What To Consider When Naming Your Child

Naming your child is a fairly stress-free endeavor. After all, their name will only be with them for the rest of their life. It’s not like it’s a permanent decision or anything.

It’s a huge decision and one that is usually wrought with worry, headaches, and lots of heavy drinking.

So to make the experience of naming your baby easier, and even pleasurable, the first thing you need to do is relax. Chances are you’ll make so many mistakes raising your child that the first name you give them is so far down on their list of grievances that they won’t even hold it against you.

After relaxing, you and your partner need to start discussing names for your baby as soon as possible. Picking a name while the nurse is standing next to your hospital bed with her pen hovering over the birth certificate is the perfect storm for naming your child after something in the room like “syringe,” “epidural,” or “blanket.”

Make a list of baby names you like. This will help you and your partner to whittle down your choices, it will keep you organized, and it will show you what your baby’s name looks like on paper. It’s also a good way to practice your penmanship.

Finally don’t listen to anyone’s advice, except of course the advice in this article. It’s your child and you’re the one who gets to name him or her. Whatever name you decide to go with will ultimately be the right choice… unless its “Gavin”, then you’ve really screwed up.

Amanda Hugginkiss (A Man to Hug and Kiss), Helen Back (Hell and Back)
It’s unfortunate but we live in a cruel world. While you, your mother, and your favorite aunt may not see the potential ribald quality in a name, every public school student in the world will. Therefore, if your last name is Butz, naming your son “Harry” or your daughter “Emma” is out of the question. Here are a few more to avoid:

• Anita Bath (I Need A Bath)
• Barb Dwyer (Barbed Wire)
• Eileen Dover (I Leaned Over)
• Clara Sabell (Clear as a Bell)
• Megan Bacon (Makin’ Bacon)
• Sue Ridge (Sewage)

Even if “Craven” has been passed down through your family for generations you have to skip it if your last name is Morehead. And it goes without saying that “Richard” is off the table if your last name is Head, Face, or Weed.

Sure kids (and adults) are creative, and can make just about any name sound dirty, but you have to at least make it difficult for them. Also, while our minds are in the gutter let’s do a quick check on your baby’s initials. If your last name is Thomas and you plan on naming your daughter “Tina Ingrid” or your son “Zachary Ingrid” you might want to go back to the drawing board.

Hoda or Peyton
Naming your child after someone is a big honor but be careful if it’s a famous person. While several famous people have names (both first and last) that are conducive for baby names, most do not.

For instance, no matter how much you like their music “Lady Gaga” and/or “T-Pain” are bad names for your baby. Not only that, but the chances celebrities like that will still be celebrities when your child is old enough to understand is practically zero. There’s an exception to this rule however. It’s always acceptable, and actually encouraged, to name your kids “Regis” or “Oprah.”

John or Jane
Using the internet you can quickly find a list of the most popular baby names for a given year. This will give you an ideal if your prospective baby name is unique or not. It’s strictly a personal choice but be careful, if you pick the year’s most popular name your son or daughter runs the risk of being “Aiden B.” or “Isabella L.” for their 12 years of school.

However, if you deviate from the list of popular names be aware of the risks. Unpopular names can be hard to pronounced and hard to spell. Those things aren’t inherently bad but they should still factor into your decision. Also, an extremely unique name may make your child a target of ridicule, or worse yet a talk show host.

Moonunit or Zowie
Do not follow the lead of celebrities and their choices for baby names unless you can, and are willing to, pay for your child’s therapy. Most children of celebrities are destined for the psychiatrist’s couch anyways (or worse), so it really doesn’t matter if they have to live with burden of being named “Dweezil,” “Scout,” “Apple”, or “Moxie Crimefighter.”

Basically, celebrities are so starved for attention they name their kid “Chair” or “Hydraulics” to attract more attention to themselves. Do you really need to burden your child with a name like “Portico” or “Uranium” just so you can be different?

John Tjarnqvist or Madeline Jones
Keep in mind the relative exoticness of your last name. A family name like Smith opens up the door for multisyllabic names like “Theodore” or “Elizabeth.” Multisyllabic and unique last name like Azubuike or Scalabrine open themselves up for strong, destined-to-be-successful, first names like “Jason” and “Amy.”

