How to Help Your Teen to Find His/her Own Healthy Balance of Computer and Non-computer Time?

Any parent of a teenager today who sees their child’s face in full frontal view is lucky indeed.  Many of us are accustomed to addressing the back of our offspring’s head, silhouetted against the glowing blue light of the computer screen.

It seems like pretty basic common sense that it can’t be great for a kid’s growing body to be sitting motionless in front of a screen all day, so I won’t bore you with all the research.  However, the computer is today’s vehicle of choice for the social connections that are so critical to a teenager’s world.  

The developmental task of the teen years is to master autonomy.  Toward this end, many parents wisely allow their teens plenty of freedom to make and learn from mistakes.  It can be challenging to sit back and watch your teen experiment with spending too much time at the computer.

But if you impose a mandate that he or she ‘get off that computer this instant,’ you are interrupting your child’s natural feedback system before it has a chance to register its own protest regarding the prolonged physical stillness.

Here are my sneaky, tried, and true suggestions for helping your teen to find his/her own healthy balance of computer and non-computer time without turning your family life into one big power struggle:

Locate the computer within range of your sight and hearing

If it is in your child’s room, have an open door policy.  Find a friendly reason to drop in -- deliver a drink and a snack, the mail, or the laundry.  While you are nearby, notice what is on display and ask casual questions. When your teen knows you could show up at any second, he or she is more careful about what makes it onto that screen.

Show your interest and curiosity by listening to your teen when he or she talks about what is happening in chat rooms or online activities.

Pay attention!  Don’t freak out, but do feel free to share your values regarding ethics, morality, and problem-solving.  Offer yourself as a resource if they should ever encounter a situation that troubles them.

Share news articles or stories you have heard about internet abuse.

No lectures!  Just information.  Your teen will connect the dots.

When you feel they’ve been sitting still for too long, offer to do a more compelling activity together, rather than simply lecture or demand they turn the computer off.

Invite your teen to participate in a physical activity WITH YOU.  Shoot hoops, play pool, go for a bike ride, go shopping.  You know what they like to do best.  Offer it!  Challenge yourself to make real life more interesting than virtual reality.

Ask for help around the house.

Often my son gets into command-following autopilot while playing games, so when I ask him to get the clothes out of the dryer he just does it!  If he hears the whir of the kitchen mixer, he inevitably comes down to see what I’m baking, and a few minutes later is up to his elbows in cookie batter. 

Help your teen access and acknowledge their body’s signals.

Ask how their eyes, back, or arms are feeling.  Just ask, don’t tell!

Be an impeccable role model.

Talk about why you are getting up to stretch now, or how stiff your neck feels when you work online for too long.  Turn on loud music and dance around the house to loosen up.  All the better if you dance on in to your child’s computer space and hassle them a little bit in a playful way.

The bottom line is that the more you try to compel a teenager to do something that is your idea about what is best for them, the less successful you will be!  Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to be a living and thriving example of balance.

Enjoy real life to the fullest, and invite your teen to join you.  Be irresistibly engaged in enjoying physical activity yourself, and you will become more magnetic to your teen than virtual reality.

How to Discipline and Build a Bond With Your Children?

Children are inquisitive by nature.  When they are younger, it's usually because they want to better understand something.  

When they are older, it's because they want to better understand why you think something is important and why they should also feel the same way.

Regardless of their age, it's imperative that when setting forth the rules and expectations in your home, your child understands there is no room for questioning the rules you set forth and the consequences of breaking the rules.  

Younger children usually do not understand a lengthy explanation of why it's important that they be home from their friend's home at a certain time or why they aren't allowed to play ball in the house.  

But the one thing they do strive to do most of the time is to make their parents proud and happy.  So when a young child asks "Why?" or "Why not?" when they are told they can't play with something or someone or why they have to obey a rule you've set forth, simply explain to them that "because it makes me happy when you follow the house rules and do what I have asked of you." 

You should avoid using the term, "Because I said so," as that only adds to the child's frustration and confusion. 

Older children, adolescents and teenagers alike will probably require more from your explanation.  When they question "Why?" or "Why not?" it's best to directly, honestly and clearly state your reasoning. 

"I asked you to be home by 10 p.m. because we have to be at the dentist's office first thing in the morning for your check-up and we can't be late."  

It is also a great opportunity for you to reiterate the consequences of breaking the rule.  "If you are not home by 10 p.m., you'll be grounded from going to your friend's house for a week." Be consistent, be firm, and be clear.  

Though your child may challenge you by asking your reasoning why a rule has been put in place, it also shows their growth as an individual thinker.  

So try not to get angry or frustrated when they do so; realize it's their way of understanding their world around them.

How to Avoid Falling Into the Temptations That Detract Us When Running a Home Based Business?

Starting any business is rich with excitement and anxiety.  This is especially true when stepping into a home based business.  All the questions about doing everything right and if I'll be successful are in every business owners mind when first starting up. 

The big difference between a home based business startup and a regular or more "formal" business startup is the comfort level in your own home can work against you getting anything actually done.

Going into a store or an office focuses attention on the things that need done that day.  Many typically have those "to-do" lists that outline the goals and objectives of the day.  In a home based business however, it's easy to fall into the trap of not separating the business or work part of your life and the home and family part.

The sofa or chair where you watch television is right in the other room, almost calling for you to take yet another break.  Then there's the refrigerator and snack cabinet.  

Running a home based business, especially a startup one demands a certain discipline that works best if you compartmentalize your day.  Work during times when you've decided to work and be "home" when you've decided to be home. If you set up a schedule that has you working in your home office from 8 am to noon, be at your desk working during those hours.  

Don't fall into the temptation to visit with the family or walk the dog during business or work time.  Stay focused.  One of the biggest problems with any home based business or working from home is having the flexibility to make changes in your work schedule.

