Congrats to Cara Kent who won last week's featured product–a Chic Tots Bib.
Top stories this week
10 ways to handle first-born jealousy
If your first-born has started acting up since the birth of his new sibling, he may be upset by the disruption to the predictable flow of his life and jealous of this new challenger for his attention. Here’s how to smooth things out.
by: Elizabeth Pantley
First-born Jealousy
- Teach your toddler how to play with the baby in the same way you teach him anything else: talk to him, demonstrate, guide and encourage.
- Don't blame everything on the new baby–be careful not to say things like: "We can't go to the park because the baby's sleeping."
- Acknowledge your toddler's unspoken feelings by saying things like: "Things sure have changed with the new baby here. It's going to take us all some time to get used to this." When your child knows you understand his feelings, he'll have less need to act up to get your attention.
- Say extra I love yous, increase your daily dose of hugs and find time to read a book or play a game. Temporary behavior problems are normal and can be eased with an extra dose of time and attention.
efore your new baby arrived, your toddler was told he'd have a wonderful little brother to play with and how much fun it would be. Then the little brother was born and your toddler started thinking, "This squirming, red-faced baby that takes up all your time and attention is supposed to be fun?" He tries "playing" with the baby in the only ways he knows how–he plays catch. You tell him not to throw toys at the baby. He plays hide-and-seek. You tell him to get the blanket off the baby. No wonder your toddler is confused! Here are 10 ways to help him make the transition from only child to eldest: To view the full story click here.
Finding the best child care
Not all day cares are created equally. Here’s how to make sure your child is getting the best care possible.
by: Nancy Ripton
Child care
- A long wait list doesn't necessarily mean quality childcare.
- An acceptable child to adult ratio is 3:1 for infants and 4:1 for toddlers.
- Not all day cares are regulated and licensing requirements vary.
- Always do your own background check, regardless of the child care you choose.
- Allow eight to 10 weeks to find a live-in nanny or six to eight weeks for a live out.
inding the right child care fit for you and your baby can be tough. In those early, sleep-deprived days there were likely moments when you would happily have handed him over to someone else but, now that you don't have a choice, it can be a lot harder to let go. Fortunately, there are a variety of child care options to choose from. Here's an overview of the top three: To view the full story click here.
