SiNc3R3 Love 4 Children

How to choose your child's doctor

2010-04-04T08:09:00.004+08:00

Choosing the right healthcare provider for your child is an important--and sometimes daunting-- decision. There are also a few steps you can take to help you in the decision-making process:

•Talk to others about doctors --family, friends, and neighbors and coworkers can be a great resource

•If you have any health insurance, Check your insurance to make sure doctors you're interested in are covered by your plan

•Conduct a 'phone interview.' Call the office and ask some of your most important questions--how easy is it to get an appointment? What kind of coverage does the office have on weekends and nights? Who can I call with minor questions? Is the doctor board-certified? With what hospital is the doctor affiliated?

•Consider visiting the office or clinic in person. You might want to check first to see if the office charges for an informational visit.You'll get a sense of the atmosphere and the personality of the providers.

•Go with your gut. Ask yourself if you like the doctor and staff.

How to Talk to Your Child About Sex - Sex Education for Children

2009-12-29T00:21:00.006+08:00

In the environment of openness and communication that is today's world it is strange that parents often have a knee-jerk reaction to their children's questions about sex.
This kind of conversation below happened to a mom describing her confuse to explain to her kid about sex education.
“When my six-year old kid piped up from the back seat with, 'Mom, what is 'copulation?' I almost crashed the car! Having received my own sex education via the scare tactics of playground gossip I had vowed that things would be different for my own children. In this instance I resisted the temptation to say, 'Ask Dad,' and instead gave a simple and honest explanation. It really wasn't difficult as I had already dealt with, 'How does the baby get out of your tummy?' Teaching children about sex is no more difficult than telling them to wash behind their ears and neither should it be any more embarrassing.”

Why is it important to teach children about sex?
Every parent has different morals and religious beliefs but, regardless of these, it is vital that our children learn from us and not from peers, television, pornography, or predators. Studies have shown that children whose parents are open and honest about sex and intimacy are less inclined to become sexually active at a young age and, when they eventually do feel that the time is right, they are more apt to practice safe sex.

What is the best age to start talking to children about sex?

Starting early makes it a more natural process and prevents the subject from becoming embarrassing as the child gets older, but it is important to keep the information age specific. Sex education is not a one-off, sit-down lecture, but an ongoing process of communication between parent and child.

Sex education for pre-school children
Using proper names for genitals is a good precursor for discussing sex and maturation. There is no harm in having pet names for genitals, just as with other body parts, but it is important that children are also familiar with proper terms and are not embarrassed with their use.

At age three to four young children often start to ask questions such as, 'How does the baby get into Mommy's tummy?' This is no time for fairy-tales about storks and gooseberry bushes but neither should it turn into Sex and Reproduction 101. The child will usually be satisfied with something like, 'Daddy has a seed inside him and Mommy has an egg inside her, and when the seed and egg meet they grow into a baby.' At some stage in the not too distant future your child will ask how rendezvous of seed and egg takes place and this is the time to give a little more information. If you still feel uncomfortable you can always say to your kid, 'That's a good question! Let's go to the library tomorrow and check out a book that we can read together.'

Talking to older little kids

Leaving sex education till your children are teenagers may be a case of locking the stable door after the horse has bolted. Puberty can start as early as eight-years of age so it is important that kids know in advance what to expect regarding physical changes. Usually a child's natural curiosity will lead them to ask questions but if this doesn't happen it is important that you take the lead and introduce these subjects into everyday life.
Sanitary protection and contraceptives stored openly in the bathroom will often prompt questions as to their uses and this can lead onto further discussions about growing up and sexual maturity. When my six-year old emerged from the bathroom with tampons dangling from his ears I quickly covered my embarrassment and seized the teaching moment. These sorts of incidents are also invaluable in introducing such subjects as private and public behavior, wanted and unwanted touching, and nudity and appropriate dress.

Big kids and teens
By the time your children get to this stage sex, reproduction, and growing up should be no mystery to them. All the important issues should have been addressed from the difference between boys and girls, to protection against unwanted pregnancy and STDs.

At this stage it is natural for older kids to have a greater desire for privacy and a hesitancy to talk to their parents about sex. However, by nurturing open and honest communication while they are young you will have minimized any shutting down on their part and also reassured yourself that, having all the facts, they are less likely to make mistakes.

Dealt with properly, sex education will not only help your kid become well-informed about important issues, but can also be a vehicle to help nurture the relationship between parent and child. So take a deep breath, talk to your child, and enjoy the wonderful journey of helping your child learn about life and love.

From momtalk.com

Things you need to know of Breastfeeding

2009-12-28T18:42:00.009+08:00

This article wrote by Dana Sullivan. She is a Nevada-based freelance writer, a frequent contributor to Your Baby Today and also writes for Fit Pregnancy and Parenting. She's mom to Liam, 4, and Julia, 2.

The ABCs of Breastfeeding

By Dana Sullivan

You can't really prepare your breasts for breastfeeding, but you can prepare your head. Before your baby is born, learn as much about breastfeeding as possible. Start by taking a class at your hospital or birth center, or reading pamphlets from your physician. The more information you have about nursing before you begin, the more confident you'll feel about it once you start. Remember that confidence, comfort, and relaxation are three keys to successful breastfeeding. Simply put: the more confident and comfortable you are, the more relaxed you are, the easier it is for you to produce milk.

Getting Started

During the first few days nursing your newborn, you'll want to make sure he's establishing a solid latch, which is essential for successful breastfeeding. To make sure your baby latches on to your breast properly: Hold your breast with your free hand, with your thumb above and the rest of your fingers below your nipple and just behind the areola (your thumb and index finger should form a "C" around your nipple). Gently touch your baby's lips with your nipple. When she opens her mouth, center your nipple in her mouth and draw her closer to you. Hold your breast until you're sure she's latched on -- she should have your entire nipple and an inch of your areola in her mouth.

Since you'll spend several hours each day nursing your baby during the early months, you'll want to experiment until you find the position that works best for you. Here are a few of the most common:

1. The Cradle Hold Sit in a chair with armrests or stack several pillows under your arms. Rest your feet on a footstool or ottoman to take pressure off your lower back. Hold your baby on your lap so she's lying on her side, with her face and tummy facing you. Tuck her arm under your arm and gently move her so she's resting on your forearm. Your hand should support her back and bottom. Line her nose and mouth up with your nipple. Encourage your baby to latch on as described above.

2. The Football Hold This position works well if you had a Cesarean section. Sit in bed (or a comfortable armchair) and wedge a pillow behind your back; place another on your lap. Position your baby next to you on the side you are nursing from, cupping the back of her neck in the same hand. Position her legs so they are tucked between your arm and your side, toward the back of the bed. Encourage her to latch on as described above.

3. Side-lying hold This is an ideal position for nursing in bed, either during nighttime feedings, or if you've had a cesarean or episiotomy and sitting up is uncomfortable. Place one or two pillows under your head. Place your baby on her side so she faces you, cradle her in your arm, and position her so her mouth is directly in front of your nipple. Pull baby in close to you and follow the latch-on technique described above.

Find out more articles related @ yourbabytoday.com

CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE

2009-12-28T17:45:00.006+08:00

* I love this poem. It's really marvelous and so sweet. It reminds us to love children sincerely, guide them and educate them well with a sincere and genuine love...

CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE - Dorothy Law Nolte (1998)

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.

If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.

If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.

If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.