The post 10 Sleep Training Methods Every Exhausted Parent Should Try Tonight. #3 Works For Me appeared first on Oh My Parenting.

Ready for a game-changer fact? Babies cry—a lot. Shocking, I know. They can ball their little eyes out for one to three hours a day!

Now, wouldn’t it be swell if babies came with troubleshooting manuals? “If crying, press here.” Unfortunately, they don’t.

But lucky for you, I’ve compiled a list of 11 plausible reasons why your tiny human might be sounding the alarm. From hunger pangs to just needing some good ol’ cuddling—this guide’s got it all.

And because I know you’re probably reading this at 2 AM while rocking an inconsolable infant (been there), I’m going to make it worth your time.

11. Overstimulation: Signs Your Baby May Be Overwhelmed

Ever feel like your baby’s gone from zero to meltdown in a nanosecond? Welcome to the club.

Overstimulation happens when babies get more input from their world than they can handle. Think bright lights, loud noises, and that aunt who thinks it’s funny to play peek-a-boo for two hours straight.

Your little one might be saying (well, screaming), “I’ve had enough!”.

So what does an overstimulated baby look like?

Picture this: red-faced, crying like they’re auditioning for a soap opera, maybe even tossing in some jerky limb action or clenching those tiny fists.

And you thought your Monday was rough.

How do you spot the overload before it hits DEFCON 1? Does your baby suddenly turn into a limp noodle when Auntie Loud-Laugh enters the room? Maybe they start grimacing like they’ve just eaten a lemon every time the dog barks?

Here’s a pro tip. Watch out for signs like looking away or losing interest faster than I lose socks in the laundry. It’s their way of hitting the pause button on sensory input because frankly, it’s all getting too much.

Remember folks. We’re aiming for calm seas here—knowing these signs means sailing through choppy waters with ease.

And yes, sometimes that involves dodging those well-meaning yet overly enthusiastic relatives!

10. Diaper Discomfort: The Common Culprit Behind Tears

Now, let’s chat about something a bit more personal. Diaper discomfort.

Oh yes, it’s the real deal in the crying baby saga. Why? Well, imagine sitting in a wet swimsuit all day. Not fun, right?

Diapers—too tight or left too long—spell trouble with a capital T. We’re talking rashes that sing the blues louder than a midnight karaoke session gone wrong.

Wet or soiled diapers aren’t just uncomfortable; they’re party crashers for your little one’s good vibes.

Wet or soiled diapers aren’t just uncomfortable; they’re party crashers for your little one’s good vibes.

Now, you might wonder how often to play pit crew for diaper changes? Before every feed? After? Maybe during?

Here’s where things get spicy – prompt changes are key. Letting your bambino marinate in their own brew is a no-go zone for happy baby booties.

So here’s the kicker. Address that diaper distress fast to keep those tears at bay and smiles on replay.

And remember, each change is an episode in “Keeping Up With The Baby Comforts.”

Got diaper rash cream stocked up? Good! It’s kind of like armor against diaper drama and keeps those cute tushies happier than ever!

Who knew something as simple as keeping it dry down there could make such a blockbuster difference in your day-to-day parenting saga?

9. Burping Needs: Relieving Your Baby’s Discomfort

So, after tackling the classic ‘diaper drama’, let’s shimmy right into why your little bundle of joy might be more gassy than a late-night taco stand.

Ever wondered why your baby acts like they’re auditioning for a burp contest? Well, it turns out that burping is pretty much their full-time job post-mealtime.

Babies gulp air faster than a teenager downs pizza on game night, especially during feeding. This air party in their tiny bellies can turn them into fuss-central station.

The secret sauce to calming down this fussy fiesta? A good ol’ fashioned burp. Yes, helping your baby to burp is like hitting the mute button on their cry-fest.

But here’s the kicker. Sometimes they need help finding their inner belch.

It’s all about that upright feeding position and then coaxing those pesky air bubbles out before they start doing the cha-cha in your baby’s stomach.

Remember how you feel after chugging a soda too fast? Imagine that feeling but with no way to let it out.  Yikes!

So really, if you’re aiming for less crying and more smiling from both of you, mastering the art of the burp is key.

Who knew something as simple as a burp could bring so much peace and quiet?

8. General Discomfort: Uncovering The Hidden Reasons For Crying

Ever wondered why your baby turns into a mini scream machine for no obvious reason? Welcome to the club called general discomfort.

This mysterious land is where your detective skills are put to the test, minus the cool hat and magnifying glass.

Babies cry over everything from earaches, those sneaky mouth ulcers, to the dreaded diaper rash or even – get this – ulcers on their tiny penises. 

Babies cry over everything from earaches, those sneaky mouth ulcers, to the dreaded diaper rash or even – get this – ulcers on their tiny penises.

Now, guess what? Scientists have whipped up some tech magic that can tell us why our babies are crying.

No kidding! They say every cry is like a snowflake – unique and with its own story of bellyaches or teething terrors.

But good luck explaining that at 3 AM when you’re playing “guess why” with a wailing infant.

So, who thought being a baby was just about cute onesies and napping? Oh wait, they also run marathons in their cribs at night.

Point is, next time your little bundle of joy launches into full-on concert mode, remember – it’s not just hunger or sleepiness. It might be something sneakier causing that uproar.

7. Teething Pain: Recognizing And Easing Your Baby’s Discomfort

Oh, the drama of baby teething! Picture this. Your little bundle of joy suddenly turns into a drool monster, chomping down on everything in sight. What gives? Ah, the teething saga begins.

Those tiny white pearls making their grand entrance can be a real pain—literally—for your baby.

So, how do you play detective and spot the teething symptoms before your household turns into a scene from a horror movie?

First off, is your baby fussier than a cat in the water and gnawing on their fists like it’s Thanksgiving dinner?

Bingo! You’re likely dealing with teething discomfort. Swollen gums joining the party too? Yep, those are clear signs.

But wait, let’s debunk a myth right here – fever and diarrhea aren’t invited to this party. They’re crashing it from another cause.

Now for the golden question. How do you ease that gum pain that turns your sweet angel into a cranky gremlin?

Before you start googling ancient spells for relief – chillax! A simple rub on the gums or some over-the-counter remedies can work wonders.

And remember those cool teethers? They’re not just Instagram-worthy. They actually soothe sore gums too.

So, there you have it folks—navigating through the teething tempest with some humor and handy tips up your sleeve can save the day (and night).

Who knew being part-time gum detective could be this fun?

6. Tummy Troubles: Identifying Digestive Discomfort In Babies

Ever faced a baby who’s more upset than an internet troll on a slow connection day? That’s tummy troubles for you.

You’re trying to decode the cries, wondering if your little bundle has turned into a tiny detective issuing Morse code for “my belly hurts!” But how do you tell?

First off, let’s talk explosions – and I’m not talking action movies here. If your diaper duties feel like you’re in the splash zone at Sea World, we might be dealing with some digestive drama.

Vomiting? Diarrhea? More changes in those tiny diapers than plot twists in a soap opera? Bingo! Might be time to consider gastrointestinal infections or just an upset stomach signaling SOS.

And then there’s constipation. Ever seen a baby turn red as a tomato trying to go?

So, what gives with these tummy issues from team tiny tots?

Food allergies, overfeeding (because apparently there IS too much of even the good stuff), or something as simple as needing burping advice from the pros can throw their delicate systems off track.

Are they refusing food like it’s last season’s veggies or suddenly sleeping like they’re training for nap Olympics? Hello, signs!

Navigating through infant stomach pain is less about having all the answers and more about playing detective.

5. Attention Needs: Understanding Cries For Care And Connection

Let’s swing into something a bit more heartstring-pulling. Those cries for attention.

Yeah, your baby isn’t just working on their lung capacity. They’re shouting out for some good old-fashioned TLC.

Ever think your little one might be auditioning for a drama series with all that crying? Well, it’s actually their way of saying, “You, with the tired eyes! I need a hug!”.

So, what’s the deal with these attention-seeking cries? They’re not just throwing a fit to see how fast you can sprint across the room.

Nope. It’s their prime time way of connecting and feeling safe in this big wild world.

Think about it – wouldn’t life be grand if you could just wail and someone would immediately cuddle you?

But before you start thinking babies are master manipulators in diapers …. remember, this is all they’ve got!

No words or fancy hand signals here. Just raw emotion pouring out needing to be understood and comforted.

Now tell me, when was the last time simply being listened to made your day better? See where I’m going with this?

The next time the waterworks start because they missed your face (yes – it’s true!), take a beat and soak up that moment of pure needy love.

4. Sleepiness: Your Baby Needs Rest

Ever noticed your cute little munchkin turning into a fussy goblin? Could be they’re simply pooped.

These tiny humans, bless their hearts, can’t say, “I’m tired here!” Instead, they rub their eyes and yawn like it’s going out of style.

Oh, and let’s not forget the classic looking away move when you’re trying way too hard to entertain them with your fifth rendition of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.”.

Have you seen them get all jerky with their arms or cling to you like you’re the last cookie in the jar? That’s your cue. Nap time is calling.

Seriously though, if it’s been over 2 hours since their last snooze fest, chances are they’re crying because they need some shut-eye.

Who thought being adorable could be so exhausting? And there’s nothing quite like playing detective at 3 AM guessing why your baby turned into a night-time opera star.

Spoiler alert: They’re probably just tired.

So, next time your bundle of joy starts acting more like a bundle of chaos for no good reason, remember – maybe all that fuss is because they’ve been partying too hard in crib-town.

Trust me. Even babies need to catch those ZZZs to recharge for another day of being irresistibly cute!

3. Hunger: The Primary Need Behind Crying

So, you thought decoding baby cries was tougher than cracking the Da Vinci Code? Think again.

Hunger—it’s often the big boss behind those tearful tantrums. Babies, much like your favorite snack-hungry gremlin at midnight, have a belly-rumbling way of making their needs known.

Hunger strikes and bam!—your little one is in full-on protest mode until their tummy troubles are sorted out.

Hunger strikes and bam!—your little one is in full-on protest mode until their tummy troubles are sorted out.

Notice how they go from zero to chill after chowing down? Yep, that’s because feeding flips their mood switch faster than you can say “satiety.”

And get this. Crying post-feed might not be a hunger pang replay but could signal heartburn—ouch!

The twist here is making sure we’re not turning our cuties into overfed burrito babies by mistaking every whimper for hunger.

2. Illness: When To Worry About Your Baby’s Cries

Oh, the soundtrack of parenting …. baby cries! But hold on. Not all wails are created equal.

