Every parent, sooner or later, will experience a child having a major meltdown. It’s not the best situation to be in. I can tell you that from my personal experience. Our little cute and sweet toddler can become that little monster having a hissy fit and make a major public scene that will make you wish to crawl under a table.

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.

Were you spanked as a young child by your parents as a way to discipline you? Did it reform your behavior? Did it make you a better person or did it bring about feelings of resentment and anger?

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.

When it comes to the safety of your kids, it’s never enough to be told once. Come to think of it, it’s not even enough to be told twice.

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.

Been there. Done that. Considering all the craziness that comes with potty training, most parents usually want to get it over with. That’s what makes the whole experience a little stressful (of course that’s an understatement) for both parents and toddlers.

Potty training is a major milestone not just for a child but also for the parents. Most experts say that children show interest in potty training by age 2 but may not be ready until they are 2 1/2 years old or older.

Potty training is not something you should rush into. According to Dr.Tanya Remer Altmann (1):

“Children learn to use the toilet when they’re ready. The process shouldn’t be rushed.”

Indeed, some toddlers don’t learn how to potty right away. If this happens to your little one, you really shouldn’t worry because Dr. Altmann has this to add:

“No child is ever going to go to college in diapers.”

Those are wise and comforting words from Dr. Altmann. Hence, you can stop worrying about potty training when your kid goes off to college.

However, in the meantime, here are common “words of wisdom” from moms who survived the potty training phase of their children:

“Be patient. Be extra, extra patient.”

Just keep in mind that potty training takes time regardless of whether your child is a boy or a girl. It also involves, believe it or not, a lot of creativity and imagination on your part. Your job is to make your child understand that when they need to go, they must take action and do their business in the potty.

Here are the 12 tried and tested tips from moms who swear by them:

12. The Potty Is Your Friend.

Get them acquainted with the potty. If you don’t already have a potty chair, make a big deal out of picking it out at the store, let them choose which one they like. Maybe let them decorate it or play with it with a stuffed animal. Leave it in the bathroom for a few months before you are ready to train so they get used to it. (2)

By doing so, your child gets to be very familiar with the potty chair. The potty chair becomes your child’s friend and not something that appears intimidating.

In addition to getting your child really familiar with the potty, also keep this next tip in mind.

11. Location, Location, Location.

We found that the kiddie lids that go on top of the toilet were too intimidating to use right away. (Plus, since they usually need a step stool, it can take too long for children to reach the toilet in time.) So I started my 2-year-old daughter with a mini-Elmo potty seat, which we kept in the living room since she spent the most time there. We gradually moved it closer and closer to the bathroom and eventually worked our way up to a Dora seat that went right on top of the toilet. (3)

By the way, it also helps if you have your child pick their potty training toilet seats. These days, there are a wide assortment of seat colors and cartoon themes to choose from. It truly makes it more fun for your little one.

The power of motivation and fun prizes, when done right, can do the trick. Who does not like surprises? Why not motivate your toddler with some bag of surprises …

10. Use Treats and Surprises.

Our daughter wasn’t very consistent with toilet training until we introduced the surprise bag. We got a bunch of inexpensive toys and stickers and put them in a colorful gift bag. Every time she used the toilet, we would clap and tell her what a great job she did and let her pick one surprise out of the bag. We kept it up for about a week and a half, and when the surprises ran out she just kept on using the potty. We continued to praise her and she quickly forgot the surprise bag. I can honestly say that toilet training was painless and quick with this method, and I plan to use it again with my next child. (4)

You can be more creative and make a treasure chest or box with your child to make them really excited about the concept of going potty.

If some adults can fall for the next solution. Chances are that your child can fall for this too … The age-old bribe is another motivating way to get your child potty trained …

9. Bribery Works If It’s Done Right.

Here’s the trick with bribery, mamas. First, it has to be something that your kids like – not what you like. For instance, if your child’s favorite candy is M&Ms, then that’s the bribe. You may prefer them to be bribed with carrot sticks, but those are boring to our little ones. So make the bribe something they can’t resist. Second, the bribe candy has to be where they can see it, hear it, and know that, without a doubt, they’re going to receive it if they do their business in the potty. Rewards work wonders if they’re given at the right time. (5)

You can have variations of bribing like giving more M&Ms or some ice cream if your child takes the initiative to go potty without you having to remind him about it. Just be creative.

