HowToDoThings.com Recent Dealing with Infants & Kids Articles

How To Make a Handprint Turkey

melhow36 — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:05:43 -0600

How To Encourage Kids to Play Dress-Up

melhow36 — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:12:37 -0600

How To Pick a Child Care Provider

Vicsmagic1108 — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:38:23 -0500

How To Make a Diaper Wreath

Cassandra — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:28:04 -0500

Getting ready to throw a baby shower can be overwhelming. You want to do something special for the mom to be but you also want decorations and party favors that are quick and easy. Consider decorating the door with a diaper wreath. They are easy to make and a great gift the future mom can take home then use when she needs a clean diaper at hand.

Materials:
Package of disposable diapers (at least 1 dozen)
Wreath frame
Floral wire
Decorative ribbons, bows and baby toys/rattles/teething rings

Tools:
Scissors
Tape

How To Prevent Childhood Obesity in Your Child

mamapat — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 23:54:45 -0500

How To Raise Happy Fulfilled Children

jodydillon — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:34:27 -0500

How To Be a Good Step-Father

DRivera — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:04:17 -0500

How To Calm an Unsettled Baby

fionad — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:22:16 -0500

Your baby has just spent 9 months in the womb where there was a constant symphony of sound - your heartbeat and whoosh of fluids rushing in and out of the placenta. You will have heard these sounds from when your midwife was listening to your baby’s heartbeat with the Doppler stethoscope. All of a sudden, the poor little thing is expected to go to sleep in a quiet room. Is it any wonder a high percentage of newborn babies struggle to fall asleep?

How To Help Your Baby Develop During the Vital First Year

iansharland — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:04:00 -0500

How To Get Kids to Share

snugfits — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:34:56 -0500

How To Determine Whether Time Out is Discipline or Punishment

mobile mom — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:37:41 -0500

How To Be a Great Dad

Elizabeth69 — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:56:00 -0500

How To Help Your Kids Buy Presents Without Handing Over Cash

mamapat — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:38:08 -0500

How do you react when your child asks for money to buy a present for a sibling, a friend, a teacher, or even for you? Most parents will take them to the store, let the child pick out the gift, and then pay for it. Or, if the child is a teenager, you may give him a certain amount of money and let him buy it himself.

While the reason the child needs money is unselfish and properly motivated, you should still not just hand over cash or your credit card. "Why not?" you ask. After all, it is for a good reason.

As parents, we should constantly be looking for ways to educate our children and how to manage money is one of the most important lessons we can teach them. There are two ways to make this situation a positive learning opportunity.

First, let's look at allowances:

How To Find a Nanny or Childcare

optimum — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:43:31 -0500

How To Make a Bunny Rabbit Cake

Cassandra — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:18:45 -0500

For a little fun in the springtime, consider adding a Bunny Rabbit Cake to your dessert plans. This simple-to-follow plan will be fun for you and the kids. You'll be sure to have a great time making and dining on this special dessert.

Materials:
Cake mix for 2 9" round cake layers
1 tub of whipped topping
1 package of baker's coconut (approximately 2 cups)
1 small package of licorice whips (black or red)
1 handful of jelly beans or gumdrops

Tools:
2 9" cake pans
Knife to spread the icing

How To Clean a Penny

Cassandra — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:51:07 -0500

If pennies are forming communities under your sofa cushions or in the bottom of your kids' pockets, it may be time to do something about it. Any mom who has ever emptied a child’s sticky pockets has likely come across some clumps of gooey and oxidized pennies.

Instead of throwing the mess out (since pennies can’t buy much anyway), save them by cleaning them. With a few basic household items, you can have clean pennies in a few moments.

Materials:

Dirty pennies (sticky is optional)
Water
2 tablespoons vinegar
1-2 teaspoons of salt
Empty cup
Paper towels

How To Raise a Polite Child

Lindseycl — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:35:20 -0500

How To Locate Sex Offenders in a Neighborhood

Van — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:51:38 -0500

How To Introduce Solids to Your Infant

3100 Caldera Blvd — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:50:56 -0500

Introducing solids is a fun and exciting time for mother and child, but it isn't easy to figure out when you should do that and how you should do that. You may have a grandmother who says, "He's already two months old and you haven't started feeding him cereal? How do you expect him to grow?!" On the other hand, many urge for a later start. The thing is, this is a decision that you as the parent need to decide. If you have questions, you should ask your doctor.

How To Teach Your Baby Sign Language

My Smart Hands — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:36:08 -0500

Many parents have heard of baby sign language, but may not know why signing with babies is such a positive thing. Also, they may not know how to begin signing with their child. In this article we will look at the benefits of signing with babies and how to teach your own baby how to sign.

The main reason why signing with babies is so beneficial is because it reduces frustration. Babies are able to make simple signs long before they have the ability to produce speech. We often see babies waving bye-bye or putting their arms in the air when then want to be picked up; these are simple gestures, or signs, that babies are able to make at an early age. So it stands to reason that they could use actions to say so much more. Signing with your baby gives them the tools they need to communicate their needs to you before they can talk.

How To Use Merino Wool and Cotton in Baby Clothing

LolaBen — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:47:43 -0600

This article details the importance of using the natural materials of Merino wool and cotton in newborn accessories and clothing. These materials are time-tested and are best for helping to keep your newborn as comfortable as possible, the way nature intended.

How To Get Your Infant to Sleep

archana — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:25:47 -0600

I remember the first few months after my son was born. There were continuous fights between me and my mum on the universal controversy, 'to rock or not to rock'. My mum was all in for the age-old method of quieting fussy infants; she would put him in her lap and, cooing and singing, rock him to sleep.