When first starting out in your own home business, stay as formal as possible.  Keep business hours, or at least stay as close to the schedule you've set as possible.  The reason for this is to set pattens in your own personal behavior that allow for the maximum potential for the business success.  Later, you can relax a bit and add a little flexibility to the schedule.  

The key to a successful business no matter if it's a retail store, a technology related business, home based or office / retail based, is always the same.  WORK!  Home based businesses don't mean that there's less work.  It means the business can be operated out of your home.  The WORK part still is critical to your success.

We're almost all seen how the corporate world wastes time in endless meetings.  In a small business, we too can fall into patterns that keep us from doing the most important thing to assure success, and that's work.  

In any home based business, stay focused, develop a schedule, and stay on track to a bright future in your own business!

Common Causes of Babies Crying

Introduction

Crying is a normal event in the lives of all babies. When a baby comes out of the womb the first thing to do is crying. By the first cry he will take some air in to the lungs for the first time in their life. 

After delivery if the baby does not cry then it should be initiated by slightly pinching or gently stroking the feet. From this it is clear that the healthy baby should cry and it is a normal physiological event ,still some times it can upset the mother or family members.

We all know that a baby can't tell his needs or troubles in words. The only way for him  to communicate with others is by crying. Babies show some other signs like feet kicking, hand waving and head turning etc. But the best way to take the attention of others is by crying.

Excessive crying may not have a firm definition because the crying habit changes from baby to baby and some babies can be calmed easily but some are difficult to sooth. If crying is distressing for the mother and home nurse it can be called excessive.

Many a times baby become quiet by giving breast milk or by carrying with a gentle rocking.Sudden onset of excessive crying means baby is distressed and needs attention. The causes of crying extends from simple reasons to life threatening conditions. Hence crying of a baby should not be ignored.

 

Most of the time it is difficult to find the cause of the cry. Common causes are discussed here for awareness.

Common reasons for crying

1. Hunger

A hungry baby will cry till he gets  the milk. Here the old saying comes true'crying baby gets the milk'.

2. Wetting

Urination and defecation causes some discomfort and results in crying till his parts are cleaned and made dry .

3. Company

Majority of the kids need somebody near. If they feel lonely they cry. When their favorite doll slips away from the grip they cry for help.

4. Tired

When the baby is tired after a journey and unable to sleep just cry simply. They feel tired in uncomfortable surroundings and due to unhealthy climate.

5. Heat - Cold

If they feel too hot or too cold they become restless and cry. Child is comfortable in a room with good ventilation.

6. Tight Clothes

Tight cloths especially during warm climate is intolerable for kids. Tight elastic of the the dress can also produce soreness in the hip region.                                                                                    

7. Dark room

When the baby wakes up from sleep he needs some dim light.If there is darkness he will disturb the sleep of parents by crying. Of course he will be irritated by strong light resulting in cry.

8. Mosquito

Yes, these creatures disturb the sleep by their blood sucking and makes the baby cry.

9. Nasal blockage

Child may not be able to sleep when they have a cold and go on crying till the passage is open.

10. Phlegm in throat

This also causes difficult breathing resulting in cry. Often a typical sound can be heard with each breath.

11. General aching

Generalized body ache with restlessness is seen in flu and prodromal stages of some infectious diseases can result in continuous cry.

12. Habitual Crying

Some babies cry without any real cause ending the parents in agony. Many a times doctor is called for help.

13. Nappy rash

If a tight and wet nappy is kept for a long time results in this condition.

Rash can also be due to some allergic reaction to the elastic material of the nappy.  When the rash appears it causes soreness and baby become sleepless and cry.  All other skin lesions like eczema, ecthyma, candidiasis etc also causes same problems.                                                 

14. Ear Ache

Ear infection is common in wet climate.The infection may spread from the throat. Ear infection can result in rupture of ear drum causing discharge of pus. Ear ache usually becomes worse at night when lying down. Child will become restless with cry and may not allow you to touch the ear. Some children with earache rub the affected ear frequently.

15. Colic

When the baby cry continuously most of us diagnose it as colic. This problem is still a topic for debate because exact cause for colic is not known and diagnosis is also difficult to confirm.Colic may be associated with rumbling and distention of abdomen.

Child often feels better when lying on abdomen. Some children may not allow you to touch the abdomen.If the child cries continuously doctors help is needed.

16. Infections

All infections causes some kind of pain or irritation resulting in cry. Infection may be anywhere in the body.Usually it is associated with fever, redness and swelling.

17. Reactions to certain food

It is said that one man's food is another man's poison. Some food articles can produce some allergic reactions. Allergy is manifested in the form of redness, breathlessness,gastric symptons and continuous cry.

18. Hard stools

Constipated babies with hard stools may cry when they get the urge for stool. Some children hesitate to pass stool because of pain .

19. Gastro esophagial reflex

Here baby cries with spilling of food after feeding. If this continues it may be due to gastroesophageal reflex. This is due to failure of the lower part of esophagus to close after food causing regurgitation from the stomach. It is difficult to diagnose this condition and can be confirmed by giving antireflex medicines.

 

20. Dentition

During dentition child becomes restless with crying. Often associated with gastric troubles and diarrhea.

                                

Some rare reasons

1. Bowel obstruction

Bowel obstruction is associated with severe pain and vomiting. Abdomen is distended with rumbling sound.Baby is constipated with absence of flatus.

2. Septicemia

Invasion of pathogenic micro organisms in to the blood is called septicemia.Fever is associated with this condition.

3. Torsion of testes in male kids

When a male baby cries continuously his scrotum should be examined.Torsion of the testes produce severe pain which will be worse by touching the affected testes.When the testes is pressed upwards pain is relieved. If this is not treated properly it can damage the affected  testes due to lack of blood supply.

4. Meningitis

Initially there may not be fever, hence crying baby with alternate vacant stare and irritability should not be ignored. Fontanel is bulging. Neck rigidity and seizures may appear later.