Some moms say boys are a little bit tougher to potty train than girls so if you have a little boy, you might like to try this next tip …

The next potty training tip for little boys is actually quite fun so go ahead and try it.

8. Target Practice.

Getting my son to learn the standing-up thing was hard, so we turned it into a game. I put five Cheerios in the potty and told him to aim at them when he peed. Every time he did it right, he got to pick out a prize from a bag of goodies I picked up at the dollar store. (6)

You can even use fruity Cheerios or Fruit Loops so that your child can also learn about colors. Have them pick the color that they want to target to get them more motivated.

Have you ever thought of Daddy to help out with the potty training? To make things move along much faster, why not ask Daddy to set an example?

7. Have Dad As Part Of The Team.

Sometimes, dads can work their magic to get your little ones to do things that moms can’t. Use this power of dad to your advantage — and this will be especially helpful if you’re training a boy since dad has what he has. This was the case in my house during our potty training venture. I could tell and ask my son to use the bathroom until I wanted to pull my hair out, when his father told him to try and go, he went in effortlessly. (7)

Hey Dad, how about you try to target some of those Fruity Cheerios and show your son how it’s done? That should be a great time to bond. 🙂

The next tip on the next page is actually not for everyone but a lot of moms do swear by this method.

If you decide to use this method, be aware of the risks … be ready to clean up the mess this might cause. However gross and risky this tip might be, believe or not, moms do swear by it for its effectiveness.

6. No Undies.

Well, I let them run around the house naked, and it helped them make the connection between ‘I’m peeing,’ and, ‘I’m making a mess.’ Sometimes when kids are wearing diapers or pull-ups they don’t notice or care that they’re peeing and pooping. Yes, I had to clean up messes, but it really helped solidify the connection. (8)

If you try the above-mentioned tip, hopefully it won’t be too messy. Just make sure to protect your carpet and your couch before doing it.

The next tip does not involve the risk of getting messy but requires tapping into your child’s imagination.

Children love stories so stir up their minds with some fascinating story telling skills which moms are usually good at.

5. Little White Lies.

My middle son was stubborn when it came to #2 on the potty — absolutely refused, no matter the reward. So I finally told him that when we flush, the poop goes out to the sea to feed the fish — so if he didn’t go, then the poor little fish wouldn’t have anything to eat. My son, being the compassionate, sensitive little do-gooder he is, felt it was his mission to poop to “save” the fish. (After all, Nemo and Dory were counting on him!). (9)

Of course, it really helps if your child loves Nemo or loves little fishies. I’m sure you can come up with some other spin to the feeding the fish story.

Now if you tried the M&M bribe and it does not work, maybe you are missing a little something to make that technique work.

Some children, believe it or not, lose interest in M&Ms or candies. The key is finding a bribe that your child is really obsessed with.

4. Find the Right Bribe.

We tried Cheerios, M&M’s, potty charts, cheerleader rants and screams, but nothing worked. My son has always been obsessed with cars and trucks and luckily, the movie Cars had just come out. My husband scoured the local stores to collect all the figurines featured in the movie. We saw the movie, then we told my son that every time he went potty he’d get a car. It was magical. After 15 cars, he was totally potty trained. I’m sure Disney would be so proud. (10)

For my little girl who had a fascination for little rubber duckies, this worked like gangbusters.

It did not take her long to get potty trained as long as she was getting her prizes of various colored rubber duckies.

From low-tech, old-school potty training tips, this next hi-tech gadget mesmerizes kids in the toilet. This small hi-tech gadget definitely brings potty training to the next level.

3. Mesmerize Your Little One With This “Hi-Tech” Gadget.

We tried all kinds of bribes. My child just won’t fall for them. Then I stumbled upon this interesting gadget. Sometimes certain gadgets are invented for some other purpose but it turns out they work better when used for potty training! This hilarious gadget was invented just to help adults find the toilet bowl at night. Well, as it turns out, it works well for potty training too.