Baby Name Checklist

• Will your baby’s name sound dirty to the average middle school student?
• Will your baby’s first name rhyme with its last name?
• How will your baby’s first name sound in conjunction with their last name?
• Do you want a popular baby name or a unique baby name?
• What is the meaning of your baby name? Do you even care what it means?
• Is your baby’s name easy to pronounce?
• Is your baby’s name easy to spell?
• What would your baby’s initials be and do they spell anything naughty?
• Are you giving your baby a stripper’s name? (Kendra, Shyla, Amber)
• Are you giving your baby a dog’s name? (Chloe, Bo, Sophie)
• Are you considering naming your baby after a state, day-of-the-week, planet, or primary color? If so, don’t.
• Are you naming your baby after someone? If so, are they worthy of the honor?
• Are you thinking of a traditional name with a unique spelling? If so, don’t. Teachers and your child will thank you later.

Top 10 Places To Vacation With Your Kids

No Disney.

That doesn’t mean Disney isn’t a great place to vacation. Disney IS a great place to vacation with your kids, in fact it’s too great. Parenting Fun 411 omitted the big “D” because it’s such an obvious choice and such a guaranteed smash hit for kids of all ages. It was just too easy. So think of our list as the Top 10 places to vacation with your kids that are not named Disney.

Our list is also confined to North America with just one destination outside the United States. These ten diverse and unique destinations offer families options for fun in the sun, outdoor adventure, educational entertainment, and exciting urban escapades.

• Atlantis Paradise Island - Despite being known as the “Vegas by the sea,” Atlantis Paradise Island, located in the Bahamas, is a great place to take your kids. There are six different accommodations within the resort and a bevy of activities for the kids including Aquaventure, The Current, Mayan temple water slides, The Dig, (a series of aquariums), and the Marina Village.

• Arizona - It may not seem fair to list an entire state. After all why not just list California or the entire Eastern Seaboard and be done with it? However, Arizona is special since it’s rich with great family destinations, especially for the family that loves the outdoors. Besides the obvious (the Grand Canyon), The Copper State is also home to Monument Valley, Lake Powell, the Colorado River, old west towns, and numerous dude ranches.

• Hershey, Pennsylvania - Who doesn’t love chocolate? At Hershey’s Chocolate World your kids can learn how Hershey kisses are made and then become “workers” at the factory (sorry, they won’t be able to help pay for the trip). Even sweeter, admission to Chocolate World is free. Nearby Hershey Park has more than 60 rides and attractions. Paid admission to Hershey Park also includes admission to Zoo America.

• Colonial Williamsburg - Take your kids to see the Revolution–the American Revolution. Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, Colonial Williamsburg allows you and your kids to not only see historic buildings but experience how Americans lived way back then–thanks to the hard work of hundreds of actors. When you’re “historied-out” (as if your kids could ever have too much history) you can always take them to nearby Water Country USA or Busch Gardens Europe.

• Myrtle Beach - Myrtle Beach is a family-friendly, budget-friendly, popular vacation spot in South Carolina. There are tons of stuff to do with your kids including water parks, amusement parks, medieval dinner shows and, of course, the beach. South Carolina is second only to Florida for tourism and Myrtle Beach plays host to more than 13 million visitors a year.

• New York City - While it may be inappropriate for young children your teens will love the Big Apple. New York, New York is the greatest city on Earth and it’s chalk full of things to do: museums, art galleries, shopping, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, Madison Square Garden, the Statue Liberty, and Central Park. Just don’t tell your kids that New York is the city that never sleeps or you’ll never get them to bed.

• Orlando - No, this isn’t cheating. We said we’d only exclude Disney-related resorts. We said nothing about the cities they reside in. Orlando, Florida is the theme park capital of the world and what kid doesn’t love a good theme park. Besides the mouse house, Orlando is home to Universal Orlando, Nickelodeon Suites, Seaworld, and the Holy Land Experience. If you time your visit just right, you can even catch an Orlando Magic game.

• San Diego - San Diego is a popular tourist destination due to its weather and beaches, but the Southern California city also has numerous first-rate attractions. There’s Balboa Park (an amusement park), the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, and numerous military bases of the U.S. Navy and Marine Crops. About 40 minutes to the north, in Carlsbad, is the very popular Legoland California.

• Washington D.C. - The Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, the Reflecting Pool, Jefferson Pier, and the White House are just some of the major attractions located in the United States capital. There are more museums than you can shake a congressman at including the Smithsonian, the National Museum of Natural History, and the National Gallery of Art. You can also show your kids the foundation of The Republic by taking them to see the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights at the National Archives. Hopefully you’ll get lucky and miss all the bipartisan bickering.

• Yellowstone Park - Yellowstone Park, the world’s first national park, is located in Wyoming with parts extending into Montana and Idaho. The park is famous for its scenic beauty, its wildlife, and the Old Faithful Geyser. The National Park Service manages nine visitor centers and museums, including the Old Faithful Inn and Fort Yellowstone. Obviously the park offers terrific camping opportunities as well numerous guided tours.