5. Retention of urine

Children with retention of urine will have agonizing pain making them restless.                                    

7. Major injuries

Major injury to any parts of the body causes pain. Occasionally children will fall while carrying and results in head injury. Head injury is associated with reflex vomiting and convulsions.

There is No Quick Fix to the Super Mom Problem

Faster than a speeding toddler ... more powerful than a Hoover upright ... able to leap large PTA meetings in a single bound! It's a bird ... it's a plane ... its Super mom! 

Or at least that's who you're trying to be. The problem is, being the perfect mom is as impossible as becoming an actual superhero—it is not who we were created to be. 

Barbara Rainey, co-author of the book Parenting Today's Adolescent, understands the pressure to be perfect. "It comes from expectations that we place on ourselves," explains the mother of six. 

Add on the desire to exercise, keep your home in order and have something left over for your husband, and women can feel downright crushed—which is how the archenemy of moms wants them to feel. 

"Too often behind our smile is a growing frustration and fatigue that starts to come out in other ways," writes Carol Kuykendall, director of communications for Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) International. "We have less patience. Shorter fuses. Headaches." 

Whether you have one child at home or 10, whether you work outside the home or not, and whether you're single or married, there is no quick fix to the super mom problem.

Ask for Help

Moms are not born with capes, and shouldn't go looking for them. And while they do SUPER jobs, there is not an invisible "S" stamped on their chests. Young children always want to help with the chores, but somewhere between the age of three and when they are actually required to do real chores, that urge to help simply vanishes! Despite the complaints (the ones that are actually heard, or not), moms should ask for help from everyone, including the family.

Children as young as two and three can do simple chores that they'll actually enjoy. Besides, it'll get them in the habit of helpfulness now, hopefully making it easier to build upon for the future. If possible hire help for those tasks that seem to always be daunting or remain outstanding. Sometimes the money is worth every penny when the task is no longer the proverbial albatross around one's neck. Attempting to fulfill the role of "super mom" is a super easy way to make one super mom tired. 

Take Time for Yourself 

Who takes care of mom and all of the things that mom manages when mom gets ill? The answer is typically - no one. If that is indeed the case, moms need to remember to care for themselves before they can care for family to avoid the illness that will make their lives only more chaotic. They should allow time to do things just for themselves.

For example, time to exercise, get a massage, read, listen to music or meditate. Whatever it is, quiet "all about mom time" provides moms with an opportunity to rejuvenate and refill patience levels that can help one again achieve clarity. It's necessary and downright crucial to achieving better time management. Can anything operate full throttle when its energy is half depleted? Well, neither can mom! 

Take a break

Let’s face it – parenting children is challenging. Not only do kids demand our constant attention, it's our job to protect and teach them. It's not an easy task, and it wears down even the most devoted mother. Fatigue takes over, exhaustion sets in, and it doesn't take long before your body gives you a message: Take a break! 

Ready to Tweak It

You've got the tools to put everything in place, so once you apply them they'll stay that way, right? Not even close. Now that you have some ideas for getting a handle on that ever elusive time thing, just remember that effectively managing time will be ongoing.

Continue to plan and always be ready and willing to adapt your schedule to better suit your needs. Yes, yours! Most importantly remember that you have more control over your time than you think you do. You have the knowledge, skills and ability to stop tasks from overrunning your life. Enjoy all of your extra time. 

Remember that you can't control it all

Don't try to control everyone or fix everything. Control is God’s job, and the more we allow Him to be in charge, the more emotional and physical energy we will have. If we set unrealistic expectations for ourselves or our families, we’ll end up tired and disappointed. When deciding to take on a task, learn to gauge your time and energy. 

Do we really need to do it all — or is it okay if we can't? What is most important: doing everything right or doing the best we can with what really matters? Realizing that we can't be everything to everybody can make life seem less stressful. 

While super moms don't exist, with God's help, supernatural moms do. The idea of a super mom and perfect executive, parent, wife and community leader, it’s not possible. And when all is said and done, the best tip is to keep life simple, enjoy everyday pleasures. And don't get down on yourself when you can't do it all!

Sleep Tips for Infants and Children

During Infancy

For three or four weeks after birth the infant sleeps more or less, day and night, only waking to satisfy the demands of hunger; at the expiration of this time, however, each interval of wakefulness grows longer, so that it sleeps less frequently, but for longer periods at a time. 

This disposition to repose in the early weeks of the infant's life must not be interfered with; but this period having expired, great care is necessary to induce regularity in its hours of sleep, otherwise too much will be taken in the day-time, and restless and disturbed nights will follow. The child should be brought into the habit of sleeping in the middle of the day, before its dinner, and for about two hours, more or less. If put to rest at a later period of the day, it will invariably cause a bad night. 

At first the infant should sleep with its parent. The low temperature of its body, and its small power of generating heat, render this necessary. If it should happen, however, that the child has disturbed and restless nights, it must immediately be removed to the bed and care of another female, to be brought to its mother at an early hour in the morning, for the purpose of being nursed. This is necessary for the preservation of the mother's health, which through sleepless nights would of course be soon deranged, and the infant would also suffer from the influence which such deranged health would have upon the milk. 

When a month or six weeks has elapsed, the child, if healthy, may sleep alone in a cradle or cot, care being taken that it has a sufficiency of clothing, that the room in which it is placed is sufficiently warm, viz. 60 degrees, and the position of the cot itself is not such as to be exposed to currents of cold air. It is essentially necessary to attend to these points, since the faculty of producing heat, and consequently the power of maintaining the temperature, is less during sleep than at any other time, and therefore exposure to cold is especially injurious. It is but too frequently the case that inflammation of some internal organ will occur under such circumstances, without the true source of the disease ever being suspected.