Ever heard a shriek that made you think, “Is this an audition for baby opera or a call to the pediatrician?”

Here’s the scoop on decoding those sobs into signs of illness.

Babies cry for an all-star lineup of reasons – hungry, sleepy, or because they’ve just realized they can’t eat their foot.

But sometimes, it’s more than just a cranky anthem. It’s your cue something’s up.

If your little star is crying harder and longer than their chart-topping usuals or throwing in some bonus features like fever or vomiting – ding ding ding – we might be looking at more than just drama.

Think about it.  When was the last time you cried because you were too warm? Exactly.

And persistent moaning or high-pitched screams? Yeah, that’s your sign to ring up the doc faster than you can say “doctor’s appointment.”

Not to freak you out but earaches, ulcers (ouch), and even colic could be crashing your calm like a bad surprise party guest.

Now onto figuring out why every evening feels like Groundhog Day with colicky cries…

1. Colic: Navigating The Challenges Of Colicky Cries

Ever felt like your baby is auditioning for the lead role in “The Never-Ending Cry”? Welcome to colic central, where the wails have you checking if there’s a hidden return policy!

Colic hits up to 30% of babies and boy, does it turn your evenings into prime-time drama from 6 p.m. to midnight.

Who needs Netflix when you’ve got a live show?

Here’s the scoop – colic isn’t just fussiness. We’re talking about crying marathons that last at least three hours.

So now what? You’re jiggling, shushing, swaddling …. contemplating building a soundproof nursery? Been there, done that.

It would have been great if babies came with mute buttons or at least troubleshooting guides, right?

Well, navigating this phase involves trial and error. Not to mention truckloads of patience.

Decoding Baby Cries

Who knew a tiny human could have such a massive repertoire of cries? It’s as if they know just how to keep us on our toes.

Becoming fluent in baby cry is kinda possible.

Who would’ve thought that all those hours of tear-filled serenades were actually crash courses in ‘Infant Linguistics’?

The thing is, once you start picking up on those hunger cues or realize that inconsolable crying might just mean it’s time for another round of burping, things get slightly less mysterious.

And nobody said playing detective with an upset baby was easy – but isn’t it oddly rewarding when you finally figure out what’s bugging them?

So, next time your little one starts their nightly opera, remember! You’ve got this!

The post 11 Plausible Reasons Why Your Baby May Be Crying appeared first on Oh My Parenting.

Shocking, right?

Here’s a fact: sleep training can teach your little night owl to snooze peacefully.

Ever wondered if there was magic involved in getting babies to sleep through the night? Well, spoiler alert: no wizards or spells here.

But don’t worry, I’ve got something better – sleep training tips that actually work.

This article walks you through 10 lifesavers that promise more Zs for both you and your babe. Trust me; your eyelids will thank you later.

And remember, patience is key, but so is laughter. Let’s conquer those long nights together!

Understanding What Sleep Training Is Not

Sleep training? It’s not ignoring your crying baby in the middle of the night. No way.

Think your kid will start snoozing eight straight hours like magic? Not happening.

Sleep training isn’t a secret potion for instant quiet nights. And forget about kicking back and relaxing; this is no one-and-done deal.

Got dreams of a perfect method that works for all kids? Dream on! Each tiny human is as unique as a snowflake in their sleep habits.

Before babies reach around 4 to 6 months, sleep training is a no-go zone – they’re just not ready.

Expecting overnight success? Brace yourself for some reality checks instead. This journey requires patience, consistency, and more trial and error than you’ve dared to try.

So laugh at those sleepless nights because soon enough, with the right approach (not neglect!), you’ll be crafting sleep patterns better than any bedtime story could promise.

The Right Age To Start Sleep Training: Around 4 to 6 months

So, your little bundle of joy has finally arrived. You’re knee-deep in diapers and wondering when you’ll get a full night’s sleep again, right?

Enter the magical world of sleep training—kinda like Hogwarts for babies but with less magic and more crying.

The golden window to start this adventure? Around 4 to 6 months.

Why then, you ask? Well, it’s all about the circadian rhythm—that fancy term that means our internal body clock. Babies start getting their groove around this age. They begin to understand the difference between day and night (thank goodness).

Plus, they’re at a stage where they can learn new tricks. Like sleeping through the night without turning it into an all-night rave.

But wait, there’s a twist!

Not every baby got the memo on this whole “sleeping” business. Some think nighttime is prime time for partying hardy in their crib. That’s where sleep training methods come swooping in—to save your sanity.

10. Cry It Out Method

Oh, the cry-it-out method. Sounds like a last-ditch effort at a wild party, right? But nope, it’s about babies and sleep. Ever stood outside your baby’s room counting the seconds before you caved? That’s this.

Think boot camp for sleeping. Only cuter because… babies. You put them down awake and let them figure out how to fall asleep on their own, crying included.

Harsh? Maybe.

Effective? Ask the legion of tired parents who swear by it like their morning coffee ritual.

Why do we even consider it? Because at some point, reading every sleep book feels like trying to decode ancient Greek while sleep-deprived. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

The gist is simple: Babies learn to soothe themselves back to dreamland without a cuddle or milk bar opening every hour.

With boundaries and consistency (and maybe some noise-canceling headphones for you), miracles may happen.

9. Check And Console Method

Ever tried the Check and Console method? Oh, it’s a game-changer for sleep-deprived moms. Imagine popping in to reassure your tiny human you’re still around without picking them up.

Genius, right? It’s like being a ninja who calms babies.

This method is all about balance. You check on your baby at set times but no cuddles are involved. Tough? Sure. But it teaches self-soothing like a champ.

You might wonder how often to sneak in. Start with every 5 minutes, then stretch it out. Your baby learns to catch those Zs on their own while knowing you’re there. Magic!

Consistent bedtime routine is key here – think bathtime and lullabies, and maybe even throw in some swaddle action if that’s your jam! And lights out should mean just that. Keep the room dark and cozy.

But let’s be real: tears will happen (yours too). Prepping mentally for this is half the battle.

8. Fading Method

Hear me out, fellow sleep-deprived warriors. Ever felt like a zombie doing a tightrope walk at 3 AM? Welcome to the club. The Fading Method is basically your new BFF if you’re into letting your baby learn to snooze without the whole “I’m losing my mind” vibe.

What’s the deal here? You’re playing the long game, easing back on how much you help your tiny human fall asleep. Think less ninja moves sneaking out of the nursery and more like being there but not all up in their grill.

So, you keep asking yourself between yawns, “Will this make my munchkin an Olympic sleeper?”

Short answer: Maybe.

Long answer: It’s about teaching them to catch those Z’s on their own turf, in their own sweet time.

Here’s where it gets real – patience is key. Imagine watching paint dry but cuter because it’s your kid figuring out sleep is actually pretty cool when they give it a try.

7. Importance Of Maintaining A Consistent Bedtime Routine

Ever tried wrangling a pack of squirrels at bedtime? That’s parenting without a routine. A consistent bedtime routine is like magic fairy dust for getting your little chaos creators to sleep land.

Why, you ask? Simple.

Kids thrive on knowing what comes next. It’s their comfort food, minus the calories! Bath, book, bed – repeat. It sounds like a snooze fest for us but trust me, it’s the toddler equivalent of binge-watching their favorite show.

And let’s be real. We’re not just talking about any routine here. We need one that screams “It’s sleepy time!” louder than a lullaby on max volume. Think dim lights, soft pajamas, and maybe a stuffed friend who’s ready to hit the hay too.

But hey! Here’s where it gets tricky: consistency is key. Skipping nights is like giving them an espresso shot before bed—chaos ensues.

6. Creating An Optimal And Safe Sleep Environment

Creating the perfect sleep space for your baby? Think cozy cave, not bustling Times Square. You want a room that whispers “snoozeville” in every corner. First off, ditch those neon nightlights.

Babies don’t need a mini-disco to doze off – they prefer the dull and boring.

Ever tried sleeping in a room as still as a library but as dark as your closet? That’s the gold standard here.

And about temperature – think neither Sahara desert nor Arctic tundra. A comfy cool is what we’re aiming for, where pajamas meet perfect.

Noise machines are like secret weapons – white noise can be a game-changer! But let’s not turn it up to rock concert levels. We’re lulling them to sleep, not starting a mosh pit.

Swaddles? Yes, please! These are your best friends for making babies feel snug without turning their crib into an obstacle course of stuffed animals and excess blankets.

5. Making A Plan And Sticking To It

Oh, making a plan and sticking to it. Sounds easy, right? Ha! If only babies got that memo. Here we are, trying to teach these tiny humans how to sleep by themselves. Like we’re some kind of sleep wizards.

Step one: Make a plan.

Seems simple enough. But then, life happens. Your baby laughs in the face of your beautiful, color-coded sleep training schedule. What’s next? Stick to it with the determination of a toddler refusing to eat broccoli.

Why do we even bother? Because deep down, we know this is the golden ticket to maybe, just maybe, getting more than three hours of sleep at a stretch.

So, you’ve read about all these methods—cry-it-out (sounds harsh), check-and-console (much nicer), fading (what even is that?). You pick one that doesn’t make you feel like a monster parent and decide this is it—the path to reclaiming your night.

4. Prep For Tears: Handling Emotional Resistance

Babies crying? Welcome to the wild ride of parenthood. Picture this: It’s 3 AM, and you’ve mastered the fine art of moving like a ninja so as not to wake up your little one. Suddenly, a wail shatters the silence.

Your baby’s not having it tonight. And guess what? Neither are you.

Brace yourself. Think of sleep training as baby boot camp for sleeping but without the drill sergeant yelling unless you count those cries as commands from your tiny boss.

Now, handling emotional resistance sounds fancy, doesn’t it?

But here’s the scoop – it’s all about staying strong while your heart does somersaults because your baby is putting up a fight against bedtime like they’re negotiating world peace.

Got tears? Of course! Here’s where we roll out the red carpet for Mr. Tissues and Mrs. Patience.

3. Debunking The Myth Of Babies Sleeping Through The Night

Think your baby will sleep all night long right away? Ha, think again. This myth about babies sleeping through the night is like believing chocolate doesn’t have calories—utterly dreamy but not real.

Babies? Sleeping eight hours straight? As likely as me missing my coffee—won’t happen.

Little humans just don’t work that way. Their tiny tummies need feeding often, and their sleep cycles are shorter than us grown-ups.

Expect waking up, folks. It’s not because you’re doing it wrong—it’s biology! And no, reading those perfect mommy blogs won’t change your night shifts.