The Best Things You Can Do To Fight Childhood Obesity

According to experts, over 60 percent of Americans are overweight, 31 percent are obese, and nearly 4 million weigh 300 pounds or more. It’s obvious that Americans are literally “living large.”

This new found girth should surprise no one. Large portions of cheap food are just a drive-thru away. Most of our hobbies involve sitting in front of a video screen. And you’ll be hard pressed to find a job that doesn’t have us tethered to a desk and slaving away over a computer. As a society we eat poorly and exercise infrequently.

Sadly, this blubber-welcoming lifestyle is affecting our nation’s children. Childhood obesity rates are on the rise and so are the diseases associated with them. Now more than ever, parents must actively watch their children’s weight.

Parenting Fun 411 has compiled a list of the best things you can do to fight childhood obesity. These tips will help you teach your children the benefits of eating healthy and exercising.

Before proceeding, be aware that these tips are meant to combat the fat, not to cure it. If your child is morbidly obese you need to see a doctor. Our tips are still applicable but only after your child has sought professional help.

Be A Role Model - Your kids follow your lead. So you must set a good example. That means you need to eat healthy. You need to exercise. You need to eat multiple servings of vegetables a day. You need to get out from in front of the television. You must do all the things you want your kids to do. After all, if you want your children to fight off childhood obesity you must be fighting obesity too.

Don’t Compare - Don’t compare your kids to other kids. It’s detrimental to both their present and future self esteem. You set up your children for a lifetime of measuring their self-worth by comparing it to others. Not all kids, even kids the same height, are meant to be the same shape and/or weight. Everyone is different. So do your kids a big favor and only compare them to themselves.

Moderation - Getting your kids to fight off childhood obesity doesn’t mean they can never have a cookie or they can never play a video game. What it means is they need balance in their life. Instead of three cookies, they take one. Instead of spending all day playing video games, they play for an hour. Living healthy includes being happy and having fun, and sometimes that comes in the form of junk food and sedimentary activities.

No Diets, Food Choices - You generally don’t want to put your kids on a diet. Instead you want to teach them about making smart food choices that will stay with them over the course of a lifetime. Teach them the importance of regular servings of fruits and vegetables and the difference between proteins and carbohydrates. Ultimately, you want them to know what they are putting into their bodies and you want them only eating when they’re hungry.

Don’t Reward Your Kids With Food - Rewarding your kids with food will cause them to not only eat every time they’re happy but every time they’re sad too. In fact, they will equate food with strong emotions and that’s never good. You want your kids to eat only when they’re hungry. Now, children inherently know that they should eat only when their hungry. However, they lose that ability because adults force them to do stuff like clean their plate or eat when they are already full.

Include Your Children In The Meal Process - Assuming they’re of the proper age, and they have the inclination, include your children in the shopping and preparation of meals. Take them with you when you shop for produce. During your visits to grocery stores compare the labels of healthy foods to junk foods. If they enjoy it, have your kids assist you in preparing meals. That’s a great way to get them excited about eating healthy.

Find Enjoyable Physical Activities - As any adult can attest too, doing exercises and jogging are boring. So to get your child off the couch find something they enjoy doing–something that gets their heart rate up and causes them to break a sweat. If your kid isn’t into popular sports like soccer or basketball, find something else they like, maybe skateboarding or lacrosse. If that still doesn’t work it’s time to get creative. If your kid is a big fan of video games like Halo and Call of Duty maybe they would like to try paintball. There’s no excuse for your kid to be on the couch and inactive.

The Top 10 U.S. City Public School Systems

There’s an inherent problem selecting the best cities for public education. Cities are big. So due to their sheer number of schools they are bound to have a few subpar institutions. Also, cities have a high volume of students which will ultimately keep graduation rates row.

You add that to the city’s high cost of living, as well as the plethora of other things that make city life unsavory, and it’s no wonder parents move to the suburbs, or the country, to raise their children.

However, if you have the income, and prefer the excitement of the urban jungle, there are several U.S. cities offering quality public education. Below are the top 10 U.S. city public school systems.

Three factors were used to compile the list: graduation rate, access to educational resources, and housing affordability.

Graduation rate was used because it’s a readily available statistic whereas test scores, like SAT’s, are not. Not only that, but what better indicator of a school system’s effectiveness than a student investing the necessary time and energy to earn a diploma.

Housing prices were included because quality public school systems generally increase property values. Therefore it’s quite a boon to find good public schools in areas with low housing prices.

One city to avoid at all cost is Detroit; it has the worst public school system in the nation. The Motor City has a deplorable graduation rate of 24.9 percent. Other cities to avoid include Indianapolis (30.5 percent) and Cleveland (34.1).

