It’s a girl? How to cope when your baby isn’t a boy

Some dads do get disappointed if their new born bundle of joy is a female.  If you too are in such kind of dilemma, don’t worry – all of your hopes and dreams aren’t shattered.  In fact, there are many reasons to be proud of having a girl instead of a boy.

Many dads as well as mom pray for a boy as dads want someone to teach their athletic wisdom to and mom’s wants someone to take care of them.   Moreover, fathers are more overprotective of daughters – whereas sons are sometimes easier to guide when it comes to growing up and dating. Boys are more notorious, the sense of responsibility comes in a daughter at quite an early age.

Most of the times daughters speak openly with their dads which helps to improve father and daughter bonding. That’s why there is the phrase “daddy’s girl.”

As father, it’s important that to understand gender of the child doesn’t affect the way you raise the child. So sit back and relax knowing that your little princess will likely mature in ways that you’ve never imagined as long as you’re there for her. Just don’t spoil her too much!

Traveling with your baby

As a parent, you may have to travel with your baby on short and long trips. This would means taking your baby away from cozy, familiar surroundings in to new places with which your baby is not familiar. This can turn out to be a stressful experience for you as well as for your baby.

While traveling with your baby, plan early. Gather as much information as possible and try to cut down the inevitable uncertainties that go with any most travel plans.

These simple guidelines can make travel an enjoyable and pleasant experience for yourself and fun for your baby:

* Try to plan your trip well in advance. This will minimize hassles such as arrangements for boarding, lodging, destination breaks etc.

* Make a checklist of the baby items you will need to carry with you on the trip and stock up on these in advance.

* Carry diapers and wipes. You may need more of these than you think.

* Have a back up plan in place, in case you are not able to stick to the original arrangements you made while planning the trip.

* Schedule your trip to avoid inconvenient travel timings. Your baby will be most comfortable when its routine feeding, sleeping and waking time is only minimally disturbed.

* Avoid traveling to destinations where medical help may not be readily available.

* Avoid long-drawn out trips. Try to stick to the most comfortable modes of travel available.

* If possible, avoid traveling with your baby to places you are not familiar with.

What dads need to know about Club Penguin

If you have a son or daughter around six or seven, you may have already heard about Club Penguin. Club Penguin is a virtual world (think Second Life) for little kids. Kids choose and name a penguin character to act as their avatar as they move around the Club Penguin site and play games to earn coins. These coins can be exchanged for clothing and other items. The site says it’s for kids 8-14. There are 700,000 paying members worldwide and over 5,000,000 visitors per month.

Club Penguin is touted as a safe place for kids to play on line, and unlike some similar sites, it does have some safety features built in. For example, Club Penguin allows parents to set up one of two levels of security. One level only allows Penguins to talk to each other using a pre-set list of words and phrases. Even the “standard safe chat” uses a filter to make sure no inappropriate language used. Additionally, the site uses “spies” to monitor messages between Penguins.

Dads should be aware of several things.

1. Membership looks absolutely free at the beginning. You’ll see no indication of a price tag as you enter in your personal information. You’ll only become aware of the cost when your child asks you to pony up $5.95 month for extra “upgrades” (or if you dig into the parents information area). Upgrades include penguin accessories and clothing, igloo decorations and the ability to adopt more “Puffles,” the Penguin’s pet. On the other hand, the membership charge makes it possible to run the site without advertising (so far).
2. Disney recently purchased Club Penguin. There may be more tie-ins and promotions for Disney products in the future. Given the $700 million price tag, Disney clearly sees a potential to leverage the site and its membership beyond the current scope.
3. Club Penguin is basically a site for on-line game playing. Dads should be aware of the content and spend some time on the site and limit time on the computer accordingly.

Club Penguin is a good site for young kids to spend time playing safely on line. At the same time, parents need to monitor online and offline computer usage. We recommend setting up the computer in a public area in the house so you can easily monitor your kids’ internet traffic. You can use a Mac, with its Parental Control settings, or use filtering software to make sure your kids don’t end up in the wrong place on the internet, either intentionally or by accident.