So why do we even believe this nighttime fairy tale? Blame it on social media or that neighbor who swears her child slept through wars since day one. Reality check: every baby is different.

Some might gift their parents a full night’s rest earlier than others, but many will take their sweet time adjusting to our solar cycle dreams.

2. Managing Expectations And Practicing Patience

Oh, the joy of sleep training. Feels like trying to nail jelly to a wall, right? Here we are, ready to dive into the art of keeping your cool when all you want to do is scream into a pillow.

Because let’s face it: expecting a baby to catch on to sleep training overnight is like expecting a cat to bark.

Patience isn’t just a virtue. In this game, it’s everything. Think about it – your little human is learning something totally new.

Remember how long it took you to learn that TikTok dance? Yeah. And no one was crying when you messed up.

Now, managing expectations, oh boy! It’s less about aiming low and more about being realistic.

Your baby will not sleep through the night immediately after starting sleep training methods like fading or Ferber (ever tried explaining “graduated extinction” at playgroup without getting weird looks?).

They’re babies, not robots programmed for optimal sleep quality from day one so stay patient.

1. When To Seek Professional Help: Sleep Consultant Vs. Pediatrician

Okay, let’s be real. Sometimes, despite all the parent tips and grandma’s advice, your baby’s sleep schedule is more unpredictable than a soap opera plot twist. So, when do you wave the white flag and call in the pros?

It’s simple: If your little night owl has you questioning your sanity or coffee can’t touch your level of tired anymore—it’s time.

Sleep consultants and pediatricians are like the dynamic duo of dreamland. Think Batman and Robin but for getting babies to snooze. A sleep consultant is like a personal trainer for Zs.

They come armed with strategies tailored just for your kiddo, from crying it out to less tear-filled tactics. They’re about setting up routines that stick.

On the flip side, pediatricians bring out the big guns when health issues might be playing peekaboo with your baby’s sleep.

Ear infections? Teething tsunamis? These docs have seen it all and can offer solutions or just peace of mind that you’re not missing something big.

So here’s my pro tip: Start with a chat with your pediatrician to rule out any health hiccups messing with bedtime. Then, if it turns out your babe is healthy but still throwing all-night raves in their crib—a sleep consultant could turn those zzz-less nights around.

Negotiating World Peace In Your Pajamas

Who knew getting a baby to sleep could feel like negotiating world peace in your pajamas? Let’s face facts: babies need to learn how to snooze on their own.

Bedtime routine consistency is your new best friend. Think of it as that comfy old sweater you can’t let go of.

An optimal sleep space is crucial—cool, quiet, dark equals sleepy bliss. Stick to your plan like glue. Changing strategies confuses everyone involved. Prep for some waterworks. Emotional nights are part of the deal.

So there you have it: sleep training demystified with ten battle-tested tips that promise some shut-eye (for both of you).

The post 10 Baby Sleep Training Methods That Moms And Experts Swear By appeared first on Oh My Parenting.

Every baby experiences teething differently from the time their first set of teeth emerges to the types of symptoms they may have.

So when does teething usually start? It really varies from one child to another.

However, according to WebMD.com (1):

“Teething usually begins around 6 months of age. But it is normal for teething to start at any time between 3 months and 12 months of age. By the time your child is about 3 years old, he or she will have all 20 primary teeth.”

When it comes to symptoms, expect your baby to have various teething symptoms.

According to pediatrician Deb Lonzer (2), chairperson of the Department of Community Pediatrics at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital:

“No more than a third of babies have any one symptom … one-third of the kids might drool, another third might be irritable, and another third might have trouble sleeping.”

Although the teething stage could be a very difficult time for your baby, you could help ease the pain. By being aware of the teething signs, you’d know how you could comfort your little one.

Here are the 10 teething signs that you should look out for with your baby.

10. Biting and gnawing.

A teething baby will gnaw and gum-down on anything. The counter pressure from biting helps relieve the pressure from under the gums and temporarily numbs the pain. (3)

To help relieve and ease the discomfort that your baby may be experiencing, your baby may be gnawing on anything and everything that he/she can get his/her hands on.

Be it toys, the edge of the table, or the rail of the crib, everything is fair game to your baby. Teething rings can really come in very handy for your baby.

Here is another classic tell-tale sign that your baby may be teething. Get those colorful, handy bibs ready as your baby will be doing some …

9. Heavy drooling.

The byproduct of a baby’s saliva production, drooling begins when a child is about 3 months old and lasts until he’s between 12 and 15 months old – more or less the same time period as teething. Drooling is a classic symptom of your baby’s teeth gradually pushing toward the gum’s surface, a process that can start months before the first tooth’s eruption. (4)

When your baby is teething, drooling is a common occurrence as the body creates extra saliva to lubricate the tender gums. Drooling may also be worse with some babies than others.

It’s definitely a good time to have bibs handy during your baby’s drooling stage.

Expect your baby to be putting their hands in the mouth quite often.

8. Gum-rubbing or finger-chewing.

Chewing helps to relieve the pain and pressure of teething, so you may notice your baby trying to soothe herself by chewing on her fingers. Try to keep your baby’s hands clean so that she doesn’t swallow any germs. (5)

During teething, your baby’s gums become tender and sore. As a result, your baby will have the tendency to touch their gums with their fingers to soothe them.

Some parents suggest using your clean finger or a cold teething ring to rub your baby’s gums for about a minute or two to help soothe the discomfort.

Aside from placing their hands and fingers in their mouth, your baby might also be doing this next symptom. It’s not just his/her gums that your baby will be touching …

7. Cheek-rubbing and ear-pulling.

Pain in the gums may spread to the ears and cheeks, particularly when the back molars begin coming in. This is why you may see your baby rubbing his cheeks or pulling at his ears. (6)

Experts think that babies do this to create counter pressure that eases of the discomfort and pain that they may be experiencing.

It’s more of an instinctive massage reaction to ease the discomfort.

Because of the heavy drooling, expect to see some skin irritation while your baby is teething.

6. Chin or facial rash.

If your baby is a heavy drooler, the constant contact with saliva may cause the skin around the chin and mouth to become irritated. Gently wipe your baby’s mouth and chin periodically throughout the day to help prevent chapped skin and rashes. (7)

The folks at WhatToExpect.com (8) suggest the following remedy:

“Patting away the drool will help prevent the rash. You can also create a moisture barrier with Vaseline or Aquaphor, and moisturize with a gentle unscented skin cream as needed. Have some nipple cream (like Lansinoh) on hand? It’s great for protecting tender baby skin, too.”

Because of the discomfort as a result of teething, mood swings may be quite an occurrence. Be a little patient as your baby may be showing a little bit of crankiness and grumpiness.

Don’t be surprised if your baby shows signs of …

5. Irritability and fussiness.

Your baby’s mouth will ache as that little tooth presses on the gums and pokes up to the surface, and, not surprisingly, it’ll probably make her feel out of sorts. Some babies may be irritable for just a few hours, but others can stay crabby for days or even weeks. (9)

As baby teeth starts to come out of the gums, your baby’s gums may become increasingly sore and uncomfortable. Hence, this may lead to fussiness and crying.

Just do your best to comfort them and give them some extra loving care.

If a baby’s gums are causing some (or a lot of) discomfort, don’t be surprised with this …

4. Decreased appetite or refusal to feed.

Uncomfortable, cranky babies yearn to be soothed by something in their mouths — whether a bottle or the breast. But the suction of nursing may make a teething baby’s sore gums feel worse. For that reason, teething babies are fussy about feedings (and get more frustrated as neither their discomfort nor their hungry tummies find relief). Babies eating solid foods may also refuse to eat during teething. (10)

Try to keep feeding your baby during regular meal times. If your baby appears hungry in-between meals, you can offer him/her something too just so your baby gets nourishment.

Now if your baby still keeps refusing to eat, call your pediatrician.

A lot of parents have observed this next symptom while studies have shown mixed results regarding this particular symptom. Just keep a close watch on your baby when he or she has a stuffy nose.

3. Cold-like symptoms.

Some experts believe teething can cause a slight runny nose and a minimal cough, but others say these symptoms are more likely due to the common cold. All agree that serious coughing and congestion signal a bona fide illness — and are not the result of teething. (11)

Some experts think that cold-like symptoms in teething babies may be a result of a baby’s attempt to alleviate pain by frequently putting their hands in their mouth or start chewing on their toys. These then exposes the baby to more germs, which results in colds.

Just make sure to notify and consult with your doctor if symptoms occur for more than two days.

Is your baby no longer sleeping like an angel? If yes, then your baby may be teething if he or she has been exhibiting these lately …

2. Wakefulness or not sleeping well.

Tooth eruption — when the tooth moves through the bone and gum — tends to come in stages, with more activity at night than during the day, so your baby may be more irritable then. (12)

When your baby is teething, you might observe that he/she may be waking up more often during the night. Some parents have also observed that babies tend to wake up more often when their molars start coming out. You may also find that your baby will tend to nap less and wake up earlier in the morning.

Lastly, the jury is still out on this next symptom.

There remains some conflicting evidence on whether low-grade fever can be significantly associated with teething.

1. Low-grade fever.

This is another sign doctors are sometimes hesitant to directly link with teething. Many parents, however, find their babies get low-grade fevers while teething. Notify your doctor if the temperature rises above 102 degrees F, or if the temperature remains elevated for more than two days. (13)

According to a study on the American Academy of Pediatrics mild temperature elevation is statistically associated with teething (14). However, another study (15) on its site finds that fever is not a normal teething symptom.

As a precaution, if your baby’s temperature remains elevated for more than two days, consult your pediatrician. Kevin Hale (16), a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry says:

“Don’t assume that a fever is caused by teething, because there could be other things going on.”

What about diarrhea?

Although a lot of people think diarrhea is related to teething, there appears to be no scientific and statistical evidence (17) to support this. Some people think that the most likely cause of diarrhea during teething is extra saliva swallowed, which then loosens the stool. However, a more likely explanation is as follows:

“… during teething, the child begins to chew on any object or toy lying around. They even suck their fingers, thumbs and hands due to gum irritation. As the immunity levels are low, bacteria and viruses present on the surface of these objects get an entry directly into the body from the mouth. The body cannot fight off the bacteria or viruses and the result is a gastrointestinal upset, that is, diarrhea.” (18)

Please take note: In the event that your little one has a fever or a runny nose, do not simply dismiss these as signs of teething, especially if the symptoms last longer than 24 hours. Call or visit your baby’s pediatrician to rule out anything more serious.