1. Boston - The Boston School District has an 82% graduation rate and is brimming with educational resources. In fact, it ranks second out of 354 metro areas. The downside to Boston is of course the price of housing, median home price is $432,700.
Top school: Boston Latin

2. Salt Lake City - The Granite School and the Jordan School District put 78.5 percent of their students in a cap and gown and send them down the aisle. Housing prices are relatively cheap, median home price is just $152,700, and the city ranks 67th on the educational resource list.
Top school: Academy Park School

3. Raleigh, N.C. - Wake County schools boats a 67% graduation rate and the city is tops in access to educational resources. The area’s median home price hovers around $180,000. This is a nice all-around area to send your kids to school.
Top school: Oak Grove Elementary

4. New Orleans - Despite being ravaged by Hurricane Katrina, Orleans Parish School Boards graduates 70% of its students. The median home price in New Orleans is $140,000. The down side to the Big Easy is it’s ranked 89th in access to educational resources.
Top School: Lake Forest Elementary Charter

5. Philadelphia - Philadelphia City School district hands out diplomas to 70% of its students. The median home price is a respectable $181,800, and their ranking on the education resource list is 37. Better yet, students have 24-hour access to cheesesteaks.
Top School: Masterman Julia R Secondary School

6. Austin - Housing is quite affordable in the Austin area as the median home price is $157,900. Nearly 60 percent of students leave the Austin Independent School System with their high school diploma and there’s plenty of access to educational resources—the city ranks seventh on the list.
Top School: Westwood High School

7. Charlotte - The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School district has a 63% graduation rate and an educational resource ranking of 58. Cost of housing is fairly low as the city’s median home price is just over $160,600.
Top School: Providence Spring Elementary

8. San Diego - Over 60% of the students in the San Diego City Unified School District overcome the temptation of the sunshine and the surf to graduate high school. The city’s educational resource ranking is 73. What keeps San Diego at number eight is the cost of housing. The median home price is $436,500.
Top School: Canyon Crest Academy

9. Seattle - With all the rain, what else do students of the Seattle School District have to do but study? The school district has a graduation rate of 68 percent and Seattle’s median home price is $321,500. The Emerald City is teeming with art galleries, libraries, and other great educational resources.
Top School: Lowell Elementary School

10. Honolulu - Turns out paradise is a great place to get an education. The Hawaii Department of Education says “aloha” (in a good way) to 64 percent of its students. As you might expect it’s extremely expensive to live on the islands. The median home price is $569,500.
Top School: Momilani Elementary School

10 Fun Things To Do With Your Kids

Kids need lots of things.  They need food, clothing, shelter, and video games.  However, in the pursuit of providing their material needs we sometimes forget the most important thing they need is our time.

Unfortunately it seems that most of the time we spend with our children is for serious pursuits such as helping them with their homework, getting them ready for school, and transporting them from one event to the next.  But what do we do when we want to spend “fun” time with our kids?

To help answer that question Parenting Fun 411 has compiled a list of 10 fun things to do with your kid(s).  Many of our activities are free (or at least very inexpensive), suitable for a wide range of ages, and applicable (minus a few exceptions) year around.  Best of all, the 10 activities give parents a chance to have a real good time with their kid(s).

• Go Camping - This activity is relatively cheap and appropriate for almost all ages.  Camping is great way to commune with nature and bond with your kid(s).  Plus, it gives you an excuse to roast marshmallows.  If venturing to the great outdoors is a little daunting, or you’re short on camping equipment, you can always set up a tent in your backyard.  The best part about backyard camping is there’s always a bathroom nearby.

• Go To The Theatre - Not the movies but an actual actors-on-the-stage type of theater.   If you live near New York you can always go to a Broadway show.  If you live near a major city there are usually a plethora of big time productions in town.  If you live in a small town, or you’re on a budget, check out community theaters and high school productions.  Keep an eye out for musicals.  Your kid(s) will probably appreciate them more than Shakespeare or Ibsen.

• Take Them Out To The Old Ball Game - Attending a Major League Baseball game is a great time even if you don’t particularly like the sport.  Almost every team offers inexpensive tickets just don’t expect to sit very close to the field.  If you don’t live in a Major League city chances are a minor league team is nearby.  If that’s not the case, or the minors still don’t fit your budget, scour the internet for local amateur and youth tournaments.  Admission to these games is usually free and the baseball is better than expected.

• At The Zoo - Take your kid(s) to the zoo.  If that’s not possible visit an aquarium, aviary, or wildlife refuge.  Activities involving wildlife are not only fun but your kid(s) might actually learn something.  To ease the burden on your pocket book most of the aforementioned institutions offer coupons and discount days.  Don’t forget to bring your camera.  Zoos are a great place for snapping pictures of your kid(s).