Here, however, a frequent error must be guarded against,  that of covering up the infant in its cot with too much clothing throwing over its face the muslin handkerchief and, last of all, drawing the drapery of the bed closely together. The object is to keep the infant sufficiently warm with pure air; it therefore ought to have free access to its mouth, and the atmosphere of the whole room should be kept sufficiently warm to allow the child to breathe it freely: in winter, therefore, there must always be a fire in the nursery. 

The child up to two years old, at least, should sleep upon a feather bed, for the reasons referred to above. The pillow, however, after the sixth month, should be made of horsehair; for at this time teething commences, and it is highly important that the head should be kept cool. 

During Childhood

Up to the third or fourth year the child should be permitted to sleep for an hour or so before its dinner. After this time it may gradually be discontinued; but it must be recollected, that during the whole period of childhood more sleep is required than in adult age. The child, therefore, should be put to rest every evening between seven and eight; and if it be in health it will sleep soundly until the following morning. 

No definite rule, however, can be laid down in reference to the number of hours of sleep to be allowed; for one will require more or less than another.Regularity as to the time of going to rest is the chief point to attend to; permit nothing to interfere with it, and then only let the child sleep without disturbance, until it awakes of its own accord on the following morning, and it will have had sufficient rest. 

The amount of sleep necessary to preserve health varies according to the state of the body, and the habits of the individual. Infants pass much the greater portion of their time in sleep. Children sleep twelve or fourteen hours. The schoolboy generally ten. In youth, a third part of the twenty-four hours is spent in sleep. Whilst, in advanced age, many do not spend more than four, five, or six hours in sleep. 

It is a cruel thing for a mother to sacrifice her child's health that she may indulge her own vanity, and yet how often is this done in reference to sleep. An evening party is to assemble, and the little child is kept up for hours beyond its stated time for retiring to rest, that it may be exhibited, fondled, and admired. Its usual portion of sleep is thus abridged, and, from the previous excitement, what little he does obtain, is broken and unrefreshing, and he rises on the morrow wearied and exhausted. 

Once awake, it should not be permitted to lie longer in bed, but should be encouraged to arise immediately. This is the way to bring about the habit of early rising, which prevents many serious evils to which parents are not sufficiently alive, promotes both mental and corporeal health, and of all habits is said to be the most conducive to longevity. 

A child should never be suddenly aroused from sleep; it excites the brain, quickens the action of the heart, and, if often repeated, serious consequences would result. The change of sleeping to waking should always be gradual. 

The bed on which the child now sleeps should be a mattress: at this age a feather bed is always injurious to children; for the body, sinking deep into the bed, is completely buried in feathers, and the unnatural degree of warmth thus produced relaxes and weakens the system, particularly the skin, and renders the child unusually susceptible to the impressions of cold.

Then, instead of the bed being made up in the morning as soon as vacated, and while still saturated with the nocturnal exhalations from the body, the bed-clothes should be thrown over the backs of chairs, the mattress shaken well up, and the window thrown open for several hours, so that the apartment shall be thoroughly ventilated.

It is also indispensably requisite not to allow the child to sleep with persons in bad health, or who are far advanced in life; if and where possible, it should always sleep alone.

The Simple Guide to Caring for Babies - What You Should Not Do?

1. Never shake the baby, it can cause damage to the brain. 

2. Don't leave any small articles near the baby .    

3. Sharp pointed articles like pen, pencil, etc should not be kept away from babies. 

4. Avoid entry of water in to the ear while giving a bath. 

5. Food should not be given forcibly when the baby is crying or coughing continuously. 

6. Do Not overfeed the baby. 

7. Articles like mosquito repellents, moth balls, ink, gum, medicines, etc should be kept away. 

8. Avoid tight clothing. 

9. Should not be placed near the edge of the bed. 

10. Should not give the baby to strangers and avoid close contact with others. 

11. All electrical instruments should be kept away, and bed should not be arranged near electrical sockets and wires. 

12. Kitchen is a dangerous place for children. Don't leave them alone in the kitchen. 

13. Water level in the bath tub should be minimum and don't go for any other works (to attend phone call or calling bell etc) when the  baby is in the tub.  

14. Avoid smoking inside the house. 

15. Should not allow pet animals to be in very close contact with the baby. (anti rabies injections should be given to pets and cut their nails properly) 

16. When the child starts walking should not be kept alone on the upstairs and should not allow them to climb the steps. 

17. Strong light should be avoided in the room.  

18. When you are travelling don't give the food articles given by co passengers. 

19. Baby should not be allowed to crawl on the soil. 

20. If you are sick, or someone else is sick, keep away from the baby. 

21. Don't take the baby to hospital wards, crowded market places, and polluted dusty areas. 

22. Table lamps should not be kept near the kids, this will attract insects at night and cause problems. 

23. Other medicine should not be given to the children.  

24. Medicine which has passed the expiry date should not be used.

The Simple Guide to Caring for Babies - What You Should Do?

1. Always keep the baby neat and clean. 

2. Cut the nails properly with utmost care. 

3. Wet nappy should be removed and parts should be cleaned with soap. 

4. Take care of the genitals because fungal infection is common in that area. Parts should be kept dry. 

5. Care of the scalp is very important. Fungal infections, dermatitis etc. can be prevented by proper cleaning. 

6. Tight dress can cause irritation, hence dress should be loose and should allow entry of air. 

7. Room should have sufficient light and ventilation. It should be free from dust and insects. 

8. Separate bed preferably water proof is needed for kids. It should be arranged near mother's bed. 

9. Always keep some music making toys near the baby. 

10. While carrying the baby, support the head with hand. Since the neck muscles are weak sudden fall of head can be dangerous.

11. Mothers milk is the best nutrition for the baby, it also gives emotional attachment. Breast milk should be given as per the babies need preferably in mother sitting position. Proper cleaning of nipple is also necessary. Mother should take good nutritious diet throughout lactating period. 