It also helps to know more about your family’s teething history. If you had teethed early, your little one is most likely to follow suit as well. Keeping in mind your family’s dental history can help you anticipate the teething phase of your baby.

Teething is milestone in your baby’s life. However, it can make your baby very uncomfortable. There will be a lot of crying but you’ll survive it. Once you are able to identify the signs of teething, you can easily calm your baby down.

The symptoms of teething list presented were compiled based on a study presented on Pediatrics (19), which is the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

WebMD (20) recommends the following tips to help your baby feel better while teething:

– Use a clean finger (or cold teething ring) to gently rub your baby’s gum for about 2 minutes at a time. Many babies find this soothing, although they may protest at first.

– Provide safe objects for your baby to chew on, such as teething rings.

– If needed, give your baby an over-the-counter pain reliever that is labeled for his or her specific age. Read and follow all instructions. Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20, because it has been linked to Reye syndrome, a rare but serious disease.

Let’s help babies who are teething. Please share this with family and friends whose baby may be going through this very uncomfortable stage.

Can you think of other signs that a baby is teething already?

The post 10 Teething Signs To Look Out For With Your Baby. Keep A Close Watch On #4, #3, and #1 appeared first on Oh My Parenting.

This is, in fact, very dangerous. It’s something that not a lot of parents know about.

Just the other day, I came across three different instances in a supermarket.

The thing is, supermarket carts have clear warning signs about not doing this. Unfortunately, this is simply ignored.

Surely, it’s convenient. However, is it safe? It definitely is NOT.

I’m sure someone is bound to say:

“I have always done that and nothing bad has ever happened. Besides, other people do it too so I don’t see anything wrong with it.”

Is putting a baby’s in harm’s way a risk worth taking?

Take a pause. Think about it.

A study conducted by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital has this to say:

“Although a voluntary shopping cart safety standard was implemented in the United States in 2004, the overall number and rate of injuries to children associated with shopping carts have not decreased. In fact, the number and rate of concussions/closed head injuries have continued to climb …”

Even the American Academy of Pediatrics highly recommends not to place baby car seats on shopping carts due to the potential dangers associated with the practice.

With that, here are the 6 top reasons why placing a car seat on a shopping cart is a bad idea.

6. Too many innocent children are getting injured.

The unfortunate reality is that accidents involving car seats on shopping carts really do happen.

In fact, shopping carts are the leading cause of head injuries among young kids:

“According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), shopping carts are the leading cause of head injuries in young children – surpassing injuries from high chairs, strollers, changing tables, baby gates and other equipment. The CPSC estimates that about 16,000 children under the age of five fall out of shopping carts each year and nearly 1,000 of those injuries involve falling infant carriers.” (1)

In addition, the Huffington Post cited the following stats:

“Between 1990 and 2011, 530,494 children had to go to the hospital because of a shopping cart-related injury — which averages out to more than 24,000 children injured a year, or 66 children injured each day.” (2)

This means that 1 child every 22 minutes is treated in an emergency department for injuries related to a shopping cart accident (3).

Furthermore, these injuries can be severe or even deadly. Most injuries, about 70.4%, are caused by falls from the cart or by the cart tipping over (4).

The number of concussion-related injuries was significantly high. Most of these shopping cart injuries are unfortunately serious …

5. Head injuries accounted for 78.1% of the most commonly injured body region.

Most of these head injuries were associated with children ages 0 to 4 years, in other words … infants and toddlers.

In fact, the number of head injuries has been increasing:

“While soft tissue injuries were the most common diagnosis for these head injuries, the annual rate of concussions and closed head injuries (which are concussions and internal head injuries) increased significantly by more than 200% during the study period, with the number of these injuries going from 3,483 injuries in 1990 to 12,333 in 2011. Most of this increase was associated with children ages 0 to 4 years.” (5)

In a report by Action News 4, the children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh revealed that 80% of the children coming to the hospital with shopping cart-related problems primarily had head injuries. (6)

A lot of people think that car seats are designed also for the purpose of locking onto shopping carts. However …

Here is something most people do not know about car seats:

4. Baby car seats are NOT designed to be secured on top of shopping carts.

In fact, most shopping carts that you find in grocery stores and supermarkets have warnings saying that baby car seats should not be placed on top of shopping carts.

Unfortunately, no one appears to be reading or paying attention to them …

… even when the sign is right down in front of them as they put the carrier on the cart.

The big “Warning” sign is right there. If folks will just take time to read them.

And for those who read them, they seem not to take the warning seriously … until something tragic happens.

“Most car seat manufacturers specifically prohibit using their seats this way but that warning is usually buried along with 30 other generic warnings in the instruction manual so it doesn’t get much attention.” (7)

Safety experts have time and again explained this but this message seems to be ignored.

According to safety expert Debra Holtzman:

3. Shopping carts can tip over easily — and they’re more likely to if there’s a car seat mounted on them.

Holtzman, who is also the author of The Safe Baby, adds:

“The cart has a narrow wheel base in relation to its height, so the center of gravity is affected when you put a child in it. When your child’s car seat is on top of it, the center of gravity is affected even more, increasing the chances of tipping.” (8)

Did you know that it does not take much weight to tip over a cart?

“Safety experts say when kids are strapped inside a shopping cart it raises the center of gravity of the cart. As little as ten pounds can tip it over.” (9)

Accidents happen and they do often within seconds … most especially when shopping carts tip over. Within seconds, your life can change completely.

Here is one mom’s account of a shopping cart that tipped over with her 10 month-old baby:

“She flipped the whole cart over while still buckled just because I’d taken the groceries out. It was empty, and that makes it light enough that she can flip it. That’s not good … It happened so fast and the fact that she was able to flip it with her own body weight because it was empty … I’m really concerned those carts aren’t as sturdy as they need to be.”

Tragic stories from car seat on shopping cart accidents are real. Here is the heartbreaking fact …

2. Babies have died from head injuries as a result of their car seats falling off a shopping cart.

The sad truth is that …

“Any injury or even DEATH (Yes. Babies have died from head injuries due to their carriers falling off the shopping cart) that has come from a carrier falling off the top of a cart is 100% preventable.” (10)

It has happened before and it can happen again.

“A three-month-old boy has died after he fell from a shopping cart as it was pushed over a speed bump. James Anderson Berg died after the car seat he was sat in toppled from the top of the cart in a Kroger parking lot in Macon, Atlanta.” (11)

You can read the comments section on our Facebook page and you will see a lot of people saying that they have witnessed horrible incidents of carriers just falling off shopping carts with the babies getting seriously injured.

Having experienced seeing these firsthand is just something that they simply cannot get our of their minds.

It’s just really sad.

Finally …

Tragedies are preventable.

1. One child death is too much, too many.

Let’s put a stop to this. Fatalities and serious injuries from car seat-shopping cart accidents are REAL.

So parents, please take this seriously and protect your baby. Save yourself, your family, and your friends from grief with having to deal with a heartbreaking and tragic accident.

There are many options available.

Just DON’T place the baby car seat on top of the shopping cart.

Instead of placing the car seat on the shopping cart, a lot of moms opt to use baby carriers or wraps such as the ones shown below:

Even the American Academy of Pediatrics highly recommends NOT to place car seats on shopping carts and suggests the following options for parents (12):

– Get another adult to come with you to watch your child while you shop.

– Put your child in a stroller or wagon instead of in a shopping cart.

– Wear a baby carrier or sling.

– Ask your older child to walk and praise him or her for behaving and staying near you.

– Leave your child at home with another adult while you shop.

– Shop online if your store offers shopping on the Internet.

– Never leave your child alone in a shopping cart.

– Do not let your child stand up in a shopping cart.

– Do not allow an older child to climb on the cart or push the cart with another child in it, because it is very easy for a child to tip the cart over.

Please share this article with family and friends who have babies and toddlers.

Let’s do our part in preventing another child from getting seriously hurt, or at worst, getting killed.

Would you still be willing to take a risk of your child falling from a shopping cart?

The post 6 Top Reasons “Car Seat On The Shopping Cart” Is A BAD Idea. #2 Is Heartbreaking appeared first on Oh My Parenting.

Have no fear, my fellow parents as we have some smart and quick fixes for you.

But first, you must understand what causes temper tantrums in order for you to get that edge when you are put in this potentially embarrassing situation.

Here are some of the major reasons your child may be having a tantrum from hell (1):

1. Toddlers can’t express themselves very well. Your 2- or 3-year-old may know a lot of words, but he doesn’t yet have the ability to construct complex sentences—or put words to all the emotions he’s feeling.

2. They are easily overwhelmed. Toddlers thrive on routine, and a change can really throw them off.

3. They want to do more than they can handle. Toddlers are naturally very curious—and are thrilled to discover they can suddenly do so many things on their own.

4. They don’t understand delayed gratification. Little kids live in the here and now, not in our cookies-are-for-after-dinner world. Not getting what they want, when they want it, is a top tantrum producer.

5. They think they’re the center of the universe. In the me-me-me life of a toddler, no one else’s needs matter as much as his own. That’s why sharing is so difficult.

Now that you have a better understanding of why toddlers are prone to having meltdowns, having an arsenal of strategies on how to deal with tantrums can certainly be very helpful.

Here is the list of the 10 smart ways to tame your child’s tantrum from hell:

10. Ignore the Kid.

The reason this works is fascinating: “During a tantrum, your child is literally out of his mind. His emotions take over — overriding the frontal cortex of the brain, the area that makes decisions and judgments,” says Jay Hoecker, MD, a Rochester, Minnesota, pediatrician. “That’s why reasoning doesn’t help — the reasoning part of his brain isn’t working … Once he chills out, then you can talk.” (2)

Some moms say that if you do not react to a toddler’s tantrum, the child may just give up. Put them in bed as eventually they tire and fall asleep.

A lot of moms swear by this and say it works.

If things are too much for your child to process, you might like to do this next one.

Just like us, if things get to be too overwhelming, we usually ask for space.

9. Give Your Child Some Space.

“Sometimes a kid just needs to get his anger out. So let him!” says Linda Pearson, a nurse practitioner and author of The Discipline Miracle. (Just make sure there’s nothing in tantrum’s way that could hurt him.) “I’m a big believer in this approach because it helps children learn how to vent in a nondestructive way.” (3)

If you are at home and your child is in a safe environment, just let him vent and tire himself out.

If your child is too focused on what is bugging him or her, maybe you might like to change your child’s attention.