My potty-training hi-tech gadget is the Motion-Activated LED Toilet Bowl Light.

How long did it take for my child to get potty trained? Less than a week!

I swear by this fascinating gadget. In fact, I learned that other parents swear by it too. The awesome thing is … this works for both little girls and boys.

This must-have, fascinating gadgetry brings the spectacle of the magic kingdom right in your very own toilet bowl. Kids LOVE it … and so do adults!

When activated by motion, the gadget produces a colorful light show in your toilet bowl that mesmerizes kids and potty-trains them in no time. From my experience, this gadget elevates potty training to the next level.

It’s portable and will easily pop off and wrap around any bowl. It also makes nighttime relief an excitingly fun and memorable experience for the whole family! Another bonus: It also helps Dad from missing the mark at night. LOL

In case you are interested in getting this for your family, I got mine from Amazon.com. For the price of a couple of McDonald’s Happy Meals, you get to potty train your child. Here’s the link to my Motion-Activated LED Toilet Light gadget of choice. Check it out.

Even my mother-in-law decided to get a couple to help, as she put it, “target train” my father-in-law. LOL

Potty training is a big deal to your little one so don’t be stingy on this next tip.

Make sure that you become your child’s biggest cheerleader and supporter.

2. Heap on the Praise.

I’ve heard all the tricks — stickers, bribing with toys, special underpants. But you have to pick something that’s consistent with your parenting style. I didn’t use rewards elsewhere, so I didn’t want to start here. What did work: Lots of undivided attention, positive reinforcement, love, affection and pride when my kids were successful. Making a big deal about small steps of progress is key. (11)

Even have grandma, grandpa, aunts, and uncles (okay aunts and uncles might be overdoing it) give your child a call for a job well done.

Aside from being the biggest cheerleader for your little one, here’s what most battle-toughened, potty-training moms would say.

Make sure to take this to heart:

1. Be Patient.

Usually, children begin showing interest between the ages of 2 and 3. Keep an eye out for common clues, such as your child asking questions about the bathroom and toilet, staying dry for longer periods of time (indicating stronger bladder control), wanting to wear “big kid” underwear, or telling you when she’s soiled a diaper.

These signs of readiness may intensify gradually or, as Wisconsin mom Tracy M. found, appear quite suddenly: “One day she walked up to me, about three months before she turned three, and said, ‘Mommy, I want to wear undies.’ And since that day she has.” (11)

Just remember that your child will potty train when they are ready. When it comes to potty training, each child is different so exercise patience.

When things go bad, just add some humor to the situation as your child will eventually get up to speed with his potty habits.

You too can survive potty training so long as you find the right trick to get it done. Keep in mind that what works for other kids might not work for yours.

You really shouldn’t compare and feel so bad if things aren’t working out so well for you and your toddler. You need all the patience in the world. At the same time, you need to decipher the best time to potty train your toddler. Only you can tell when it’s the right time. You should always keep these tried and tested tips in mind.

Thanks to the parents who have shared their tried and tested potty training tips. I’m sure you’ll find some use for them too.

Do you have a potty training tip you can share?

The post 12 Tried And Tested Potty Training Tips Moms Swear By. #3 Worked For Me appeared first on Oh My Parenting.

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.

Although in certain cases, some of the parents have some history of neglect or knowingly leaving a child in the car, most of the other cases involve loving and attentive parents who simply forgot they have a child in the backseat of their car. This phenomenon, known as Forgotten Baby Syndrome (FBS), can happen to the best of us.

According to Amber Rollins, director of KidsAndCars.org, even loving parents can have moments of forgetfulness or FBS.

“People think that it is monsters or terrible parents, but this is happening to the most educated, responsible people … The No. 1 thing that we tell people is: ‘Don’t ever think that this can’t happen to you’.“

Be aware that every time a child is strapped in a rear-facing car seat in the backseat of your car, there is always a potential that you might forget your child. This also happens typically with younger children as they are usually asleep and not making any noise.