12. If there is some contraindication for breast feeding cows milk can be given. Feeding bottle should be cleaned with warm water and should be kept dry till next use. 

13. Cows milk should be boiled and cooled. Some diseases like bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis etc. spread through raw milk. 

14. Some children are allergic to some substances like food, milk, dress, cosmetics etc.. Try to find out the material causing allergy and avoid such things. 

15. Mosquito nets should be used regularly.Diseases like malaria, dengue, filariasis, yellow fever and etc. spread through mosquito bites. Mosquito bite can also produce skin eruptions with some allergic reactions. It also disturbs sound sleep. 

16. A calm atmosphere should be maintained for a good sleep. Compared to adults infants need more sleep.It is said that growth hormone secretion is activated during sleep. 

17. Growth development, behavioral development, motor development, personal social development, language development etc should be noted down in relation to age.  However parents need not be over anxious because slight variations are seen from individual to individual. 

18. Assessment of growth by measuring height and weight is necessary. 

19. In the early months of life infant may defecate after every feed. Proper toilet training should be given when the infant grows. The infant can be placed on the toilet seat by the age of ten months. 

20. The toilet seat (potty seat) should be cleaned with antiseptic liquid before and after use. It should not be shared by other children. 

21. If  the baby shows some signs of distress like excessive crying,convulsions,fever with rigor,stiffness of neck,frequent vomiting and diarrhea, bluish discoloration of the body, difficult breathing with grunting, etc pay attention and consult your doctor. 

22. A first aid box should be kept in the room, which should contain sterile cotton, dressing materials, antiseptic lotion and ointment and forceps. Separate book should be maintained to note down the phone numbers of doctors, ambulance, police etc. 

23. Child's medicines should be kept in separate box. Information regarding dose and mode of administration should be written in a paper and affixed on the box.

24. While driving keep the baby in separate seat belt. 

25. When you are going out with the baby keep an identity card with your phone number and address inside his small pocket. 

26. When the infant starts walking always accompany him to prevent a fall and injuries thereby. 

27. In emergencies take the first aid measures and take the victim to nearby hospital. 

Choking:

The baby may swallow some solid objects and cause obstruction.  Immediately make the baby to lie on the abdomen in head low position and press the abdomen backwards and towards the chest.  Stroking the upper back is also useful. If no result call a trained person to take the material with the help of forceps. 

Accidental poisoning:

Try to takeout the poisonous substance and induce vomiting (except kerosine & acids).  Wash the body with water to reduce absorption through skin.Identify the pioson and take the victim to the hospital. 

Burns:

First of all remove the source of heat and put clean cold water. Burned cloths should not be removed immediately.  Cover the wound with sterile cotton and take to nearby hospital. 

Wounds:

Clean the wound with clean water and stop the bleeding by compressing, raising the wound above the level of heart or use a tourniquet to compress blood vessels.  Then dress the wound with sterile cotton, bandage and consult a doctor. 

Drowning in bath tub:

Take the baby immediately and keep the head in a low position, press the abdomen gentely or give a mouth to mouth sucking till the air way is clear.  Give mouth to mouth breathing and cardiac massage and take the victim to the hospital.

Electric shock:

Stop the source of current.  Then observe the victim,if no breathing give mouth to mouth breath along with cardiac massage and take to the hospital. 

28. And the last but not the least, give your child maximum care, love and support to make him/her healthy and happy for ever.

Three Suggestions You Can Profit From Running a Home Based Child Care Business

How can you profit from the boom in child care services? Here are a few suggestions.

1. Provide Child Care from Your Home

Would you like to provide child care services from your  own home? If so, here is some advice obtained from an experienced child care provider:

• There may be laws in your area that limit the number of children (other than your own) that you can care for from  your home. It could be just five or six children.
• Don't do half days. If someone drops their child off just for the morning and someone else drops their child  off just for the afternoon, it still ties you down all day. 
• If you're going to be tied down all day, you might as well  get paid for it. Charge for full days and full weeks.
• Keep in mind that with a limit to the number of children you can legally care for from your home, accepting a child just on Wednesdays will mean that you are not able to take another child from Monday to Friday (because  then you'll have one child too many on Wednesdays). This  limits your income.
• Be extremely safety conscious. Children are precious. 
• You really must love children to successfully provide  child care services from your home.
• Structure and routine are very important. Keep to a  schedule of regular nap and meal times for the children.

2. Provide Value-Added Child Care

You can add value to your home based child care services. In this way, you will be able to set yourself apart from  your competition and charge higher fees. 

If you live on a farm, you might offer horseback riding instruction. 

Could you offer a sports camp, craft classes, music  lessons, computer training or other activities for  children?

3. Run a Home Based Child Care Referral Service

Another way to profit from the boom in child care  services is to operate a child care referral service.

Advertise to find child care workers and babysitters. Screen and interview them. Then, provide parents with suitable matches for a fee.

These are just a few ways that you, too, can profit from running a home based child care business.

Why Parents Need to Accept and Celebrate Your Child's Uniqueness?

Just like a snowflake or a fingerprint, every child is unique in their own special way. Every child has a unique way of feeling, thinking, and interacting with others. 

Some children are shy, while others are outgoing; some are active, while others are calm; some are fretful, while others are easy-going. As a loving and nurturing parent, it's your job to encourage them to embrace their uniqueness and celebrate their individual qualities.

  

Allow your child to express themselves through their interests.  They may find a creative outlet in theatre, dancing or art, or they may be exceptionally talented in the sciences.  Encourage them to embrace what they like to do, what interests them, and what makes them happy.  Help them realize that they don't need to worry about being 'like everyone else.' 

Teach your child to make positive choices, and praise them for good deeds, behaviors and positive traits they possess.  Encourage them to become actively involved in their community, and introduce them to activities that promote a sense of cooperation and accomplishment.  Be firm yet fair when handing down discipline for misdeeds or misbehaviors, and make certain the rules and consequences for breaking the rules are clearly defined.  Show a cooperative, loving and united front with your spouse when it comes to discipline. 