Sometimes a little diversion does the trick.

8. Create a Diversion.

This is all about a deft mental switcheroo — getting your kid engaged and interested in something else so she forgets about the meltdown she was just having. “My purse is filled with all sorts of distractions, like toys — ones my kids haven’t seen in a while, books, and yummy snacks,” says Alisa Fitzgerald, a mom of two from Boxford, Massachusetts. Whenever a tantrum happens, she busts ’em out, one at a time, until something gets the kids’ attention. (4)

Giving your child something else to think about takes her attention away from the initial focus of energy.

Some moms have found success by simply diverting that focus by also starting a conversation about something that really interests their child.

Remember that your toddler’s vocabulary is still very limited so you might like to try the next option. It might help clear the situation better by asking your child questions.

7. Find Out What’s Really Frustrating Your Kid.

This trick is for tantrums among the under-2-and-a-half set, says Dr. Hoecker. “Children this age usually have a vocabulary of only about 50 words and can’t link more than two together at a time. Their communication is limited, yet they have all these thoughts and wishes and needs to be met.” (5)

Just be patient and start a conversation to find out exactly what is bugging your child.

Even with toddlers, communication and patience can help avert a tantrum from escalating.

Another way to pacify your kid would be to show a little bit of loving. Show your child a little bit more of love by giving …

6. Hugs.

“This may feel like the last thing you want to do when your kid is freaking out, but it really can help her settle down.” Ray Levy, PhD, a Dallas-based clinical psychologist and co-author of Try and Make Me! Simple Strategies That Turn Off the Tantrums and Create Cooperation says. “I’m talking about a big, firm hug, not a super cuddly one. And don’t say a word when you do it — again, you’d just be entering into a futile battle of wills. Hugs make kids feel secure and let them know that you care about them, even if you don’t agree with their behavior.” (6)

A simple hug can do wonders. It can change the dynamics of the situation.

Try it next time and see for yourself how this does wonders.

You might be surprised by these two tantrum triggers … Feeling tired and hungry usually brings out the beast in us. It also applies to our little cuties.

5. Offer Food or Suggest a Little R&R.

“Being tired and hungry are the two biggest tantrum triggers,” says Levy. Physically, the kid is already on the brink, so it won’t take much emotionally to send him over. “Parents often come to me wondering why their child is having daily meltdowns. And it turns out they’re happening around the same time each day — before lunch or naptime and in the early evening. It’s no coincidence! My advice: feed them, water them, and let them veg — whether that means putting them to bed or letting them watch a little TV.” (7)

With my little one, this usually is the case. We found out that my toddler gets really testy when she is hungry.

So whenever she gets into the testy mode, I give her some healthy snack and that usually pacifies her and brings her back to her usual happy, normal behavior.

Remember when your parents used to reward you when you were a child for good behavior?

Bribing, ahem, I mean rewarding your child still works so don’t forget to use this.

4. Give Your Kid Incentive to Behave.

Certain situations are trying for kids. Maybe it’s sitting through a long meal at a restaurant or staying quiet in church. Whatever the hissy hot button, this is the trick: “It’s about recognizing when you’re asking a lot of your child and offering him a little preemptive bribe. While you’re on your way to the restaurant, for example, tell him, ‘Alex, Mommy is asking you to sit and eat your dinner nicely tonight. I really think you can do it! And if you can behave, then when we get home I’ll let you watch a video.'” (8)

A lot of toddlers respond to positive reinforcement and rewards.

Just make sure you reward for good behavior and not bad ones though.

How does a hostage negotiator usually diffuse a tense situation? Keeping your cool and speaking calmly can help diffuse a major tantrum situation.

3. Speak Calmly.

This is a biggie — and is much easier said than done. But experts insist you must keep your cool during a child’s tantrum. “Otherwise, you’ll get into a power struggle and make the whole thing escalate. Plus, part of the reason kids resort to tantrums is to get attention,” Dr. Hoecker says. (9)

Look them in the eye and calmly talk with them to find out what is bothering them. Set an example for your kid and calmly talk the situation through.

Again, exercise patience and try to get your child to communicate with you.

Want to maintain a sense of sanity to a very public meltdown of your child? Having a sense of humor can also do the trick in diffusing a meltdown situation.

2. Laugh It Off.

Every parent dreads public tantrums, for obvious reasons. You worry other parents will think you’re a bad mom — that you’ve raised an out-of-control demon child. Your best bet, is to suck it up, plaster a little Mona Lisa smile on your face, and pretend everything is just peachy. And what are others thinking? “We know from studies that the only thing people judge is your reaction to the meltdown,” says Levy. “If you look calm and like you’ve got it under control — yes, even though you’re not doing anything to stop the fit — they think, Now that’s a good mom.” (10)

Try being silly with your child. That kind of distraction can direct his attention on you and can possibly bust that tantrum.

Try to get your child to giggle and see how this can change the whole dynamics of the situation.

Here’s another way of distracting your child and getting his or her attention into something else … Just leaving the scene of a meltdown can divert a child’s attention. It’s also very easy to do.

1. Get Out of There.

Getting kids away from the scene of the tantrum can snap them out of it. “It’s also a great strategy when you’re out and about,” says Levy. “If your child starts melting down over a toy or candy bar he wants, pick him up and take him either to a different area of the store or outside until he calms down. Changing the venue really can change the behavior.” (11)

The next time you feel the urge to spank your little one as a result of a tantrum going out of control, remind yourself to first stop and give it some thought. Don’t make a fuss out of it and model calm behavior.

Spanking is not a smart way to deal with a child having a tantrum. Spanking only reinforces with your kid that using physical force is okay cause their parents are doing it. It teaches the child to be afraid of his or her parents. It teaches the child that his or her parents will hurt them to keep them in line.

Instead, try using any of the above 10 ways to help pacify your child. These are better solutions that will positively impact your child in the long-term. In fact, here are 8 important reasons why you should not spank your child.

You can read more details about this well researched article by Shaun Dreisbach about how to deal with a child’s tantrums on parents.com.

Do you have other smart ways of dealing with a child’s tantrum?

The post 10 Smart Ways To Tame Your Child’s “Tantrum From Hell”. #5 Is Something I Swear By appeared first on Oh My Parenting.

These days, there remains a great divide among parents on whether parents should spank their kids. Here in the U.S. for example, even though spanking has become less popular over time, most polls still show parents favor and approve of spanking their children.

An ABC poll found that:

“Sixty-five percent of Americans approve of spanking children, a rate that has been steady since 1990 … Among parents with minor children at home, 50 percent report that they sometimes spank their child, while 45 percent do not.”

I happen to have grown-up in an age where spanking a child was okay. Yup, I was spanked and I hated it. I swore that my child would never have to go through such an unfortunate experience. Now in her teens, she has turned out to be a loving, well-behaved, responsible, and happy kid — a product of a no spanking household policy.

According to a study published in the Journal of American Academy of Pediatrics, there are serious consequences to applying physical punishment to kids.

“Harsh physical punishment was associated with increased odds of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, alcohol and drug abuse/dependence, and several personality disorders in 2% to 7% of those observed.”

Lina Acosta Sandaal, an expert in child and adolescent development and infant and early childhood mental health, has this to say about spanking:

“The statistics and multiple negative outcomes of children that are disciplined with corporal punishment are well known to those who work with children. Children’s Trends, a research group, found that corporal punishment increases negative outcomes in adolescence like low academic achievement, alcohol and drug use, and antisocial behavior. They also found that the older the age of the child, the greater the negative outcomes.” Source: GoodMenProject.com

With that, check out the list of 8 vital reasons why you should not spank your child.

8. It is too easy for a frustrated parent to cross the line from spanking to abusing.

Unfortunately, by the time the smoke clears, many parents have crossed the line from spanking to hitting, shaking, slapping and other forms of child abuse. Source: ActiveParenting.com

This is the reason why parents who advocate spanking suggest to NEVER spank your child when you are angry. Some parents suggest to calm down first and not spank when your emotions are high.

Of course, when you have calmed down, you probably have by then thought of a better approach to handle the situation than spanking.

We all want our child to build self-confidence. However, Spanking goes counter to helping your child build self-confidence.

7. Spanking makes a child feel helpless and damages self-esteem.

It’s hard to feel like you have any control when you are told that if you don’t stop crying, you will be hit again. It makes a child ask, “What is wrong with me?” It’s hard to feel loved or have any self-worth when even your cries for help are demeaned by the person who is supposed to unconditionally love and protect you. It’s a betrayal. Source: SheKnows.com

When kids get very emotional, crying is their way of dealing with hurt and pain. Sometimes it takes time for a crying child (especially toddlers) to really calm down. However, some parents really go overboard with spanking, thinking that the threat of more spanking can stop all the crying.

Again, it is best for parents to calm down and try to work out the issue without further spanking.

Young children tend to model after their parents’ way of doing things.

Any aggressive behavior by a parent on a child might be misunderstood by a child as something that is okay to do to others.

6. Spanking teaches aggressive behavior.

Kids who are spanked learn to handle some problems by hitting or threatening to hit. Others find that their parents are too big to get even with, so they take it out on other kids. Source: ActiveParenting.com

Toddlers are very impressionable. They tend to copy other people’s actions without fully comprehending the reasons for such actions.

According to parenting expert Dr. Michael Popkin:

“We have to teach children that violence is only OK as a measure of restrained self-defense and never a way to “punish” others for misbehavior.”

By doing so, young children will learn to understand that it is not okay to hit others to resolve conflicts.

Sure, spanking might solve the issue with the child at that particular time. However, a child’s feelings of resentment may lead to more misbehaving just to spite a parent to get even.

5. Spanking usually leads to more misbehavior.

The problem with spanking is that it does work … for the immediate misbehavior. Kids will “stop it this instant!” However, they also resent the spanking and seek out conscious or unconscious ways to get even. Source: ActiveParenting.com

A study featured on Journal of Youth and Adolescence found that:

“… children who acted out more often got spankings that led to more acting out and, in turn, resulted in more spankings.”

In fact, researchers of the study discovered even stronger evidence that spanking children before the age 1 year may be a “catalyst that starts the cycle.”

Building a close and loving relationship with our child is something we strive for.

Did you know that hitting a child does not help build a stronger relationship between you and your child?