To prevent accidentally forgetting your child and avoid a tragic incident from happening, check out the must-know helpful tips to prevent forgetting a child in the car on the next page.

Here’s the list of 10 helpful tips to prevent forgetting a child in the car:

10. Place your handbag, briefcase, or cell phone in the backseat beside the baby.

Leaving something you routinely carry with you in and out of the car and placing these in the backseat is an excellent idea. You should not reach to grab it but make it a point to get out of the car to retrieve it. By doing so, you won’t help but notice your child in the backseat. This can help insure that you do not forget and leave your child in the car.

If you think you might still forget to grab your handbag, briefcase, or cell phone, then you might like to do this. Use something that you definitely cannot leave a car without. Note: This tip can only apply to people who drive automatic cars. Sorry, stick shift drivers.

9. Leave your left shoe in the backseat.

You might forget your purse, briefcase, or cell phone, but most likely, you won’t leave without your shoe. (1)

Aside from entertaining your child, stuffed animals can serve a life-saving purpose. A stuffed animal can be used as a reminder that you have your child with you in the backseat of the car.

8. The stuffed animal swap method.

Keep a stuffed animal in the car. When your baby is in the carseat, place the toy on the front passenger seat; when you remove the baby, put the animal in the carseat. This repetitive swap will indicate whether your baby is in the car. (2)

Treat your car like you treat your house.

Don’t you check the windows and doors of your house whenever you leave? Why not do the same with your car?

7. Always check the entire car before you leave (front and back).

The more you stick to a routine, the less likely it will be forgotten. (3)

If checking the front and back of your car is still not much of an active routine for you to do, then consider doing this instead … Take a more actionable routine whenever you leave your car after parking such as …

6. Always open the back door of your car every time you park.

By making this a habit, you can assure yourself that you are not forgetting your baby or toddler in case you have him or her with you.

If you carry a diaper bag with your baby when you leave the house, make sure that you do this with the diaper bag …

5. Leave the diaper bag in front.

This is a good suggestion to avoid forgetting the child in the back seat (child safety seat) of the car. So each time you put your child in the car, keep the diaper bag next to you on the front seat. You are likely to notice the diaper bag when you get off and will then not forget the child in the car. (4)

If your car can allow you to do this with the car seat, then place the car seat in the middle of the backseat …

4. Place your child’s car seat in the middle of the backseat rather than behind the driver.

When you set the car seat this way, it’s easier to see the kid. (5)

Changes in routine such as being assigned to drop-off your child in daycare when it’s not your normal route is one of the most common causes of FBS …

Avoid any distractions and make sure to keep yourself aware of such a change.

3. Be extra alert if your routine changes.

That’s when the risk of unintentionally leaving your child in your car increases. (6)

You might like to solicit the help of your child care provider …

Coordinate with your child care provider and have a system in place in case of a change in routine.

2. Set up a system with your child care provider.

Have them call you if your child has not been dropped off by her father, for example, on a day that mom would normally take the kid to child care. “It’s really important for you to put some things into place; even more so if you’re changing the routine,” says Joann Moss, injury prevention education coordinator with the Kohl’s Injury Prevention Program (KIPP) of Children’s Hospital of Michigan. (7)

Lastly, having a lot of distractions and stress have been major causes of FBS. Having your precious little cargo in the backseat should always be top priority in your mind. Minimize distractions and …

1. Be more “Present”.

Hold yourself accountable to be more aware so things like this do not happen. You can do this by making a conscious choice to interact with your children frequently when you are with them. Talk, sing, play, etc. Just do something other than nothing. (8)

Make it a point to discuss the topic of child hot-car fatalities with every person who drives your baby or toddler anywhere. This includes your family, relatives, grandparents, and babysitters.

Child safety expert and advocate Amber Rollins noted that saying to yourself ‘I would never forget my kids in the car’ is dangerous:

“This mindset creates a false sense of security. It can happen to any parent.”

