Parents are busy people. They are constantly pulled in many directions trying to meet the needs of their children, their home and their jobs. Too often they fail to meet their own needs or those of their marriage. Maybe it’s time for you to take a time-out, too.

Relax

Taking time away from the family and pressures of the home allows parents to relax and work off stress. Taking care of children is innately stressful with so many constant worries and demands. It is also a job that you can’t drive away from at the end of the work day. Parenting combined with the stress of the office means that parents rarely have a chance to kick back and relax.

Taking a break from the family, even for one afternoon or evening if not a full vacation can have a tremendous impact on your stress level and outlook. Exercise or being completely away from distractions like the computer or phone can help you reach a state of well-being much faster.

Reconnect

The two partners in a relationship often spend the days and nights passing each other heading in opposite directions. There is little time to sit down together for a long conversation or a bit of romance. Marriages become more functional than romantic and this can lead to a loss of communication and affection.

Heading out on a date every few weeks, or even scheduling a date night at home after the kids are in bed can make a world of difference. Parents should be a team, but it can be challenging to present a unified parenting front and enjoy your family as a whole if your marriage is suffering or you don’t have time or energy to demonstrate affection for the person who helped create those wonderful children.

Appreciation

It’s hard to appreciate something that you are constantly working on. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” is an apt clique for parenting. Taking a walk or heading out for an evening makes you miss your children a bit and that absence may help you focus on the great qualities your child processes and, at least temporarily, forget about the tantrums and colic you deal with throughout the rest of the day.

One of the most overwhelming aspects of parenting is helping children go from diapers to the full-time use of the potty. There are so many different methods and ideas behind potty training an entire section may be devoted to it at the local bookstore. Some of the most popular methods follow.

Infant Potty Training

Not for the faint of heart, some parents swear by infant potty training. Theory states if a parent is tuned into a child’s natural rhythms she can anticipate when a baby is ready to go and get them over the potty in time. Obviously this is not an overnight method, but some claim that children can be trained by twelve or fifteen months with consistent parental involvement.

The One Day Method

Other experts claim children can be trained in one day. This method is very appealing to frantic and busy parents. You simply devote a single day to potty training. You don’t leave the house or do anything that might take you away from the potty. Feed your little one plenty of liquids and sit them on the potty regularly (usually every hour.) Eventually all those liquids should come out and the huge amount of positive feedback will convince the child that the potty is the place to go all the time. A variation of this method is to let the child run around naked. Being naked will make them more aware of when they need to go and will speed the process along.

The Reward System

Another parental favorite is the reward system. M&Ms and stickers are given as rewards for a successful trip to the bathroom. Every time your child uses the potty correctly she receives a small award and this motivates her to keep up the good work. This method generally assumes the entire process will take a little while.

The Readiness System

At the opposite end of the spectrum from the infant training is the “wait until he’s ready” system. Rather than being highly motivational and almost forcing your child to use the potty when you feel they are ready, you simply wait for them to tell you they are ready.

Gradually introduce the vocabulary and model the procedures and over time a comfort level will be built up. One day your child will decide that he can probably sit on the potty, too and he will. Experts claim that not forcing the issue will actually make the training easier as it is not emotionally charged.

Most experts strongly advise waiting until a baby is four to six months to introduce solid foods. “Solid food” is somewhat of a misnomer since the pureed baby foods we consider solids are more liquid still than anything else. Babies may be interested in trying out the foods they see on Mom and Dad’s plate, but introducing solid foods gradually is the best method to avoid overwhelming baby and to make the process more successful.

Stage One – Smooth and Simple

The first foods for your baby should be so smooth they resemble a liquid. The most common first food is a cereal, usually rice, to avoid potential allergies, but can be a fruit or vegetable. The first few feedings will be more amusement than substance, but over time everyone will catch on.

Early foods involve very finely pureed fruits, vegetables and cereals. Introduce the foods one at a time to detect any allergies waiting four days between introductions. Many experts feel bland foods should be given first to introduce baby to the texture of a product that doesn’t come in a bottle.

Then vegetables should be added slowly as they don’t have the sweet taste of the fruits. Others find that introducing fruits first makes baby more enthusiastic about the whole idea. So long as you introduce each food slowly and keep the texture ultra smooth, order is not crucial.