4. Spanking can damage your relationship with your child.

Spanking puts an emotional wedge between parent and child. Children depend on their parents to care for them. They trust them and their authority. Authority based on fear makes children lose respect for parents. It is hard to respect someone that hurts you. Source: FamiliesOnTheGo.com

According to Dr. Michael Popkin, author of the best-selling parenting book Active Parenting:

“When you spank often, you create a climate of hurt and revenge that undermines much of the good in the relationship. You may be able to overcome this, but why take the chance when there are better methods available?”

Some parents have felt this emotion after giving their kids some spanking. In fact, parents have felt some guilt that they may have gone overboard with their disciplinary action.

3. Spanking often leaves the parent feeling guilty.

Most parents are aware that spanking is now a controversial parenting method. Even the American Academy of Pediatrics has come out against spanking. But even before this, many parents could sense that something was not right about hurting a child “for his own good,” and feel guilty afterwards. Source: ActiveParenting.com

Any parent who loves their child dearly is bound to also feel the hurt and guilt after spanking their child. As parents, we need to have confidence in our parenting methods.

If your approach to resolving an issue with your child brings about feelings of guilt, then you might like to look into better approaches of discipline or resolving issues that you will have more confidence in.

Frequent spanking has been found to cause this potentially troublesome long-term effect

It has been found that there is a direct correlation between mental illness and high incidences of childhood spanking.

2. Spanking can increase the likelihood of developing mental health symptoms.

According to this study, links have been found from later mental health diagnoses to higher incidents of childhood spanking for disciplinary purposes. I am willing to bet that when spanking your child, your intention wasn’t to create long-term psychological problems. Source: PsychCentral.com

Michele Knox, a psychiatrist who studies family and youth violence at the University of Toledo College of Medicine agrees with those findings.

Dr. Knox says:

“Spanking and other forms of corporal punishment have a huge variety of negative outcomes, and almost no positive outcomes. Those negative outcomes include aggressive behavior and delinquency in kids.”

Furthermore, research studies have found that harsh physical punishment in the absence of child maltreatment can also be associated with the following:

1. mood disorders
2. anxiety disorders
3. substance abuse/dependence; and
4. personality disorders

These research findings surely are worth thinking about as your child’s future may depend on how you instill discipline with them now.

If you think giving your child some whooping is the ultimate answer to misbehaving, think again.

Spanking is not the answer as there are other ways for you to deal with a misbehaving child.

1. There are many more effective methods of discipline.

The bottom line in all of this is that there are better ways to discipline kids in our modern society — methods such as polite requests, “I” messages, firm reminders, logical consequences, active problem-solving … These methods not only solve behavior problems but also help build such qualities of character as responsibility, cooperation, courage, respect and even self-esteem. Source: ActiveParenting.com

According to Dr. Bryan Carter, Ph.D., a pediatric psychologist and professor in the U of L Department of Pediatrics/Bingham Clinic, and director of the Pediatric Consultation Service at Kosair Children’s Hospital:

“While spanking may give the child a signal as to what NOT to do, it fails to teach the important skills of problem solving and decision making, that is, what TO DO.”

The above are just some of the few reasons why I don’t spank my child. I also think that you should not either.

There are much better ways to discipline a child which do not involve any form of physical harm. You can check them out here.

If you by any chance have the urge to spank your child, please pause and give it some serious thought. I’m sure you can do a better job of parenting your child without any form of spanking.

If you agree with this article, please do feel free to pass this along and let other parents know why spanking is not a solution for disciplining a misbehaving child.

What’s your position on spanking? Is this an acceptable form of discipline or not?

The post 8 Important Reasons Why You Should Not Spank Your Child. #2 Will Make You Think Twice appeared first on Oh My Parenting.

Just because a lot of parents are still doing it around you does not make it safe or right.

There is a good chance that you may be guilty of doing one of these things. I know I am. I’m just glad that nothing unfortunate happened to my child.

So to keep your child from having some unfortunate serious injuries or health problems, we thought that it was important to share this list of things that parents should not be doing to their child.

This list was put together just to inform parents who may not be aware that what they are doing may not be safe for their children. As one appreciative parent said:

I’m glad I came across your article. Now that I’m aware, I certainly would not be doing some of these and risking my child’s life. Thank you.

Sometimes, parents may also make bad decisions to save time or because making the extra effort appears to be inconvenient. However, doing so may come at the expense of a child’s safety.

Below is the list of 10 common yet unsafe things that parents should stop doing:

10. Putting car seats on top of shopping carts.

Shopping carts are not made to hold an infant car seat safely. Car seat manufacturers warn against putting them on top of shopping carts. Source: mom.me

Surely, it’s convenient. However, is it safe? It definitely is NOT. The unfortunate reality is that accidents involving car seats on shopping carts really do happen.

“According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), shopping carts are the leading cause of head injuries in young children – surpassing injuries from high chairs, strollers, changing tables, baby gates and other equipment. The CPSC estimates that about 16,000 children under the age of five fall out of shopping carts each year and nearly 1,000 of those injuries involve falling infant carriers.” Source: GreenChildMagazine.com

Baby car seats are NOT designed to be secured on top of shopping carts.

Furthermore, shopping carts can tip over easily — and they’re more likely to if there’s a car seat mounted on them. See 6 Top Reasons “Car Seat On The Shopping Cart” Is A BAD Idea for details.

You would think that parents would take extra care to never leave their kids all alone, especially babies in the car. Unfortunately, in spite of numerous tragic stories that we hear in the news, parents still do this:

9. Leaving kids in the car.

We’ve all heard the tragic news stories of babies dying from heat because they were left in a hot car. But heat is not the only danger. No matter their age, children should not be left unattended in a vehicle. Source: mom.me

How could someone forget a child in a car? To forget a child in a hot car is preventable. Yet, every year, we always read or hear about heartbreaking and tragic stories of babies and toddlers who died as a result of their parents forgetting them in their cars.

In fact, heat stroke deaths of children forgotten in the car number to around 30 to 50 a year, or 38 a year on average, according to KidsAndCars.org, a nonprofit safety organization.

Certain over-the-counter drugs are not supposed to be given to babies.

However, some parents still drug their babies to sleep. If you want to make your baby fall asleep, try this instead.

8. Giving babies Benadryl in hopes of a better night’s sleep.

Benadryl isn’t meant to be given as a sedative. It can be dangerous. And sometimes, your child can have an adverse reaction to it. Source: mom.me

According to Pediatrics expert Dr. Vincent Iannelli:

“While it might seem like a quick and easy solution to potential problems you might have when flying with young kids, most pediatricians try to discourage parents from giving kids anything to sedate them on an airplane.”

Dr. Iannelli also added that:

“The benefits usually don’t outweigh the risks … The sedative effects of Benadryl may last a good 4 to 6 hours, which may be longer than your flight, and even after your child wakes up, he may be drowsy or groggy for several hours afterward. So even if he sleeps on the flight, you might end up with a fussy and irritable child afterward.”

You might love StarBucks, but starting kids on this is something you should not do. Believe it or not, getting kids “caffeinated” is an increasing trend these days, according to a study by the Boston Medical Center.

7. Giving young children coffee.

Children who consume caffeine can suffer from several negative side effects such as slowed heart rate, high blood pressure, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping, and more. Source: mom.me

The study by the Boston Medical Center looked at 315 moms and toddlers in the Boston area. Researchers were surprised to find that many moms were giving their babies coffee.

Caffeine is a stimulant. Caffeine consumption in kids has been found to cause children to sleep less. As we know, sleep is important for a child’s development and growth, especially at such a very young age. Some other adverse effects of caffeine on kids are jitteriness, nervousness, increased heart rate, and increased blood pressure, among others.

Eventually, you will need to sleep-train your kid. However, some parents think locking their kid’s door is the answer. However, this could potentially have some serious safety repercussions.

6. Locking kids in their room while sleep training.

DON’T. I can’t think of anything more dangerous than a kid not being able to get out of their bedroom. If there was a fire or some other emergency, children need to be able to open their bedroom doors. Source: mom.me

Instead of locking your child in, this mom suggests this instead:

“Locks don’t belong on a child’s door. They belong to the things children shouldn’t have access to. Medication should always be kept in a locked box and then stored out of reach (like above the refrigerator). Lock the outside doors. Lock the basement door. Lock the bathroom door. I once knew a family that had double baby gates (one stacked above the other) on their kitchen entrance … I’d consider a door alarm, but not locking a child in.”

Of course, you would like to keep your kids warm especially when the weather is cold. However, keep in mind that you should not do this next practice. Time and again, parents are guilty of this, especially when they are in a hurry getting in and out of their vehicles.

5. Letting kids wear puffy winter coats in the car.

When the harness isn’t snug and tight, next to the child, it puts them at risk for being ejected from the car seat during an accident. Source: mom.me

When your child has a puffy winter coat on, the car seat harness won’t be snug and tight. This therefore puts them at risk of being ejected from the car seat if an accident occurs. Some people might find this hard to believe. The truth of the matter is that it really can happen.

Still not convinced? Check out this video to see how dangerous this can be.

Going to the mall with your baby is a great way to unwind. However, make sure that you don’t do this next thing.

A lot of parents still ignore signs warning about the dangers of using strollers on escalators.

4. Putting the stroller on the escalator.

It’s just dangerous. Instead, fold your stroller up and carry it while you ride, or better yet, take an elevator. Source: mom.me

There are very real dangers to boarding strollers on escalators such as this story, where a small child fell from a stroller while on the escalator.

“A 2006 study on Pediatrics regarding escalator injuries found that there were “disproportionate amount of escalator related injuries in children who were younger than 5 years of age.” … The study found that 6% of injuries in this age group were from a stroller, usually from falling out of the stroller.” Source: PediatricsNow.com

Simply take the extra time to use the elevator with your stroller as opposed to the escalator.

Bouncers and car seats are not meant to be placed in these areas. Parents should not ignore the dangers of the common practice of …

3. Putting Bumbos, bouncers, and car seats on high surfaces.

These items do not belong on high surfaces. There have been too many accidents related to falls. Instead, keep them on the floor where they belong. Source: mom.me

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported at least 28 incidents of babies falling out of Bumbo seats with three of the cases resulting in skull fractures. CPSC Senior spokesperson Julie Vallese said:

“The reports of serious head injuries prompted the CPSC to announce a nationwide warning to consumers that have these — not to put these on elevated surfaces and be aware that children can climb out of them or they can tip over in these chairs.”

One of the more serious incidents involving a Bumbo seat was baby Dylan Lamm.

“Dylan had arched his back and tilted the Bumbo Seat, causing him to fall backward and onto the kitchen floor. His skull cracked in two places. An emergency surgery saved Dylan’s life, leaving a long scar on his head.”