Again accidentally forgetting your precious child can happen to anyone so please make sure to use any or a combination of the tips mentioned in this article to help prevent such a heartbreaking tragedy from ever happening to your family or friends.

Most importantly, if you ever see a child alone in a vehicle, call 911 immediately. If the child seems hot or seem sick, make sure to get them out as quickly as possible.

Let’s help prevent any more tragic deaths of children in hot cars. Please share this article with family and friends. The life you save may be your child’s, a family member’s child, or a friend’s child. Thanks.

Do you have other tips that you might like to share to prevent FBS from happening?

The post 10 Helpful Tips To Prevent Forgetting A Child In The Car. #5 Is My Routine appeared first on Oh My Parenting.

For some moms, pacifiers are heaven-sent. They’re very convenient to take along and the babies love them so much. Such is the reason why moms have come up with so many pet names for the simple pacifier.

The most commonly used names are: soother, dummy, paci, and binky, among others.

In fact, BabyCenter.com has actually listed 172 other names for the simple pacifier — all of which have been coined by the creative minds of parents and their babies.

Even if there are a lot moms who seem to think it’s okay for their babies to use a pacifier, you’re probably still in a quandary. After all, there are those who think that pacifier use may be harmful. For example, according to huffingtonpost.ca:

… some moms and dads fall squarely in the no-soother camp — worried their child could become dependent, harm their teeth or delay speech development.

Most pediatricians and researchers say it’s okay to use pacifiers during the early months of a baby. However, they also suggest and are in agreement with the American Academy of Pediatrics’s recommendation that pacifiers should NOT be overused and that babies should be weaned from pacifiers before their first birthday.

Here’s a great tip from North Shore Pediatric Therapy with regards to how long should a baby use a pacifier:

Depending on the specific needs of your child, wean him or her from the pacifier after 6 months (when risk of SIDS drops) and before 18 months (when speech and language development is occurring rapidly).

With that, here are the 7 good reasons as to why it’s okay use pacifiers during the early months of your baby:

7. Pacifiers may reduce the risk of SIDS. Several studies have found a decrease in the risk of sudden infant death syndrome(SIDS) in infants who use a pacifier. The periodic movement of your baby’s mouth while sucking keeps him in a lighter state of sleep, so there is less of a chance that he will stop breathing,” says Jennifer Shu, M.D., a Parents advisor and coauthor of Heading Home With Your Newborn. “Plus, having a paci in your baby’s mouth helps to keep his airway open,” she adds, which could also help decrease his risk of SIDS. Source: Parents.com

This is probably the best reason as to why you should grab that pacifier.

SIDS is every parent’s nightmare. Imagine the sudden death of a little one not older than one year old. That’s truly heartbreaking, to say the least.

This is what livescience.com has to say about SIDS:

It is the leading cause of death of children ages 1 to 12 months, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2010, more than 2,000 U.S. infants died from SIDS. The National Institutes of Health reports that SIDS is most likely to occur when the baby is between 2 and 4 months old. The incidence increases in cold weather. Infants who die of SIDS show no signs of suffering.

SIDS is scary. However, the good old pacifier can help lessen the occurrence of SIDS. According to babble.com:

Several studies have shown a two- to threefold decrease of SIDS deaths among babies who use a pacifier. As explained in a recent article in Pediatrics magazine, “The hypothesis is that a pacifier protects the upper airway from becoming obstructed by the tongue.”

So if a pacifier can lessen the chances of sudden stoppage of breathing in babies, then it’s definitely worth grabbing one now, right?

The next good reason as to why it’s okay for your baby to use a pacifier sets the record straight on nipple confusion.

Did you actually believe that a pacifier could interfere with breastfeeding? Well, this next good reason is not just surprising it’s also backed up by science.

6. Pacifiers increase the chances of breastfeeding. Limiting pacifier use resulted in decreased rates of exclusive breast-feeding. After tracking 2,249 babies born between June 2010 and August 2011, they noted that exclusive breast-feeding dropped from 79% of infants between July and November 2010 to 68% between January to August 2011. Source: HealthLand.Time.com

You had probably been warned about pacifiers, especially after making the decision to breastfeed. After all, there’s just so much talk about nipple confusion that’s associated with a pacifier.