Stage Two – Lumps and Bumps

After all the basics have been introduced, although possibly not meats, it is time to move into textures. Babies must work up to solids and this is the in between step. Foods should now be prepared more mashed than pureed and mixing things a bit is fine so long as baby has not shown any bad reactions to anything you’re mixing.

It may take a little while for your baby to decide that little lumps and bumps in their favorite item is okay, and this is perfectly normal. This is also the stage where many parents begin to introduce meat items.

Stage Three – Finger Foods

Somewhere between nine months and a year, babies are ready for a new challenge. They have worked to develop the concept of picking up items and may actually begin to refuse being spoon-fed. They simply want to do it themselves. Humor your baby with finely cut finger foods. Also realize it will take while to get the hand to mouth action down.

Finger foods can be scary for parents as they produce more choking hazards and are usually pretty messy. Babies eat everything with their hands, sometimes well into their toddler years. Keep pieces very small and make sure your baby’s diet is as varied as possible. Also, be aware of highly allergenic foods such as chocolate, egg whites and nut products which should be avoided until your little one is turns one.

Newborns amaze us with their delicacy. They are tiny little beings completely dependent on you to provide for them and keep them safe. One of the toughest areas some parents deal with in their child’s safety and comfort are infant allergies.

Skin Allergies

The first potential allergy parents might notice is a detergent allergy. Baby’s sensitive skin may react to the detergents you use in your washing machine or even to certain fabrics. The same can be said of soaps and lotions. Babies that tend to break out from some sort of skin allergy should be examined by their pediatrician and care must be given to avoid allergy producing products.

Cotton and water will keep baby clean enough for the first couple of weeks and bathing every two or three days after that may help as well. Change detergents to something mild with fewer chemicals or consider using less in a wash. Fabric softeners and any other chemicals should be completely avoided.

Food Allergies

The scariest kind of allergies in a baby is food allergies. Babies who legitimately suffer from a lactose intolerance or milk allergy can get very sick very fast as newborns. Fortunately, there are many soy milk products that are non dairy which can help give these babies the nutrition they need.

Other common culprits of food allergies are egg whites, peanuts, and wheat. Strawberries, chocolate, tomatoes, citrus fruits and shellfish can also be strong allergy triggers. The best way to detect an allergy, even if you can’t prevent it, is to wait until a baby is close to six months before introducing solid foods, and then introduce foods slowly. Wait four days between new foods to see if there is a reaction before trying a new one.

Also, items such as shellfish, chocolate and nuts should probably wait until baby is closer to a year old. The same is true for honey. Honey may not cause an allergy, but it contains Clostridium botulinum which can cause a kind of poisoning the baby’s intestinal tract is not mature enough to fight off.

Air Allergies

Babies can suffer from hay fever and airborne allergies the same way the rest of us do. A trip to the pediatrician can help find the treatment or medicine you need for baby’s seasonal allergies.

A toddler is constantly in motion. She must move at all times in order to fully explore the world that is now available to her. Not only does she want to see and experience all that is available to her inside, she needs to know all that there is to know about the rest of the world, too. Summer is the ideal time to take your toddler out exploring and have fun together in the process.

Outside Summer Fun

The weather is warm, and it’s the perfect time to head out of doors and enjoy fresh air and sunshine. Load your toddler into the stroller, or let her walk if you’re not in a hurry, and head to the park. The wonderful thing about toddlers is often the trip is as exciting as the destination.

Plants, flowers and creatures along the way can mesmerize your little one. Upon reaching the park, let her safely explore to her heart’s content. She may have more fun sending pebbles down the slide than sliding down it herself. Sit back and enjoy this time of discovery.

When your little one is ready to wind down and enjoy some quiet time outside, pull out your OutMat and a snack or favorite toy, and enjoy relaxed fun together. Have a picnic or share an ice cream cone. At this age, everything is wonderfully new and exciting.

Inside Summer Fun

When the sun is too much to bear, enjoy time together inside. Fun summer art projects and new toys can brighten her days. Come in from the backyard and help her unwind for naptime by working on puzzles or stacking blocks.

Rainy summer days don’t mean you can’t have fun in the water. Fill the tub and let her “swim” with her tub toys as long as she wants. Toddlers love water, so throw in a few cups and bowls and she might entertain herself for hours pouring water from one container to another. The same toys can move back to the pool when the rain stops, of course.

