. So initially, baby will be trying to walk without those knee caps and shoes can put pressure on the knees. When baby first starts to walk, watch them, they will be on tip toes rather than flat feet. Shoes interfere with this and so slow down the child's ability to learn to walk.

So save your money and teach your baby to walk without those pretty little shoes. If you want your child to wear shoes, just be aware that they won't make it easier for your baby to walk. Follow a few simple rules of thumb. When you teach your baby to walk, you must make sure that his shoes are going to help instead of hurt. Try looking for shoes that have soles that are flat and flexible. Pass up the high-tops and go for a shoe that allows your baby's ankle to move. You should frequently check your baby's shoe size if you want to make sure he/she hasn't outgrown them.

When it comes to teaching your baby how to walk, one of the most important things you can do is encourage their every achievement. Balance and coordination can be developed by playing physical games and toys that promote dexterity. Toys that allow your baby to push or pull are excellent to teach your baby to walk. You can also play by kicking and throwing balls. With the help of these activities, your baby can also achieve balance and eye-hand coordination.

Just have fun! Enjoy the process and try not to push your baby too hard.

by Tanner Messy

When people imagine a sleeping infant, they think of a baby sound asleep without the slightest hint of stirring. While babies do sometimes sleep this peacefully, they often don't. Their slumber is punctuated by periodic snorts, rocking, pauses between breaths, and even knocking their heads repeatedly against their cribs. Many new moms and dads are understandably concerned when they witness such things.

These and other activities are common with sleeping infants, and seldom signal a reason to worry. That said, it's worth learning why they occur, and when you should call your doctor. Below, we'll describe a few behaviors your baby might display while sleeping, and help you identify whether they indicate a problem.

Moving Back And Forth

Some infants rock when they sleep. You'll notice them swaying moving back and forth, as if keeping time with a metronome. Babies often do this because the motion is soothing to them. When they sleep, it occurs naturally.

There's no need for concern unless your little one begins to rock back and forth aggressively; even then, it's rarely a problem. Tighten the screws on her crib each morning, however, since her constant movement may loosen them.

Light, Steady Snoring

Infants often snore for the same reasons adults snore, including a restricted passageway through their noses. If you hear your little one snoring lightly, and doing so steadily, the cause is likely a congested nose. On the other hand, if your baby's snoring is erratic, or she does it aggressively, have your doctor examine her air passages. She could be battling obstructive sleep apnea.

Grinding Teeth

Known as bruxism, a lot of babies grind their teeth while sleeping once their first few teeth come in. This typically occurs at six months. The grinding can persist for years. It sounds worse than it is. Teeth, even those of a baby, are incredibly strong. A few years of grinding will rarely damage them, or cause them to become worn (though it can happen). Nor does the activity cause pain for babies.

When you take your little one to her first dental appointment (usually by twelve months), mention the grinding to the dentist. He or she can examine your baby's teeth for signs of damage.

Hitting Their Heads Against Their Cribs

Of all sleep behaviors, this is the one that most startles new moms and dads. While their babies are sleeping, many of them hit their foreheads or the backs of their heads against the sides of their cribs. They do so gently, so there is seldom need for concern. This does little to console new parents, however.

It is estimated that one in five infants routinely hit their heads while they sleep. Boys are much more likely to engage in the behavior than girls. If you notice your little one banging her head while she sleeps, have your doctor examine her. While problems are rare, and the behavior is usually harmless, it's better to make certain.

Heavily Perspiring

Many babies sweat while they slumber. They don't form a light sheen of perspiration - their sweating is copious. It's common and usually happens when they're sleeping at their deepest point during the night.

Keep watch over your little one to identify additional signs that may indicate a health problem. For example, if she is sweating and having difficulty breathing, she may have an infection. If the temperature in her room is relatively low, yet she still sweats heavily, her sweating might indicate a problem that could lead to SIDS. Sweating rarely implies anything is wrong with your infant. However, as with a baby who hits her head while sleeping, it is better to make sure.

Don't be alarmed if your little one displays any of the behaviors described above while she sleeps. Keep a wary eye on her, and call your doctor if you suspect a lingering problem. Realize, however, that babies often sleep fitfully.

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