Easy Ways To Be A Better Dad

In today’s fast-paced world providing for your family and at the same time being a dad is no easy task. But with a little extra help and some sound advice, you can become a better dad. Here are some tips from our readers who suggest that there can be no replacement for love and spending quality time with your kids. So be a friend and role model to your kids but always let them know who the boss is.

“Make it a point to know your children’s friends, what they like about that person, etc. Refrain from any criticisms, but if you are uncomfortable about your child’s association with a particular child or their family, try to see if your concerns are truly justified – if so, take the time to express those concerns to your child (if appropriate) and listen carefully to your child’s feedback.”
-M, Sullivan, NH

“Have an open line of communications with your children. Take time every day to talk to them about their day, their schoolwork and their concerns.”
-Buddy, Jefferson, ME

“To be a better dad, listen to them. Really listen and take in what they are saying and feeling. Nodding your head and saying yes rolls right off them.”
-Steve, Midlothian, VA

“Stay involved in your child’s personal life!”
-S, Madison, WI

“I think it’s important to treat your children as individuals, and to give them what they need without shorting yourself.”
-Kayce, Knoxville, TN

“Don’t forget, they are the kids and you are the parent.”
-Jay, Chicago

“Don’t be afraid of being the parent. You don’t have to be their best buddy all the time but you do have to be the parent.”
-C, Cartersville, GA

“Do what’s best for your kids, even if you think it’s makes you the bad guy.”
-Tim, Chico, CA

“Take an active role in your child’s education.”
-Robin, Hodgenville, KY

“Do lots of different projects, games, crafts, baking, play dates with your children to create memories.”
-M, Vancouver, WA

“Listen to your kids. Don’t sweat the small stuff and enjoy every moment. Time flies!”
-Kaycee, Tallahassee

“Be their friend and NEVER betray your child’s trust.”
-Ramzi, West Hollywood

Complications – Some Pregnancy Problems without Symptoms

Some Pregnancy Problems without Symptoms Some health problems your spouse may have during pregnancy do not have warning signs. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, one of these is Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection. GBS is a common infection that rarely makes adults sick. The bacterium lives in the gastrointestinal system, along with many other harmless bacteria.

According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, between 10 to 30 percent of pregnant women carry GBS in their vagina and rectums. But, if GBS is passed to the baby during delivery, it can cause serious health problems in the newborn, such as pneumonia, blood infection, or infection of the tissues around the brain.

Because there are no symptoms of GBS, she will be tested at 35 to 37 weeks of pregnancy. The simple test involves swabbing the vagina and rectum for a sample of cells that are sent to a lab to look for GBS. If she is infected, she will be treated with intravenous (IV) antibiotics during labor and delivery to make sure the baby is protected.

Another problem is anemia, or having below-normal levels of iron in the blood. Iron is needed for hemoglobin (a protein in blood that helps take oxygen to body tissues for energy and growth) for your spouse and your baby. Iron also helps build bones and teeth. Most women do not have any symptoms of anemia. For those who do, extreme fatigue is often the only sign. Your doctor will check for signs of anemia using routine blood tests during different stages of the pregnancy. If your spouse has anemia, she will be given iron supplements.

According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, you can help her prevent anemia by getting her to eat lots of iron-rich foods like lean red meat, potatoes with skins, raisins, broccoli, leafy green vegetables, whole-grain breads and iron-fortified cereals.

The dangers of unwashed hands

You never know where your children have been and what they have been up to till you see their hands. Toddlers tend to collect germs on their hands from a variety of sources – contaminated surfaces, foods, even animals and animal waste. If they don’t wash their hands frequently enough, there is a strong chance they may get infected themselves and spread these germs to others.