• Create A Blog Or Web Site - This is another free activity (minus your monthly internet fee) and suitable for any child old enough to read.  There are dozens of sites that offer free blogging and/or Web site hosting and the software (for the most part) is simple to use.  You and your kid(s) can have a site up and running in an afternoon.  Who knows, they might even teach you a thing or two about computers.

• Bring Out Your Inner Milton Bradley - Making and playing your own game is an activity that’s virtually free and suitable for kids of all ages.  You can search the internet for simple games to make or you can always invent your own.  Once the game is finished, you and your kid(s) can play it together (let them win of course).  If you’re looking for something more active, or something to do outside, create your own sport.

• Create Your Own Avatar - Make a movie with your kids.  For this activity you’ll need a camera, a computer, and a key grip.  Even if you don’t have a video camera you can always make a movie using still images set to music.  If you’re lacking the necessary software do a Google search; you’ll be amazed how many free programs are available for downloading.  Making a movie is also a great excuse to play dress up with your kid(s).  Burn your masterpiece to a DVD and watch it with your kid(s) and a big bowl of popcorn.

• Build A Fort… In The Living Room - Now you don’t have to be a carpenter to build a fort for your kid(s).  Sure, it’s a lot of fun to grab some spare lumber and construct a tree house in the backyard but it’s also a lot of fun to build a fort in the house.  Using pillows, blankets, and other such accoutrements you and your kid(s) can erect a pretty cool fortress.  The best part about building a fort in the house is it’s free, it’s easy to take down, and no one will smash their thumb with a hammer.

• Rock Out - Has your offspring ever seen a vinyl record or a cassette?  Have they ever seen a compact disc?  Break out your old tunes and show them how you used to get down in the olden days?  This is a great way to introduce your offspring to artists like The Beatles, Rolling Stones, U2, Nirvana, and Michael Jackson.  This activity is free although it may not be suitable for all ages.  After all, older kids may just think you’re a dork.

• Bake Some Tasty Treats - Relativity inexpensive, you and your kid(s) can spend the morning baking cookies, cakes, brownies, and other delicious treats.  Then you can spend the afternoon eating them.  Keep in mind you need kid(s) that are old enough to know the stove is hot and the mixer needs to stay in bowl or batter will be splattered all over the walls.  Oh yeah it also helps if you know how to bake.  For added fun, start a flour fight.  It’s easy to clean up and good for your complexion.

20 of the Best Parenting Blogs on the Internet

To assist dedicated mother and fathers we’ve compiled a list of the 20 best parenting blogs. These Web sites are filled with entertaining and informative accounts about the wonderful adventure that is raising children. So make sure you visit and bookmark all these blogs as each of them is a vital resource for both parents and parents-to-be.

… Read the List Now

Things To Consider Before Becoming A Parent

Having a baby is the biggest decision you’ll ever make in your life but how do you know when you’re ready?  Well, some will argue that if you have to ask the question you’re not ready.

That may very well be true, but even if you’re positive about becoming a parent it never hurts to reexamine your decision.  If you’re still weighing your options, some soul searching will definitely sway you one way or the other.

To assist you in making this life-altering decision we’ve compiled a list of things you should consider before becoming a parent.  We can’t make the choice for you, no one can.  However, we can provide you with the right questions to ask yourself that will help you make an informed and heartfelt decision.

Money
While you don’t need to have a gazillion dollars in the bank to have a baby you do need to realize the financial realities of parenting.  That reality usually involves having to feed and clothe an extra person while losing a pay check (at least for a while).

We all want to give our children the best in life but truth be told they need very little in terms of material possessions.  Yet, even if you live modestly you still can’t escape expenditures like diapers, formulas, clothes, and other baby necessities.

Expecting parents are encourage to craft a budget before their bundle of joy arrives.  That way they have one less thing to worry about when they are knee deep in dirty diapers and nap time.  If you can’t imagine relinquishing your daily lattes or surrendering your weekly night out on the town then you’re probably not ready to be a mom or a dad.

Emotional Preparedness
Are you emotionally prepared to be a parent?  That doesn’t necessarily mean you have love in your heart and you’re ready to nurture a young soul into maturity.  It means are you emotionally prepared for when the baby poop hits the fan… literally?

Sure you’ll experience great times being a parent but it’s not all greeting card moments and staring lovingly into your baby’s eyes.  There’s stress, frustration, and exhaustion.   There’s worry, panic and fear.  And those are the good days.  Are you prepared for those types of moments?