Accept and celebrate your child's uniqueness. Remember that your child is an individual. Allow your child to have his or her own personal preferences and feelings, which may be different from your own. 

And finally, encourage your child to be true to themselves by doing the same.  Show your child how to make positive choices with the choices you make, and that nobody is perfect and you too make mistakes.  Show your child that mistakes can be a great learning experience, and that they should not be ashamed or embarrassed about making them.

How to Rightly Involve Parents in Child's Life?

We all want to connect and be involved with our child.  Children of involved parents generally feel more confident, assured and have a higher level of self esteem.  They excel in school and do well in extracurricular activities and with their hobbies.  

But is there such a thing as too much involvement? It's imperative when you're becoming involved with your school-aged child's activities and academics that you recognize the line of what being too involved can be.  

Remember, you're becoming involved in your child's life.  It's important that you don't intrude too much upon it.  Children need their space and privacy and they need to be able to develop their own skills, talents and abilities.  In our eagerness to help our child succeed, it's tempting to want to step in and start doing things for them because you feel they are doing it incorrectly or inadequately.  But remember, you had to learn too, and this is their chance to learn on their own.  

Be there to encourage and support your child, and offer praise at a job well done.  But also remember to step back and allow your child to learn from their own mistakes, and to develop their own way of doing things. We all know from our own life experiences that there's always more than just one way to do something, and just because your child is doing it differently than you would doesn't make it wrong.  Who knows, it could present a terrific opportunity for you to learn from your child as well.  

In addition, try not to become too overbearing or nosy when it comes to their social life.  Be available for them should they need to talk and encourage them to share their troubles with you so you can help them sort through a problem.  But if they say they don't want to talk about it or they just need some time to figure things out for themselves, respect that need by letting them know you're available whenever they need you.  

This is an important part of growing up and allowing a child to figure his own way through things is an integral part of that process.

Beginners Guide to Breastfeeding

From the first moment the infant is applied to the breast, it must be nursed upon a certain plan. This is necessary to the well-doing of the child, and will contribute essentially to preserve the health of the parent, who will thus be rendered a good nurse, and her duty at the same time will become a pleasure. 

This implies, however, a careful attention on the part of the mother to her own health; for that of her child is essentially dependent upon it. Healthy, nourishing, and digestible milk can be procured only from a healthy parent; and it is against common sense to expect that, if a mother impairs her health and digestion by improper diet, neglect of exercise, and impure air, she can, nevertheless, provide as wholesome and uncontaminated a fluid for her child, as if she were diligently attentive to these important points. Every instance of indisposition in the nurse is liable to affect the infant. 

And this leads me to observe, that it is a common mistake to suppose that, because a woman is nursing, she ought therefore to live very fully, and to add an allowance of wine, porter, or other fermented liquor, to her usual diet. The only result of this plan is, to cause an unnatural degree of fullness in the system, which places the nurse on the brink of disease, and which of itself frequently puts a stop to the secretion of the milk, instead of increasing it. The right plan of proceeding is plain enough; only let attention be paid to the ordinary laws of health, and the mother, if she have a sound constitution, will make a better nurse than by any foolish deviation founded on ignorance and caprice. 

The following case proves the correctness of this statement:  

A young lady, confined with her first child, left the lying-in room at the expiration of the third week, a good nurse, and in perfect health. She had had some slight trouble with her nipples, but this was soon overcome. 

The porter system was now commenced, and from a pint to a pint and a half of this beverage was taken in the four and twenty hours. This was resorted to, not because there was any deficiency in the supply of milk, for it was ample, and the infant thriving upon it; but because, having become a nurse, she was told that it was usual and necessary, and that without it her milk and strength would ere long fail. 

After this plan had been followed for a few days, the mother became drowsy and disposed to sleep in the daytime; and headach, thirst, a hot skin, in fact, fever supervened; the milk diminished in quantity, and, for the first time, the stomach and bowels of the infant became disordered. The porter was ordered to be left off; remedial measures were prescribed; and all symptoms, both in parent and child, were after a while removed, and health restored. 

Having been accustomed, prior to becoming a mother, to take a glass or two of wine, and occasionally a tumbler of table beer, she was advised to follow precisely her former dietetic plan, but with the addition of half a pint of barley-milk morning and night. Both parent and child continued in excellent health during the remaining period of suckling, and the latter did not taste artificial food until the ninth month, the parent's milk being all-sufficient for its wants. 

No one can doubt that the porter was in this case the source of the mischief. The patient had gone into the lying-in-room in full health, had had a good time, and came out from her chamber (comparatively) as strong as she entered it. Her constitution had not been previously worn down by repeated child-bearing and nursing, she had an ample supply of milk, and was fully capable, therefore, of performing the duties which now devolved upon her, without resorting to any unusual stimulant or support. Her previous habits were totally at variance with the plan which was adopted; her system became too full, disease was produced, and the result experienced was nothing more than what might be expected. 

The plan to be followed for the first six months. Until the breast- milk is fully established, which may not be until the second or third day subsequent to delivery (almost invariably so in a first confinement), the infant must be fed upon a little thin gruel, or upon one third water and two thirds milk, sweetened with loaf sugar. 

After this time it must obtain its nourishment from the breast alone, and for a week or ten days the appetite of the infant must be the mother's guide, as to the frequency in offering the breast. The stomach at birth is feeble, and as yet unaccustomed to food; its wants, therefore, are easily satisfied, but they are frequently renewed. An interval, however, sufficient for digesting the little swallowed, is obtained before the appetite again revives, and a fresh supply is demanded. 