Here are some of the infectious diseases commonly spread through hand-to-hand contact:

* The common cold
* Flu
* Numerous gastrointestinal disorders, including infectious diarrhea

Teaching toddlers good hand-washing skills is a vital part of their grooming. Moreover, it teaches them to take care of their bodies.

Follow these steps to help maintain good hygiene in your family:

* STEP 1: Be a role model. Wash your hands and your toddlers’ hands at the same time. Make sure they see you washing your hands after going to the bathroom or when you come in from outside. This may improve your health as well.
* STEP 2: Talk about it. Toddlers often don’t follow what’s good and what’s bad. So say things like, “Look at all this dirt on my hands. I should wash that off.”
* STEP 3: Make observations. Show your children how other people wash their hands. For example, doctors wash their hands before touching your child during a checkup. Point this out the next time your toddler gets a checkup.
* STEP 4: Turn hand-washing into a routine. Wash your hands before every meal and do it everyday. The act of washing up is bound to become second nature to your children.
* STEP 5: Make it easy for your children to reach the sink. Place a stool near a low sink for your toddlers.
* STEP 6: Let them play. Play nurtures learning. Allow your children to pretend-wash their toys and figurines at the sink.

It is also helpful to buy special cool soaps made for kids to encourage hand washing. Teach your children about the difference between hot and cold water and how to operate the faucets when required.

Accurately calculate medicine dosages

Most parents face the ongoing problem of accurately calculating toddler medicine dosages and fear the risk of giving their toddlers the wrong dosage. While giving infant medication, the dosage specifications marked on the label are in ml’s (milliliters) or cc’s (cubic centimeters). A doctor’s prescription may define toddler medicine dosages in teaspoon measures. If you didn’t follow the metric system in high school, you have some learning to do.

Administrating the exact dosage of medicine to your toddlers is very important. Giving less than required will not benefit the toddler and delivering an extra dosage of medicine can be detrimental to his health. Various devices are available in the market to help measure toddler medicine dosages accurately.

For kids less than 2 years old, always check with your doctor. You’ll notice that all over the counter medicines do NOT give dosages for this age group, specifically because the children vary widely in size and weight, and are not all ready for the medications.

Here is a list of what is available in the market:

• The Spoon Dropper: This is a plastic dropper that has easy to read calibrations of half teaspoon, one-fourth teaspoon and so on and also in milliliters to help ensure an accurate dosage of medicine to toddlers every time. They come with a tiny cleaner brush to clean the dropper.
• Tablet Crusher: This helps crush the tablet into powder and has a built in storage container to avoid spilling and wastage.
• Tablet Cutters: This device cuts the pill uniformly with a stainless steel blade and has a two-compartment pill storage area. It also has a ‘locking bar’ to provide safety.
• Syringe Dropper: It looks like a syringe, and has markings in ml (milliliters) for easy and accurate dispensing. It’s easy to fit into a baby or toddler mouth and squeeze out the right dosage of medicine for the toddler without spilling. On the plus side, some kids think it’s fun.

Points to remember:

• Doctors generally prescribe medications after taking the child’s age and weight into consideration.
• Dosages will change as the kid grows.
• Reading labels and following prescriptions accurately will go a long way in ensuring good health for your toddler.

Checking up on your nanny

If you did all the background and reference checks on your nanny beforehand, chances are you have a nanny you can be sure of. However, if you didn’t do full due diligence or if your nanny had no prior experience or references, and you have concerns, here are some warning signs of a “bad nanny.”

• Your normally happy baby becomes agitated and fearful when the nanny arrives. Sometimes, this is just evidence that real bonding has not occurred or that the baby just really wants to spend more time with you or your spouse.
• Your baby has had too many accidents. Even if your nanny is not abusing your child, signs of too many accidents means your nanny is not staying on top of the situation to provide falls and injury, which is one or her most important jobs.
• You differ with your nanny on ways to take care of the baby and your nanny doesn’t follow through on your requests. Or worse, she is critical of your parenting style.
• You find that the baby is not clean or properly dressed. This is a sign that the nanny is not up to the task of properly taking care of your child.
• Your nanny is often late or has unpredictable absences. A nanny you can’t depend on is in many ways worse than no nanny at all.
• You discover her in a lie or she tells stories that don’t make sense. In this case, you must immediately fire your nanny. You can not entrust your child to any person who lies, steals, or betrays your trust.