Babies have a tendency to put a kink in their parents’ relationship and between 10 to 20 percent of mothers experience severe depression and/or anxiety.  Before taking the plunge into parenthood ask yourself if you’re ready, if you’re emotionally tough enough, and if you’re prepared for the emotional roller coaster of being a mom or a dad.

Commitment
Once you’re a parent you’re a parent for life.  It’s a 24-hour, seven-day a week, 365-day a year job.  There are no vacations.  There are no respites.  Even if you get a babysitter or nanny you’re still on the clock.  Bottom line, being a parent is the single biggest investment of your time you’ll ever make in your life.

If there are still things you want to do, if there are still trips you want to take, if you still have career ambitions you’re dead set on pursuing you probably should forgot all about having a baby.

That’s not to say you can’t go golfing for the next 18-years or you can’t have a night out with girls, it’s just when you have a baby those types of activities are few and far between.  You have more pressing responsibilities than bowing to the whims and fancies of your ego.  You have a little person to care for.

Partner
If you’re not a hundred percent sure that your partner wants a baby or you have doubts about their ability to parent, you should not have a child.  Don’t just listen to what they tell you, go with your gut.  And needless to say, if you think a child will save your relationship or bring you and your significant other closer together you should definitely not have a baby.

If your partner wants a baby as much as you do and you’re confident that they will make a great parent the next question you should ask is how will each of your parent?  While you can’t eliminate all future arguments and disagreements, you and partner should have a fairly clear idea where the other is coming from with regards to raising your child.

The last thing you need is to bring your baby home from the hospital and discover that you and your partner are on opposite ends of the parenting spectrum.  An honest discussion about your parenting philosophies and what each of you should expect from the other will establish a firm foundation and go a long way to avoiding major conflicts down the road.

Physical Shape
Often over looked is the health of the mother before she gets pregnant.  Not only does a woman need to be healthy while carrying her child, she needs to be physically fit to endure the rigors of child birth.

Sure, medicine has come a long way to preserve both mothers and newborns, but it’s still not a walk in the park.   The healthier the mother is before becoming pregnant the better it is for her and her baby in the long run.  If you currently have health problems, like obesity or substance abuse, you need to tend to those first before even thinking about becoming a mother.

As for fathers, don’t think you’re off the hook.  Not only should you get into shape to support your baby’s mother, but you also need to eliminate all those bad habits that will be detrimental to the child’s health like excessive drinking and smoking.

Other Factors
Other factors to consider include space.  Do you have a big enough apartment or house?  Yes, babies are small, but to care for them properly you need a lot of stuff like diapers and toys, and that stuff takes up a lot of space.

Do you have a support system?  Are your parents or in-laws close by?  Do you have a helpful sister or a best friend trustworthy enough to be in your child’s life?  Or are you all alone in a strange town?  While you and your partner are sufficient to raise your child a cadre of friends and family is always a welcomed boon.

Do you have pets?  While not a guarantee, you will probably have to get rid of Fluffy and/or Fido before the baby comes.  In a day and age where people treat their pets like children (this author is certainly guilty of that) giving up your faithful dog or your cuddly cat may be easier said than done.

Have you broached the subject of twins or having a child with a disability?  Have you discussed what would happen if one of you died unexpectedly?  These questions may sound morbid and morose but they are possibilities.  You need to be open to the fact that anything can happen.

There’s never a perfect time to have a baby and you’ll never have enough money.  If you wait until everything is perfect then you’ll be waiting for ever.   What you’re actually looking for is the right time and only you will know when that moment arrives.

Criteria to Use While Choosing the Right Day Care for Your Toddler

Since your child is your most prized possession you don’t want to leave them in the care of just anyone.  That’s why choosing the right day care for your son or daughter is so important.

The task may seem daunting at first but that’s only because it is.  Be prepared to invest a lot of time and energy in your search.  This is obviously not a decision you want to make hastily.

Eventually, your efforts will be rewarded.  The pay off comes when you drop your toddler off at day care in the morning and you know you’re leaving them in secure and knowledgeable hands.

Licensed and Accredited
Like schools, day cares are licensed and accredited.  Before even thinking about sending your child to one make sure their license is up to date and they are fully accredited.  You can find this information on-line or by asking the day care center to provide you with their credentials.

Rules and Regulations
Day cares should have firm and consistent rules.  Not just rules regarding running with scissors and eating paste but rules regarding hours of operation, sick children, and emergencies.  The last thing you want from your day care provider is surprises.  A set of well established rules will prevent that from happening.