According to the nursing experts on this breastfeedingbasics.com:

The risk of nipple confusion, whether by introducing a bottle or pacifier, is greatest during the early days of nursing. The longer you wait to introduce artificial nipples, the less risk there is of confusing your baby.

Here’s the good news; there is no nipple confusion after all. Hence, the pacifier will not intervene with your baby’s breastfeeding.

This is scientifically backed up. Today.com cites:

In December 2010, Oregon Health & Science University Doernbecher Children’s Hospital locked up pacifiers in the newborn nursery to improve their breast-feeding record even more. To everyone’s surprise, they saw breast-feeding rates drop as soon as the pacifiers were no longer readily available.

Do you want to know why it’s quite natural for babies to use a pacifier?

If there’s one thing that newborns do a lot of, it’s to suck.

5. Satisfy the suck reflex. Babies have a natural need to suck. The bottle or breast usually meets this need, but the desire can linger even after the belly is full. A pacifier can help. Just be sure it doesn’t replace mealtime. Source: WedMD.com

Sucking on something is such a natural tendency for newborns. It’s so natural that they have been doing it since they were inside the womb. As a matter of fact, a study confirms that:

Sucking a thumb in the womb is a sign of a healthy baby to come.

There are times when sucking is misconstrued as hunger. This is because the baby cries when the feeding stops. As a parent, you need to decipher as to why your baby is crying. You just can’t surmise that your baby is hungry.

Keeping in mind that babies have a natural tendency to suck, it makes it a lot easier for you to grab a pacifier. With a pacifier, you have another option as to how to calm your baby down. You’re not just going to end up feeding your baby to satisfy the need to suck.

Here’s something to think about. According to this babycentre.co.uk:

For some babies, the need to suck is very strong. If you’re breastfeeding, you could let your baby suckle your breast for comfort. Alternatively, let her suck on your clean finger or knuckle. Most babies will never need a dummy, but this is another option to try if you think it may help her.

If you think a pacifier is a hard habit to break, think again. Between your baby’s thumb and a pacifier, the latter is a better option.

This is the reason why the pacifier is a better option.

4. The pacifier is in your control. That can be a good thing when nothing but plunking that pacifier in your baby’s mouth will gate calm. Plus, unlike the thumb (which is in baby’s control) you decide when it’s time for your baby to give up the binky, and you’re the one who pulls the plug (whether your baby will put up a fight is another issue). In fact, research has shown that finger-sucking can be a harder habit to break. Source: WhatToExpect.com

Knowing that babies have a natural tendency to suck, getting them to suck on a pacifier will spare them from sucking their thumbs. Needless to say, this lessens the chances of thumb sucking.

Although it is also natural for babies to suck their thumbs, it has to stop at a certain age. According to startribune.com:

The urge to suck one’s thumb or finger is a survival skill that starts at birth. But at about age 5, when permanent teeth start coming in, it’s time to put an end to the habit, dentists say.

For some kids, it can be a lot harder to stop the habit of thumb sucking. Startribune.com has this to add:

Nearly one-third to half of all preschoolers suck their thumbs. The number falls to about 6 percent of 7- to 11-year-olds. But those who don’t or can’t quit find that thumb sucking can become embarrassing, disfiguring and expensive.

This is the reason why more and more moms prefer to the pacifier over the thumb. According to popsugar.com:

Many moms suggested that the pacifier is an easier habit to break than thumb-sucking, and the AAPD agrees. After all, you can put a pacifier out of reach, but you can’t exactly remove your baby’s thumb!

The pacifier is considered heaven-sent for sleep-deprived parents.

Do you want to enjoy a brief moment of silence? Reach out for a pacifier.

3. Pacifiers can be soothing for babies. If your baby is cranky or fussy, a pacifier may help him or her calm down. It may also relax your baby to help him or her fall asleep. Pacifiers may also help soothe your baby during common medical procedures, such as when he or she gets an immunization (also called a shot) or a blood test. Source: FamilyDoctor.org

Wouldn’t you just love that? With your baby asleep, you can also get the much-needed rest your body is clamoring for.