Buckling up a child in a car is important. Unfortunately, some parents do not strictly adhere to such practices at home. A study found that about 24 children a day are treated in U.S. emergency rooms for high chair-related injuries.

2. Not buckling kiddos into strollers, high chairs, etc.

Even if it seems unnecessary, always buckle your child into these things. Every year, there are countless accidents because children are not properly buckled in. Source: mom.me

A study by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital examined U.S. Emergency Department data pertaining to the treatment of children ages 3 years and younger and found that:

“On average, more than 9,400 children were treated each year for an injury associated with a high chair or booster seat, equaling one child every hour nationally. In addition, the annual number of injured children increased during the study period.” Source: NationwideChildrens.org

Lastly, here’s something that is quite surprising …

You will be surprised that some parents remain complacent or naive about their homes when it comes to safety. It is really important that you baby-proof your home to keep your child safe as unintentional injury is one of the top killers of children in the U.S.

1. Not babyproofing.

Cover your outlets. Lock cabinets. Gate your stairs. Remove anything that could cause strangulation. Put medicines cleaning supplies and other harmful substances far out of the baby’s reach. Source: mom.me

Believe it or not, your home can be one of the biggest threats to your child’s safety. Child safety experts agree that baby-proofing your home gives your baby a safe environment to play and explore while preventing potentially serious injuries.

“Experts say that children between the ages of 1 and 4 are more likely to be killed by fire, burns, drowning, choking, poisoning, or falls than by a stranger’s violence … About 2.3 million children are accidentally injured every year and more than 2,500 are killed, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” Source: BabyCenter.com

Just don’t take baby-proofing for granted. It should only take you several hours in total. By doing so, you’ll have peace of mind and a home that is safe for your baby.

To learn more details about this great list of safety reminders that Lacy Stroessner of mom.me put together, you can read the full article here.

Please share this article with family and friends to keep your precious babies and toddlers safe from harm.

So which of these things are you guilty of doing?

The post 10 Common Yet UNSAFE Things That Parents Should Stop Doing. I Was Guilty Of Some Of These Too 😔 appeared first on Oh My Parenting.

So proud mamas, please take note of this. You’ve probably heard it before, but it wouldn’t hurt to be reminded of it again.

When it comes to sharing information about your kids, you’re all for it. Nothing will stop you from doing it. After all, sharing “too much information” or “TMI” for short is something every proud mom is guilty of doing.

I was guilty of TMI too. LOL

Thanks to social media, sharing TMI has become way too easy. These days, there’s such thing as digital TMI. Photos of kids are posted and shared liberally on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and whatever social network or app your heart desires.

With many parents wanting to show family and friends how great their kids are, it is no surprise that some parents are oversharing at the expense of privacy and online safety. The University of Michigan study found that:

“While 67% of parents said social media helped them learn from other parents, many also had safety concerns about sharing too much.”

There’s no doubt that photos of kids are always cute and endearing but you need to be careful. Amid your eagerness to share, you might just be endangering your kids or somebody else’s kids.

So the next time you’re tempted to post a photo online, think about it. Take a good look at the photo because 6 types of kids’ photos should never be posted online.

Below are the 6 types of photos that parents should never post online:

6. Photos of Other Children Without Their Parents’ Consent.

Before you post a picture of your child’s birthday party and start tagging every single kid in the photos, make sure to first ask permission from their parents. Some parents might not mind having their kid’s photos posted online while others might do.

It’s really a matter of preference regarding personal privacy, especially when it comes to children. Just respect other parents’ policy on posting photos.

So to be safe, ask permission first especially since a lot of parents prefer not to have their kids names and photos posted on Facebook for privacy and security reasons.

“Everyone has their own positions on sharing their children’s faces on social media, so before you go posting and tagging away after a birthday party or field trip, be sure to respect the stances of the other families involved.” Source: PopSugar.com

So just ask other parents’ permission first.

You’ll be surprised how many parents will appreciate you asking them first about these types of matters.

Although innocently posted, these types of pictures could be misunderstood by some people. So be careful when posting nude or semi-nude photos of children. It’s just another measure to protect your children.

5. Your Child Doing Potty

Congratulations on your progress with your little one’s potty training! However, it’s advisable to keep these photos private.

While it’s wonderful to celebrate milestones, sharing such images could potentially lead to embarrassment for your child in the future. It’s best to refrain from posting them on social media.

Furthermore, not everyone really wants to know these details. Nancy Baym, principal researcher at Microsoft Research and author of Personal Connections in the Digital Age says that with excessive sharing,

“The risks are that parents may alienate readers who do not care about their kids’ details.”

Just share or post only when your child has some major milestones or achievements. Only share when it really counts.

By doing so, family and friends will take better notice of your posts.

4. Bath Photos or Nude Photos of Your Child.

Sure, bath tub photos of your child may look really cute and shareable. However, keep in mind that digital content can be easily copied and easily distributed. Having those pictures in the wrong hands is just not worth the risk. Even if the photos are totally innocent, the reality is that there are crazies out there.

Alex Brooks, executive editor of parenting website Kidspot says:

“Parents are discovering that once content becomes digital, it can be easily copied and redistributed willy-nilly. The result: photos of kids in compromising, colorful circumstances, and status updates recounting even more compromising, colorful circumstances, intended for a select few, are now spread out over the web for everyone.” Source: News.com.au

It absolutely is to you and your kid’s benefit to not have these types of photos posted on social media. It definitely is better to be on the safe side.

Just share these types of photos privately with your loved ones.

Besides, you don’t want your kid to be embarrassed with these types of pics, especially when they grow up, right?

Proud parents are usually guilty of posting pictures with information about where their kids go to.

I know, I know … we sometimes can’t help but be proud of our child’s achievement in school or where they go to school. If you are posting pictures of your kids in school, make sure to avoid sharing certain information.

3. Photos That Reveal Where Your Child Goes To School.

Of course, when we are excited to share something about a great accomplishment or award that our child got in school, we may tend to post them online without thinking about sharing too much information with people who may have some malicious intent.

Keep your child safe by ensuring that the photos do not include identifying information that might show where your child goes to school. Source: derrydaily.net

According to Kathy Simovska, National Manager Of Child Abuse Prevention Programmes at the child protection charity Child Wise, says:

“One of my concerns with posting personal information online is that we make it easier for child sex offenders to be able target children and find out more information than they could otherwise.”

This is what you should do:

“If you share photos of your children in the classroom or on school grounds, make sure that the name and/or features that distinguish its location are kept hidden.” Source: PopSugar.com

Again, this reminder is more out of concern for the safety of your kids.

Call me paranoid but I would rather keep my kids safe, most especially when I cannot be around them.

Sometimes, in your excitement, you end up posting photos of your kids with this info … Parents should be careful posting photos of their children with their full names shown. Such information can be used by identity thieves or by some really nasty people to abduct children.

2. Photos Showing Children’s Full Names.

You might say, “Duh, this is common sense.” There is no argument regarding that … However, some parents still do make this mistake in their haste and excitement to share photos of their kid’s accomplishments in school. Common sense is usually overcome by all the excitement and emotions.

Whether it be awards, report cards, certificates, sports jerseys, or that simple name tag in an event, just be reminded to pay a close attention to these when posting anything related to school photos.

According to Brian Gresko, a parent who has stopped writing about his parenting life as a result of a life-changing over sharenting incident:

“There are online stalkers as well, creeps who steal photos of children on Instagram and engage in virtual role playing, pretending that the children are their own. While this might not cause physical harm to you or your child, it is a violation — a sort of identity theft.”

Yes, child identity theft is a serious matter. With the advent of social media and the widespread access to digital information, child identity theft has been rising over the years.

Make sure to keep information about your child as private as possible. It will save you the trouble of having to deal with identity theft in the future.

Lastly, you might like to check with your child about this last type of photo … see next page.

If you think your child might be embarrassed and humiliated (now or in the future), just don’t post the photos. Once a photo is on the internet, anything can happen. So parents, think twice … even thrice.

1. Really Embarrassing Photos or Photos Showing Them When They Are Not At Their Best.

Keep in mind that decisions to share these types of photos may have consequences down the road. Sure, your kid might be a toddler now and might not think too much about these embarrassing photos. However, a few years from now, those photos can be cause for embarrassment.

Posting a child’s embarrassing photo can potentially make your child the target of jokes or cyberbullying. You wouldn’t like to put your child in that situation, right?

Sarah J. Clark, associate director of the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health, says decisions to share information can have consequences down the road:

“When you tell what you think is a hilarious anecdote, in a couple of years when the child is older, and a classmate stumbles upon it, it might be embarrassing. The idea is yes, your kid is 2, 3 or 4, but they won’t stay 2, 3 or 4.”

Here is something to think about: If you think that photos or posts of your child might embarrass them a few years down the road, just don’t post them.

“If a photo is embarrassing, unflattering, or seems like it should be private, then respect your child — ask them if they’re old enough — and keep it in the confines of your own photo library.” Source: PopSugar.com

As parents, our priority is to keep our kids safe at all times. However, there are times when we may tend to overlook certain safety measures in our excitement to share our children’s pictures.

Protecting your child’s privacy while showing you are being a proud parent on Facebook and other social media is definitely a balancing act. Just make sure that you are aware when you are crossing the line when it comes to sharing your child’s photos.

The bottom line is this: Make sure that you do not give away too much personal information about your child which could strip them of their privacy or at worst, put their safety at risk.

Have you knowingly or unknowingly shared a photo of your child that revealed too much info?

The post 6 Types Of Children’s Photos Which You Should Never Post Online appeared first on Oh My Parenting.

As parents, the SAFETY of our children should be our top priority. However, why is it that some parents appear to not pay much attention to safety warnings?

Could it be the lack of awareness regarding safety standards? Could it be a sense of complacency that nothing bad could possibly happen?

Some people even reason out that making the extra effort for safety is just so inconvenient. Really?

Whatever the reasons are, the fact is … children are getting hurt. Some seriously. And unfortunately, some end up losing their lives.

Please DO NOT ignore these everyday warning signs and labels. Your child’s life is way too important to take chances with.