Word of Mouth and Referrals
Ask other parents about their experiences with day cares and what centers they might recommend.  Also ask day care candidates to provide you with referrals.  They should jump at the chance to put you in touch with happy parents ready to sing their praises.  Needless to say, the day care’s reputation should be a major factor in your decision.

Activities
What type of activities does the day care provide?  Do they have a nice balanced curriculum?  Does the day care offer story time and/or musical activities?  Inquire how projects are organized and structured.   Keep in mind you want the day care to assist in the development of your child’s social, cognitive, and physical skills.

Evaluate the Staff
Day cares should have caregivers, supervisors, and a director that oversees everything.    Staff members, the ones that will be interacting with your child, should have training in early childhood education.  If they have none you should remove them from consideration.  Make sure to inquire about staff turnover.   A low turnover means your child is likely to receive consistent care and instruction.  Also, pay attention to the ratio of caregiver to child. If there is on average one caregiver per 10 children/babies, then that may not work for you.

Visit the Day Care
Once you have your choices whittled down, it’s time to schedule a visit.  Meet with the director and observe the staff interacting with the children.  Are crying toddlers attended too?  Do the kids look like they are generally enjoying themselves?  Are the caregivers attentive?  Are the facilities clean and well maintained?  These are all questions you’ll want to have answered in the affirmative.

Have Your Child Visit the Day Care Center
If you’re pleased with what you saw on your visit then it’s time to see what your child thinks of the day care center in question.  Watch how he or she reacts to the staff, the activities, the environment, and of course the other children.  How well, or how poorly they respond will be a major indicator in whether or not you’ve found the perfect day care.

Parental Intuition
Listen to your gut.  Even if a day care meets all of the above criteria it still must feel right.   If it doesn’t don’t hesitate to look somewhere else.  Maybe there’s something off about the brand new day care center while the much older one feels like a good fit.   Maybe you’re not comfortable with the staff even though they are well trained.  Even if a day care looks good on paper it still must sit right with your parental intuition.

Selecting a day care is a very important decision for you and your child.  With the proper due diligence and following the aforementioned criteria you should have no problem in choosing the right day care for your toddler.

Times are tough right now especially for parents. It can be hard to know how to cover things like constantly increasing energy bills and the high cost of fuel. It can be easy to become discouraged and think there is no way I can save money right now, however there are a few changes you can make in your everyday life that will make a huge difference.

Ways to Save Money

One of the easiest things you can do to save money is to revise your grocery shopping. It has gotten more expensive than ever to buy everyday things so a person must be extra conscious of what things cost. To trim some fat off the grocery budget follow some of the tips below:

1. Make a 7-day menu before you go shopping. This will keep the weeks purchases on task for supplying your needs.
2. Use the competition matching offered by your local Wal-mart, they guarantee the lowest price and will honor any competitor ad within a specified mile range. Check with your local store for details.
3. Only use coupons on things you would by anyway, this may sound like a no brainer but the number of people who will buy a more expensive item than normal just because they have a coupon would surprise you.
4. Consolidate errands so that they can all be done on one or two days instead of three to five. This will save on fuel costs as well as streamline your schedule.
5. Cut back money spent at convenience stores and star bucks. It is much cheaper to make coffee at home and buy Coke and gum at the grocery store. You would be amazed how much money you actually spend on these items.

These are just a few tips that will save you big money on everyday items. The key is to put aside the money you have saved with these changes. Spending the savings on a new outfit is fine if that is what you were saving for, however the better idea would be to put the money into a savings account for emergencies.

Small inexpensive things to do

We all want to spend time with our children doing fun things that make them smile. The problem is most activities geared toward children are not cheap. Even going to the movies can quickly shoot through fifty dollars for a family of four. Instead, take your kids back in time with a visit to a drive-in theater! This blast from the past is much cheaper than conventional theaters and the best part is you can bring your own food and drink! If you do not have a drive-in close by, make it a redbox movie night. Redboxes are cropping up all over the nation and allow you to rent a movie for one night for a $1. Where else can you get that kind of deal? As an added bonus, you can look up and reserve a movie from home then go to the location at your convenience, swipe your bankcard and receive your movie. Now take the other forty dollars you would have spent and you guessed it, put it in savings too.

Children

Children want all the latest gizmos and gadgets and as loving parents, we want to give them. Nevertheless, video games and toys have become so technologically advanced that they can be extremely expensive. So what is a parent to do? A lot depends on the age of your child, younger kids will be much more easily convinced that a trip to the library is just as good as buying the latest kids book, plus they will enjoy your time together. If you live in a rural area where fishing abounds this can be a relatively inexpensive activity you can do with your children. Many states have free days where licenses are not required while fishing with children. When you take the time to look around many activities you can do together are relatively inexpensive. Moreover, if they just have to have video games check out resell shops and eBay, the cost should be a fraction of the new price and have a short-term guarantee, and again put the difference in savings.