Don’t worry. It’s a common practice for parents to rely on a pacifier. According to babycenter.ca there may even be an increase in the use of pacifiers.

It’s very common and may be on the increase. A large 1999 study reported that two thirds of mothers used a soother at some point.

Here’s something to think about. While a pacifier can help your baby fall asleep, it’s not exactly an ideal sleeping aid. This experts at ParentingScience.com points this out very well.

When the pacifier falls out of the baby’s mouth, the soothing effect ends. And the pacifier will fall out of the baby’s mouth. In a study that recorded the sleep patterns of babies aged 6-18 weeks, almost two-thirds of infants lost their pacifiers within 30 minutes of falling asleep (Franco et al 2004).

The soothing effect of a pacifier is temporary. Nothing can beat your loving touch to put the little one to sleep. Now if you are desperate to get some sleep as well, go grab that pacifier.

The next reason as to why it’s okay for your baby to use a pacifier might just surprise you.

Yes, the pacifier can actually do this for your baby …

2. Pacifier can help your baby gain more weight. Preemies who suck on binkies gain weight faster, according to a 1992 study published in the Swedish journal Acta Pediatrica. Other research has found that preemies who use pacifiers shortly after birth show earlier sucking patterns and experience fewer health complications. “Sucking promotes oral-muscle function and muscle development,” says Nina L. Shapiro, M.D., assistant professor of pediatric otolaryngology at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine. Source: FitPregnancy.com

Pacifiers don’t have any kind of nutritional content; that’s for sure. However, the actual process of sucking a pacifier seems to boost the oral-muscle development of your baby.

So what’s that got to do with weight gain? Grey.colorado.edu explains it pretty well.

Newborns are born to suck. When a baby sucks, they strengthen their oral motor muscles, explore different sensations in their mouth and learn about tastes.

Furthermore, the pacifier can also ease the pain of teething. According to parents.com, a pacifier can help massage your baby’s gums. This makes the teething stage a bit more comfortable for your baby.

So if your baby is not experiencing any kind of discomfort in the oral area, feeding wouldn’t be such a struggle. With that, your baby has more chances of gaining weight.

Remember this. Feeding and sucking on a pacifier are two different things. You can never replace one with the other.

There is one more good reason as to why it’s okay to allow your baby to use a pacifier. Did you know that …

1. A pacifier can help premature babies. A dummy may help if your baby is premature. If he’s given a dummy to suck on before feeds, he may adapt more quickly from tube-feeding to bottle-feeding. He may also be calmer and settle more easily before and after his feeds. Premature babies who are given a dummy also have shorter hospital stays. Source: BabyCentre.co.uk

Do you find that hard to believe? If you do, then take a look at what medicaldaily.com has to say about it.

Whenever a premature baby is born, they are given a pacifier, among other things, to assist with therapy — many of them can’t feed correctly because of a lack of sucking power.

If you decide to allow your child to use a pacifier, here are some great additional guidelines that were provided by North Shore Pediatric Therapy.

Try to limit your baby’s pacifier use to nap-time or sleep only.

Instead of offering your child his or her pacifier during moments of boredom or increased emotion, find new ways to assist in self-directed entertainment or self-soothing; for example, redirect your child to a fun activity, play music, read a book, or offer a preferred toy.

Restrict use if your child has a history of recurrent otitis media (middle ear infections)

Use an appropriately sized pacifier. (Pacifiers are sized based on your baby’s age.)

Do not allow children to share pacifiers.

Wash pacifiers in soap and water to keep them clean between uses.

Use a pacifier with ventilation holes to let air in.

Do not sweeten a pacifier, as it can damage your baby’s teeth.

At the end of the day, the decision to allow your baby to use a pacifier is all yours. Should you decide to grab a pacifier for your baby, you have all these good reasons to back you up.

Do you allow your baby to use a pacifier?

The post 7 Good Reasons Why It’s OK To Use Pacifiers In Early Months. #3 Works appeared first on Oh My Parenting.