Most nanny decisions can be made without hiring a detective or installing hidden cameras.

Brainstorming Names for Your Baby

Sure, you can wade through 60,000 names and look for the one that catches your fancy. Another approach is to sit down with a glass of wine ( grape juice for mom-to-be ) and make the following questions into a game. Brainstorm using some or all of these questions and see what kind of ideas they spark. Remember, there is no rule that says a baby can only have one name. If you work together, you might find a few that you both like and respond to at the same time.

• Find out who are your favorite artists ?
• What is your favorite movie? Who are the stars ?
• What is your favorite novel? Who are the main characters ?
• Name every family member as far back or distant as you can remember ?
• Figure out what part of American history do you like ?
• Find out what countries are your ancestors from ?
• What languages do you speak ?
• What is your favorite city? What is your favorite state ?
• Try to remember where did you go on your first date ?
• Where were you married ?
• Where did you go for honeymoon ?
• Your favorite teachers ?
• Your favorite flowers, gems, trees ?

About the Baby

• Where was he or she conceived ?
• Where will the baby be born? City? Address ?
• What do you want baby’s name to say about you ?
• What do you think your baby will look like ?
• What kind of personality will she or he likely have ?
• What color hair or eyes do you imagine ?
• What is the name of your OB / GYN ?

Vacation Getaways for Kids and Dads

During vacation time, it is important that you get down to planning things together so that each family member can voice his choice of destination. A few time-tested vacation ideas or must-see places for dads and kids are suggested below. Whether it is skiing on a snow-capped mountainside that draws you or the safari, which delights your kids, you will find it all here.
So pack your bags and gift your children a vacation and a memory to stay with them all their lives!

National Park Vacations

Life in the city – daily routine, commuting to and back from work, etc. may get to you at times. If you are looking for an outlet, an outdoor family vacation is an answer to it. National Parks like Yellowstone (Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana), Yosemite (California), the Grand Canyon (Arizona), Crater Lake, Death Valley, Glacier Bay, etc. provide countless opportunities to revel in the abundance of nature. The Rocky Mountain National Park is one such destination worth considering. It provides adventure opportunities with all sorts of climbing, fly-fishing, snowshoeing, skiing, backpacking, hiking, wildlife viewing, and bird watching, all in the backdrop of breathtaking scenery.

Beach Wonders

Building sand castles on the beach with your kids may give you an insight into the fantasy world of your child and help you bond better as a dad. If you are the adventurous type, water sports at the beach with your kids is an exciting option. America is blessed with beautiful beaches which are well maintained, making them ideal family vacation spots. Clearwater Beach, Cumberland Island, East Hampton, Laguna, Little Palm Island, Naples, Newport Beach, Ofu Beach, Poipu Beach, and beaches in Hawaii are the top beaches suited for a family vacation. Whether you are attracted by pristine and calm waters, rocky beaches, sandy beaches or all types of snorkeling and diving sports, you have it all here. One of the most suitable beaches for kids is the Kauai Beach—a natural wonder in itself, it offers the opportunity to ride horses and indulge in kayaking, biking, and fishing, apart from water sports.

Cities

If you haven’t taken your kids to the famous cities of America, you haven’t added value to their education. It is important that your kids learn about the seat of American politics, economic growth and strength, cultural resources and influence, academic institutions, etc., and the impact of all these on the world. The cities of maximum importance are New York, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia, Houston, Atlanta, and Seattle. In addition, places like Orlando, Las Vegas, and Miami can prove to be one of the most memorable family vacations with entertainment opportunities galore for all age groups.