Here is the list of warning signs and labels every parent with a young child should not ignore. From shopping malls to the grocery stores, you will still find parents blatantly ignoring this warning sign right underneath their noses …

1. No Baby Car Seat on Shopping Cart Warning Sign. Although a voluntary shopping cart safety standard was implemented in the United States in 2004, the overall number and rate of injuries to children associated with shopping carts have not decreased. In fact, the number and rate of concussions/closed head injuries have continued to climb. Source: EurekaAlert.org

Baby car seats are NOT designed to be secured on top of shopping carts. The next time you use a shopping cart while doing groceries, check and see if there is a warning sign saying that baby car seats should not be placed on top of shopping carts. If you see a warning sign, just don’t do it.

Even the American Academy of Pediatrics highly recommends not to place baby car seats on shopping carts due to the potential dangers associated with the practice. Their recommendations are warranted given the risks and dangers of this common practice.

Shopping carts can tip over easily — and they’re more likely to if there’s a car seat mounted on them.

Debra Holtzman, who is also the author of The Safe Baby, adds:

The cart has a narrow wheel base in relation to its height, so the center of gravity is affected when you put a child in it,” she says. “When your child’s car seat is on top of it, the center of gravity is affected even more, increasing the chances of tipping. Source: TheBump.com

Also make sure to check the manual of your baby car seat and check the warning label to confirm that the car seat should not be used on shopping carts.

If your baby carrier manual warns you not to do it and the shopping cart you are using has the warning sign, then please DON’T place the baby carrier on top of the shopping cart.

The American Academy of Pediatrics highly recommends NOT to place car seats on shopping carts and suggests the following options:

Get another adult to come with you to watch your child while you shop.

Put your child in a stroller, wagon, or frontpack instead of in a shopping cart.

Ask your older child to walk and praise him or her for behaving and staying near you.

Leave your child at home with another adult while you shop.

Shop online if your store offers shopping on the Internet.

Never leave your child alone in a shopping cart.

Do not let your child stand up in a shopping cart.

Do not allow an older child to climb on the cart or push the cart with another child in it, because it is very easy for a child to tip the cart over.

Next time you go to the mall, you might like to observe if some parents pay attention to this warning sign.

There are still some parents who seem to not pay attention to these warning signs in shopping malls.

2. No Stroller on Elevator Warning Signs. Escalator manufacturers and building owners frequently place prominent signs near escalators warning riders not to board with strollers, walkers, or carts. Other accidents involving strollers include strollers being dropped down the escalator and strollers becoming entrapped with the escalator. Source: ElevatorAccident.net

There are very real dangers to boarding strollers on escalators such as this story, where a small child fell from a stroller while on the escalator.

A 2006 study on Pediatrics regarding escalator injuries found that there were “disproportionate amount of escalator related injuries in children who were younger than 5 years of age.” … The study found that 6% of injuries in this age group were from a stroller, usually from falling out of the stroller. Source: PediatricsNow.com

Solution: Simply take the extra time to use the elevator with your stroller as opposed to the escalator.

Are you sure you have your child buckled up properly?

You might like to check if you buckle up your kid properly next time you get in the car.

3. Car Seat Buckle Warning Labels. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13. In 2010, 655 children (under the age of 13 riding in cars and trucks) were killed in crashes. Of those killed, more than 1 in 3 were unrestrained … Research analyzed by Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center – a national leader in pediatric and adolescent medicine – shows that in the U.S., only 1 in 4 child car seats are properly installed. Source: BuckleUpForLife.org

Holly Wagner lost her 11-month old son Cameron after a car accident. Here is what she had to say:

If I could go back and change anything it would the lack of research I did on car seats. I would go to cert.safekids.org and find a tech local to me that could help install my seats and teach me how to use them the correct them. Before the accident I always made sure to strap the car seat down to the seat and always would buckle them all the way but I didn’t know all the little things … like how you’re not supposed to use after market products and how much safer rear facing is than forward facing.

Make sure to buckle up your child correctly. Spend a few minutes to watch the video below to learn more about how to properly buckle up your baby:

Safety labels with regards to having the appropriate car seat for your child is also very important. Did you know that most parents do not know when is the right time to move a child from a car booster seat to seat belt?

4. Booster Seat Warning Labels. Nine out of 10 parents of children ages 4 to 10 surveyed recently were found to have moved their children out of the booster seat before they were big enough, according to the Safe Kids Worldwide advocacy group. Seven out of 10 didn’t realize that children need to be at least 4-feet-9-inches and 80 to 100 pounds, the group said. Source: WashingtonPost.com

Most booster seat labels clearly show the minimum height and weight ranges for when kids should be able to move from a booster seat to seat belt.

According to CBSNews.com, car crashes are the leading cause of death for children older than 3 in the U.S. and cause another 179,000 child injuries each year. Using age and weight appropriate car seats is therefore really important to help reduce fatalities or serious injuries.

Kate Carr, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide, says booster seats can reduce injuries by 45% over seat belt use alone.

If there were a crash and they weren’t in a booster seat, but just in a regular seat belt. They could suffer internal abdominal injuries or face or neck injuries caused by the belt tightening during the impact of the crash.

You would think it’s common sense that parents would know not to let kids do this. However, some parents allow their child to ride in the front seat in spite of the clear warning saying that this is extremely dangerous.

5. No Child In Car Front Seat Warning Label. Active seats belts and airbags are calibration sensitive and may be ineffective in protecting children. In fact, airbags (which explode out of a dash at up to 200 miles per hour) can be outright dangerous for infants and children. Source: Safety-Security-Crazy.com

The site Safety-Security-Crazy.com says that:

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration studied 3.3 million airbag deployments that occurred between 1990 and 2008. They concluded that airbags had saved over 6,400 lives. Unfortunately, airbags are thought to have caused 175 fatalities (104 were children) and many severe injuries.

According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, most states do not have a specific age wherein children can ride in the front seat. However, most states recommend that children ride in the back seat as long as possible. Keep in mind that airbags in the front seat are designed to protect average-sized adults and NOT children. These cannot provide adequate protection and in fact, can be extremely dangerous for small children.

Solution: Just have your child ride in the back seat as much as possible. If ever you are left no choice but to have your kid sit in the front seat, make sure that the airbag is set to “off”.

The next warning label is very much related to the above topic that we have just discussed. If your car has an active airbag, do not place a rear-facing car seat in the front seat.

6. No Baby Car Seat In Front Seat Warning Label. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highly recommends to never place a rear-facing car seat in the front passenger seat. A baby riding in the front seat, even though the seat is rear-facing, is simply dangerous as the baby can be fatally injured in the event that the passenger air bag is deployed in a collision.

As already mentioned in the previous section, airbags (which explode out of a dash at up to 200 miles per hour) can be outright dangerous for infants and children. Source: Safety-Security-Crazy.com

Solution: Always put your baby in a rear-facing child safety seat in the back seat of your car.

The next warning label has something to do with a simple everyday item that you have in your home.

Be aware that the simple plastic bag or other fine plastic films scattered around your house can be deadly to babies and young children.

7. Plastic Bag Suffocation Warning Labels. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received an average of about 25 reports a year describing deaths to children who suffocated due to plastic bags. Almost 90% of them were under one year of age. Source: HelpKeepKidsSafe.org

According to CPSC, some of the deaths were attributed to situations wherein the baby crawled into a plastic garbage bag or when a child pulls a plastic dry-cleaning bag over their face. In some instances, a plastic garbage bag fell over the baby’s face and mouth while he/she was lying on a bed. Garbage bags also have also resulted to deaths when a baby climbed into them or rolled onto them while sleeping.

What you can do according to KidsHealth.org:

1. Never put an infant down on a mattress covered with plastic or on or near a plastic bag.

2. Promptly dispose of plastic shopping bags and plastic dry-cleaning bags. Tie several knots in each bag before throwing it out.

3. Keep all plastic bags, including garbage bags and sandwich-style plastic bags out of the reach of young kids.

4. When cleaning up after a birthday or holiday party, pay special attention to all plastic bags from packaging. Collect them and throw them out immediately.

The next warning label has something to do with things children love playing with.

Every child loves to play with toys. Just make sure to check the warning labels.

8. Toy Parts Choking Hazard Warning Labels. In 2011, 188,400 children under the age of 15 years were seen in emergency departments for toy-related injuries.That’s 516 kids every day. More than a third of those injured were children 5 and under. Source: SafeKids.org

Here’s what you can do: Be a toy label reader and make sure to buy toys which are age appropriate. Make sure to make your family aware that toys with small parts should not be left out where babies and toddlers could get their hands on them.

Here are other safety tips courtesy of SafeKids.org:

1. Consider your child’s age when purchasing a toy or game. It’s worth a second to read the instructions and warning labels to make sure it’s just right for your child.

2. Before you’ve settled on the perfect toy, check to make sure there aren’t any small parts or other potential choking hazards.

3. Keep a special eye on small game pieces that may be a choking hazard for young children. While these kinds of games are great for older kids, they can pose a potential danger for younger, curious siblings.

If you have babies, toddlers, and really young children in your house, you might like to be aware of this type of window blind …

Parents, please beware of corded window blinds …

9. Window Blinds Cord Warning Labels. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an average of 10 children die every year from window-blinds-cord related accidents.

While not a product targeted toward children, window blinds are an example of a household product that needs to be carefully designed in order to prevent harm to children. Unfortunately, the failure of window blind manufacturers to take children into account has led to the serious injury or wrongful death of many infants and toddlers. Window blind cords hang too low, get wrapped around a child’s neck and cause the child to choke. Source: ChildSafetyIllinois.com

Not convinced yet? You can check out this story about a child who was strangled by a window-blind cord. Fortunately, the child survived.

Here’s what you can do to prevent accidents from window-blind cords according to Home Depot:

1. Raise all window cords out of a child’s reach

2. Move all cribs, beds, furniture and toys away from window cords

3. Inspect cord-stops for proper install and function

4. Permanently anchor continuous-loop cords to the wall

5. Update with a retrofit, safety kit, or replace older blinds with a cordless option

“If I Only Knew” …

Some people might say that these are all common sense. The reality is that what may be common sense to one parent might not be common sense to another. That is why we wrote this article just to spread awareness.

A child’s safety is more important than anything else. Just do not compromise safety for convenience. Always pay attention to safety labels and signs. They are there for a reason.

Let’s avoid hearing the words “If I only knew” from an anguished parent whose child was a victim of an unfortunate and preventable accident.

Please help create safety awareness by sharing this article with family and friends. Save a life by sharing this article. The life you save may be your child’s or someone close to you.

Again, let us all keep our children safe.

Are there any warning labels or signs that you are aware of that we should have included in this list?

The post 9 Safety Warning Signs & Labels Every Parent Should NOT Ignore. #1 Is Much Ignored appeared first on Oh My Parenting.