The best part of summer is the long, lazy days. Even if your toddler isn’t at all lazy, and what toddler is, enjoy the relaxed feeling of the summer months together. Day trips, projects with paint or dirt, and simply spending time in the park or backyard with you can fulfill a toddler’s fantasy more so than anything else you might be able to dream up.

Skin is considered the largest organ of the human body — even when it’s the tiny body of your baby. How can you take care of her skin right from the start? Try some of these tips from Sandy Johnson, M.D., a dermatologist and assistant clinical professor at the University of Arkansas. Johnson made her recommendations in October at the American Academy of Dermatology’s Skin Academy:

• Use bath products and clothing detergents that are gentle on the skin. Aim for products that are fragrance-free, with fewer than 10 ingredients.
• Use moisturizer after Baby’s bath. It provides a barrier between her and the environment and can help with those who are predisposed to eczema and rashes.
• Between 2 and 3 years, she can start taking part in her bathing. In the beginning, double-check that she’s rinsed well and doesn’t have any soapy residue remaining. When she can brush her teeth without you having to closely supervise, then she’s ready to wash herself, as well.
• For more information and great baby skin products visit our Baby Skin Care section at SpiffyBaby.com.

Baby teeth don’t last forever, but they need just as much cleaning and care as adult teeth. Neglecting them can cause cavities and lifelong trouble.

Before the first tooth appears, get babies used to having their gums cleaned. Run a wet washcloth or a finger brush around their mouth. Once the first tooth comes in, pay even closer attention. To help protect your child’s teeth:

• Clean your infant’s teeth with a children’s toothbrush and water.
• Take your child to dentist about 6 months after the first tooth comes in, or at age 2.
• Add a pea-sized dab of toothpaste once your child is age 2. He or she shold be able to spit out the paste without swallowing it.
• Start to floss when 2 teeth touch.Don’t put your child to bed with a bottle filled with anything but water. Even milk has sugar in it.
• Encourage your child to drink from a cup by his or her fist birthday. Extended use of a bottle can increase the risk for tooth decay.

It takes love (or at least passion) to make a child together, so why does that love and passion seem to disappear as soon Junior arrives? Where does the love go?

Changing Roles

Often new parents have an identity crisis when their child is born. The mother is transformed from a hot chick with great make-up and hair to a frazzled new mom who’s lucky to even wash her hair on a regular basis, much less try to figure out how to disguise the last ten stubborn pounds of baby weight. She’s probably tired much of the time and would rather sleep soundly than do anything else in the bed.

New dads are desperate to find an anchor in their shifting world. Their adoring wives suddenly adore and spend all available time with the other man (or woman) in the house. Dad may be upset with his sudden attention loss, and it doesn’t help that his previously hot mama is now someone’s mom. Stress of a young child can also be a killer for both parents.

These roles can be hard to overcome for both parents, but it can be done, and it must be done to protect the security of the relationship that made the child in the first place.

Focus on What’s Important

The first step is for both parents to realize what is important. A couple in love makes a baby, and the baby should be an asset to the marriage, not a liability. Sure, a new baby is stressful, but couples that are able to lean on each other and lovingly support each other are much better off – as are their children.

You want to be happy together, so it’s important to discuss it together. What are both partners missing? Mom may want support, conversation and a willing ear to listen to her concerns and accolades of the little wonder. Dad may be missing the bedroom magic that made the little wonder in the first place. Yelling about it or hoping the other person will just figure it out is an unreliable solution – especially since all attention in the house is focused on baby.

Develop an Action Plan

The best way to put the love back into the relationship is to force it back in. Romance might come back on its own, but it may not. Like anything else with new children, you might find it best to schedule romance, at least as first.

Find a babysitter or put baby to bed a bit early one night. Arrange a nice dinner and turn off the television. Force yourself to talk about things other than your baby. Find ways to be physical – a hug, a kiss, a back rub can all go a long way toward loosening up again and might even lead to a bit of bedroom romance as well. Schedule time together at least once a week, even if it’s just an hour of watching a favorite show together. Every little bit helps and communication is definitely the key!

If nursery rhymes are correct, little boys are made of “snips and snails and puppy dog tails.” This is in direct contrast to the little girls who happen to be made of “sugar and spice and everything nice.” Most parents of little boys can tell you that some nursery rhymes are just plain wrong - little boys got all the spice.