At the expiration of a week or so it is essentially necessary, and with some children this may be done with safety from the first day of suckling, to nurse the infant at regular intervals of three or four hours, day and night. This allows sufficient time for each meal to be digested, and tends to keep the bowels of the child in order. Such regularity, moreover, will do much to obviate fretfulness, and that constant cry, which seems as if it could be allayed only by constantly putting the child to the breast. 

A young mother very frequently runs into a serious error in this particular, considering every expression of uneasiness as an indication of appetite, and whenever the infant cries offering it the breast, although ten minutes may not have elapsed since its last meal. This is an injurious and even dangerous practice, for, by overloading the stomach, the food remains undigested, the child's bowels are always out of order, it soon becomes restless and feverish, and is, perhaps, eventually lost; when, by simply attending to the above rules of nursing, the infant might have become healthy and vigorous. 

For the same reason, the infant that sleeps with its parent must not be allowed to have the nipple remaining in its mouth all night. If nursed as suggested, it will be found to awaken, as the hour for its meal approaches, with great regularity. In reference to night-nursing, I would suggest suckling the babe as late as ten o'clock p. m., and not putting it to the breast again until five o'clock the next morning. Many mothers have adopted this hint, with great advantage to their own health, and without the slightest detriment to that of the child. With the latter it soon becomes a habit; to induce it, however, it must be taught early. 

The foregoing plan, and without variation, must be pursued to the sixth month. 

After the sixth month to the time of weaning, if the parent has a large supply of good and nourishing milk, and her child is healthy and evidently flourishing upon it, no change in its diet ought to be made. If otherwise, however, (and this will but too frequently be the case, even before the sixth month) the child may be fed twice in the course of the day, and that kind of food chosen which, after a little trial, is found to agree best.

The Tips Told by My Practitioner on How to Wear Seat Belt and Feel Comfortable at the Same Time

This month is my sixth month of gestation. The tummy bump is quite obvious. How to wear seat belt and feel comfortable at the same time is becoming an issue.

The following are the tips told by my practitioner. Hope they are helpful to other mothers-to-be.  

Don’t wear the seatbelt or shoulder harness high over your abdomen. The jerk caused by a sudden stop can cause damage to your uterus and the fetus. Do not fasten the belt loosely, doing so not only affords no protection but also may cause additional injury during the accident.

If there is no shoulder harness, as in many backseats, adjust the seatbelt to fit under your protruding abdomen and across your pelvis. Many physicians felt that sudden stops present an additional danger to your unborn child if the seatbelt buckle rests on your abdomen. Most new cars have buckles on the side, resting near the hip, but if yours has a front fastening, you may wish to have it replaced with a safer system.

The shoulder harness is probably the safest and most protective feature of any automobile restraint system. Be sure to wear your seatbelt whenever you are in a car.

How to Help Your Child Build Positive Self Esteem and Self Value?

It's often been said that children learn what they live.  So if you're looking for a place to start helping your child build positive self esteem and self value, then you should show them your positive sense of self and strong self esteem.  Be positive when you speak about yourself and highlight your strengths. This will teach your child that it's okay to be proud of their talents, skills and abilities.  

Your child also benefits greatly from honest and positive praise.  Find something about them to praise each day.  You could even give your child a task you know they can complete and then praise them for a job well done after they're finished. Show your child that positive acts merit positive praise.  

When your child's feeling sad, angry or depressed, communicate openly, honestly and patiently with them. Listen to them without judging or criticizing.  They may not fully understand why they feel the way they do, so the opportunity to communicate with you about it may be what's needed to help them sort through a difficult situation.  

Suggest positive behaviors and options as solutions, and make sure to leave that door of communication open so they know the next time they feel badly, they can come to you for help and know that you won't judge or punish them for how they're feeling. 

Teach your child the importance of setting goals and developing a plan to meet that goal and complete that task.  Small projects are the best to start off with in the beginning.  Ensure that it's an appropriate task for your child, and not too complex.  Don't only give praise at the end of the project, but praise their accomplishments during the project as well. 

Most importantly, tell your child "I love you" each and every day - many times throughout the day, in fact.  When they've behaved badly, remind yourself that it's not them you don't like, only their behavior.  Tuck short, sweet notes in their lunchboxes or coat pockets, or even send them a card in the mail.  Soon, they'll learn to say "I love you" just as easily and honestly in return.

How to Keep Yourself and Your Home Office Organized So You Are More Productive and Have Less Stress?

Many people desire the ability to work at home. They imagine themselves rolling out of bed, commuting 20 feet without any traffic, except for the occasional pet sleeping in the hallway and starting work in their home office as they sip on their favorite latte. Without the daily office politics, commute, and water cooler gossip they feel they’ll be more focused and, ultimately, more efficient. However, with this freedom come some unforeseen drawbacks that can affect your stress level. You may find it difficult to keep yourself organized and motivated without the pressures of a boss or management team.

When you work from home and not required to clock in and out at a specific time, you are responsible for your own time management. To keep yourself and your home office organized so you are more productive and have less stress, try the following tips:

1. Keep a separate and specific work area in your home. This can be as simple as setting up a large desk and a small filing cabinet in a quiet room. Make sure you have plenty of lighting. Keep it clean and organized so you can find the materials and supplies you need to do your work.

2. Learn how you are more productive. Identify what type of work environment helps you work at your best. Are you more productive when you’re working at your desk or sitting on the couch? Your home office is your domain. Add personal items and things that help give you a positive attitude to help make you more productive.

3. Schedule specific task. Plan your work schedule by identifying your most productive time and when you have the most energy. If you a morning person and think more clearly in the mornings then do your most difficult and important task during this time. If you have children you may want to begin work after you get them off to school, before they wake up or even during their nap.

4. Set your business hours and adhere to the schedule. Just because you work at home doesn’t mean you can take a break whenever you want because there’s no boss to tell you to get back to work. You must be managing your time by setting your business hours and following them, after all you are your own boss. Also, many people or clients may assume since you work from home you are available 24/7. Avoid interruptions by setting specific office hours when other people can contact you regarding business. Communicate this - put your business hours on your business cards, website, e-mails and voice-mail recording.