Discussing things with teens

Be honest with your kids without worrying them; with older children make this a time for teaching them about responsible spending. When they want, cell phones and gadgets show them the cost and perhaps allow them to work part time to pay for them. When my children started working and it was their money they had to spend on frivolous things attitudes changed quickly.

Teenagers will not admit to wanting to spend time with you but they do find activities you both enjoy that do not cost large amounts of money. Do you have a tent stuck in the attic? Break it out and spend some time camping, sites are generally inexpensive and lakes are a great place to have fun and get some exercise at the same time.

Young children

Young children are much easier to please with cheaper alternatives. Instead of the latest Spiderman toy grab an inexpensive kite and got to the park. It can be wonderful fun showing a young child how a kite works and watching their eyes light up when theirs is flying high! The park is also a fun cheap activity to do with young children. Most cities and towns have free access parks with play equipment.

Conclusion

We can all find ways to save money even in tough times. It may be more of a struggle now than a few years ago but it is an achievable goal. Use your time wisely and be creative you can throw a super birthday party with items found at the dollar store, it is all going in the garbage anyway so why spend a fortune on Barbie plates? The most important aspect of all this is to approach it in a way that does not scare or worry your children. Make saving money a challenge or game with them, and who knows you could start a lifelong habit in them that will change their entire life.

Top Methods For Getting A Baby To Stop Crying

A crying baby is something that nearly everyone will have to deal with at some point in their lives. For parents, crying babies are heartbreaking, especially if you’ve tried all of the usual things and nothing seems to be working. It is important to make sure that nothing is wrong with the baby first, and after that, it is always worth trying a few different methods to get your baby to stop crying.

Remember that most of the time, a baby is crying for a reason. As a parent you’ll learn to recognize your baby’s cries, and be able to tell what they are crying for. When your baby cries, you first have to make sure that their needs are being met.

Are they hungry? Do they need to be changed? Should you burp them or are they too full? Are they too warm or too cold, or is something like a pin poking them through their clothing? When a baby cries, it is always best to check for these things first. Then, you should also check to see if they are fussing because they are sick. A runny nose or a fever, or flushed cheeks might mean they are sick, or they are teething. These are all reasons that a baby might cry, and they should be investigated first, before you try anything else to make them stop crying.

If there is nothing that you can find wrong with the baby, and he is just fussy, there are some great tricks that you can use to make him stop crying. First of all, sometimes babies cry because they are bored. Try moving him into a different room, putting him in a different position, or even changing what he has to look at. Often babies will get fussy if they’ve been in one place for awhile, so try moving him around and having something different for him to look at.

Rocking or swinging motions are also great for stopping a baby’s cries. Remember that before the baby was born, he was used to constant movement inside his mother. So, if you can replicate this movement, he might be soothed. Rocking swings or bouncy chairs are often great ways to help a baby stop crying, and you can also do the motions yourself if you don’t have swings or chairs. Hold the baby and swing him gently from side to side, or rock him. These are all ways to soothe him and make him stop crying.

Sometimes, babies cry simply because they are fretful. In this case, one of the best things that you can do is distract him. If he has already discovered his feet and hands, you  can try putting silly gloves or booties on him. He will try to kick them off, or pull them off and look at them. This is a great method of distracting and usually makes him forget that he was upset. Another great way to distract a baby is to put a hat on his head – especially if he doesn’t wear hats often. A tight hat, or a floppy one might be just that thing that he needs to keep him occupied.

Remember that also, a change of scenery is a great idea for soothing a baby. If you’ve been inside, try going for a walk outside, or even just sitting out on the front steps for awhile. Fresh air often calms a baby – just make sure that you’ve prepared him for whatever the temperature is. You don’t want him to get overly hot or cold in the process – that will just make him cry more!

Remember, sometimes vibrations are a great way to confuse and distract a baby. Try putting him (securely) on top of the washing machine while it is running. He will be distracted and enjoy the feeling and it will probably make him stop crying.

A lot of the time, when a baby cries, he is really lonely, even if you are right there next to him. Talk to your baby – about anything – in your normal voice, and he’ll be calmed. You can even read him your emails or talk on the phone to someone with him nearby. Your voice is often something that will soothe your baby more than you might think.

All in all, be creative. When you are trying to get your baby to stop crying, know that there are many things that you can try, and often some of them are going to work better than others. You just have to experiment – and remember – a baby can’t hurt himself crying, so if he has to cry it out, then he does.