5. Plan, negotiate and prioritize. No matter how hard you try, your business and personal lives will collide. Don’t stress out when personal interruptions affect your business life. Learn to detach from your work mode, to focus and address the interruption and resolve it so that you can move forward. Then switch back to work mode and get back to your regular work schedule. Eventually, you will learn to weave in and out between business mode and personal mode throughout the day so their can be a productive balance between work and life when you work at home.

Pregnancy Diet & Nutrition: Create Your Healthy-eating Plan

A balanced diet is more than simply increase how much you eat. You need to consider what to eat during pregnancy. Your body needs increased amounts of vitamins, protein, minerals and calories. 

It is important to eat a diet based on these increased needs to make sure you are getting the proper nutritional and daily recommendations from each food group. 

It is essential to follow these simple guidelines to ensure a healthy pregnancy. You are responsible for making healthy choices for both you and your baby. 

The following Food Guide Pyramid is the advice given from my practitioner. I present here to share with other mothers-to-be. Hope it may help you achieve a healthy eating! 

Milk, Yogurt and Cheese (4 servings/day)

• 1 cup of milk 
• 1 ounce of cheese 
• 1 1/3 cups of cottage cheese 
• 1 ½ cups of ice cream 
• 1 cup of yogurt or custard 

Meat, Poultry, Dry Beans, Eggs, and Nuts (2-3 servings/day or 6-7 oz)

• Beef 
• Chicken 
• Lamb 
• Eggs 1 egg = 1 oz meat 
• Cheese 1 slice = 1 oz meat 
• Peanut Butter 2 Tbsp = 1 oz meat 
• Turkey 
• Pork 
• Organ Meats 

Fruits (3-4 servings/day)

• 1 serving = 1 medium fruit 
• ½ cup juice or fruit 

Vegetables (4-5 servings/day)

• 1 serving = ½ cup cooked or 1 cup raw vegetabless 

Choose one good source of Vitamin C daily. Examples include: Broccoli, Grapefruit, Orange Juice, Cabbage, Greens, Strawberries, Cantaloupe, Oranges, and Tomatoes 

Choose one good source of Vitamin A every other day. Examples include: Dark Green vegetables, orange vegetables, Apricots, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, and Carrots 

Bread, Cereals, Rice and Pasta (9-11servings/day, 1 serving = ½ cup or 1 slice)

• Bagels 
• Breads 
• Noodels 
• Macaroni 
• Cereals 
• Rice 
• Spaghetti 

Fats & Oils

• Only small amounts of margarine, salad dressings and oils

Tips on Keeping the Kids Busy When You Need to Get Work Done

When you work at home, one of the biggest challenges can be keeping the kids busy. There will be the days when the usual tactics won’t distract them, but you just have to get some work done. It might just be time to do something the kids won’t expect.

Some work at home jobs and businesses may not require you to actually be at home. Can you bring a laptop or briefcase and work at the playground, library or fast food restaurant? You’ll still have to keep a sharp eye on the kids, but they’ll have a chance to release that pent-up energy.

What about things you can do with your kids at home while working? Older children may be able to help you with parts of your work, knowing that this will free you up to play with them sooner.

Other times you may have to take advantage of any flexibility in office hours your work at home job or business will allow you. Go play! Dance with them, play a board game, paint… just find something fun to do with them for a while. Don’t make a habit of this, or your generally cooperative kids may suddenly expect you to drop everything to play with them, but there are times when you make exceptions to your office hours.

Not all work at home parents can do this, of course. Some jobs do require set hours. In that case, have someone you can call on to help. This doesn’t have to be another adult. Even having an older child from the neighborhood come over to play can be enough to let you get work done.

If you are regularly having problems with the kids needing your attention while you are trying to work, it may be time to reassess your office hours. Children’s needs do change as they get older, so the schedule that worked perfectly for your toddler may not work now.

Remind yourself as often as necessary why you decided to work at home in the first place. It’s easy to get your priorities mixed up when you have a schedule to keep, deadlines to meet, etc., but your children need you too. Keep them high in your priorities and let them know how much they mean to you.

Tips on How to Communicate With Your Children

Communicating with our children can be a difficult task at times.  We feel like they're not listening to us; they feel like we're not listening to them.  Good listening and communications skills are essential to successful parenting.  Your child's feelings, views and opinions have worth, and you should make sure you take the time to sit down and listen openly and discuss them honestly. 

It seems to be a natural tendency to react rather than to respond.  We pass judgment based on our own feelings and experiences.  However, responding means being receptive to our child's feelings and emotions and allowing them to express themselves openly and honestly without fear of repercussion from us.  By reacting, we send our child the message that their feelings and opinions are invalid.  But by responding and asking questions about why the child feels that way, it opens a dialog that allows them to discuss their feelings further, and allows you a better understanding of where they're coming from.  Responding also gives you an opportunity to work out a solution or a plan of action with your child that perhaps they would not have come up with on their own.  Your child will also appreciate the fact that maybe you do indeed understand how they feel.  

It's crucial in these situations to give your child your full and undivided attention.  Put down your newspaper, stop doing dishes, or turn off the television so you can hear the full situation and make eye contact with your child.   Keep calm, be inquisitive, and afterwards offer potential solutions to the problem.  

Don't discourage your child from feeling upset, angry, or frustrated.  Our initial instinct may be to say or do something to steer our child away from it, but this can be a detrimental tactic.  Again, listen to your child, ask questions to find out why they are feeling that way, and then offer potential solutions to alleviate the bad feeling. 

Just as we do, our children have feelings and experience difficult situations.  By actively listening and participating with our child as they talk about it, it demonstrates to them that we do care, we want to help and we have similar experiences of our own that they can draw from.  Remember, respond - don't react.