My son loved it as I am sure did my mum. But for me, this was a continuous source of irritation. Every baby book that I found advocated letting children sleep on their, warning that rocking them during infancy could lead to a habit, which would continue till quite a late age.

How To Make Moving with Children Easier

afriedl — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 12:01:54 -0600

The house is chosen, the paperwork is started and the bank visit is scheduled. In theory, your move from one house to another is going smoothly. However, the packing is taking longer than expected and now the children are upset about a new house. Where do you start? How can this possibly go smoothly? And will it be better once we're in the new place? Some simple things to consider can make moving much easier for children to handle. Older children can be easier to reason with and coerce into involvement. But what about younger kids?

How To Teach Babies Sign Language

lblau — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:51:20 -0600

My daughter Leah was born deaf, so we taught her American Sign Language (ASL) as her first language. When she was in preschool, none of her classmates knew how to sign, and I noticed they just stayed away from her. It broke my heart! She could do everything that other children could do except hear. Although I tried to teach ASL to those around her, I could not help but notice she remained a deaf girl in a hearing world. Would she forever be excluded just because she couldn’t hear? I couldn’t change the fact that she was deaf, so I decided to try to inspire the rest of the world to learn a little ASL instead. I knew I had to find a way to make it fun, engaging, and widely accessible, so I created series of DVDs and called it “Signing Time!” With fun music, animation, and of course with the help of Leah and friends who sign, every family with a DVD player now has the opportunity to learn a little sign language.

How To Use Infant Massage to Relieve Reflux

IMIS — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:34:23 -0600

Massage on any part of the body causes increased activity or stimulation to a nerve in the brain called the vagus nerve. This nerve branches out to control various regions of the respiratory and digestive systems, including the esophagus and the stomach. To use massage successfully for an infant with reflux, follow the steps below:

How To Keep Your Baby Safe from Recalled Products

sarahchusid — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:13:57 -0600

Do you know if the products you use for your baby are safe?

Well, it’s sort of a trick question. Like most concerned parents, you’ve probably had your baby’s safety on your mind since day one. But what if you found out that the very items you purchased to keep baby safe and comfortable could end up seriously injuring your child, or worse?

Unfortunately, and contrary to many consumers’ beliefs, there is no requirement that children’s products be tested for safety before they are sold. With recalls in 2007 reaching a record high - over 25 million units - and high-profile recalls of everything from drug-tainted Aqua Dots to lead-laced Barbie dolls to collapsing cribs, parents are understandably anxious about protecting children under their care.

Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to keep dangerous products out of homes and the hands of children.

How To Tip at the Holidays

Elizabeth69 — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 11:32:21 -0600

Many people express confusion about proper etiquette when it comes to holiday tipping, especially for those who help us with our children. While offering a special year-end bonus is always optional, it is a common practice and is usually welcomed and appreciated by recipients. There are many people who make our lives easier throughout the year and one way to show them that they are valued is to offer a sincere thank you along with a monetary or other form of gift.

How To Help Your Children Stop Nail Biting

bronwyn — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:17:33 -0600

All parents worry about their children's bad habits. Nailbiting, although not one of the worst things a child can do by any means, can be unattractive, annoying, and damage their teeth. Parents often punish or reprimand their children for biting their nails, but there are much more effective ways to help your children stop biting their nails.

Teach your child to crochet or knit. Even children of a young age can learn to knit, crochet, or fingerknit. When they are occupied with creating things out of yarn, they will not remember to bite their fingernails, and their hands would be too occupied to do so anyway!
Give children toys to play with. Play-Doh and clay are wonderful ways to keep children's hands occupied, as are pipe cleaners and twist ties. Children are very creative, so harness their nervous energy.

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How To Have a Positive Birth Experience

robin — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:58:15 -0600

‘I can do this’ is the best way to approach labor. It’s also a great way to step into parenting. The fact is, your body is designed to grow, give birth to and nurture healthy babies. And the fact is that labor is an act of love, physically and hormonally speaking. The contractions of labor massage your baby for a most responsive and alert beginning. The hormone that stimulates these contractions, oxytocin, is called ‘the love hormone’. It also stimulates the area in your brain that has to do with bonding, love, social connection. So when you love yourself, love your baby and have loving, patient people around you, you are helping with the positive work of oxytocin and labor.

During pregnancy:

How To Stay Current with Toy Recalls

bronwyn — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 13:57:15 -0600

Recent toy recalls have made parents nervous about what they are buying for their children. How do you know which toys are safe? Who would have thought that Aqua Dots could endanger a child's life? How can you make sure that your child is only playing with toys that do not contain lead or any other harmful components? Luckily, there are a few sure-fire ways to stay on top of toy recalls.

How To Teach Your Children About Money

bronwyn — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 12:15:19 -0500

All parents wants their children to be happy and successful. Teaching children about money from a young age is one way to ensure their financial success in later life. Even very young children can be taught about money, by words and actions.

How To Understand What Living With Autism Means

teacher — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:46:06 -0500

Since my son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in December 2003, my husband and I have learned a lot about our child's Autism. By the time our daughter received the same diagnosis in March 2006, we felt like experts in the field. In fact, that is what our children's specialists called us. We are living with Autism, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Both my husband and I have sadly witnessed on several occasions how our children's autistic behavior is misjudged by other people due to their ignorance about Autism.

How To Help Your Child Swallow a Pill

teacher — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 20:32:31 -0500

Swallowing a pill is not an easy task for anyone. While some adults may have a smaller throat, it is especially difficult to give a pill to a young child. Now try that with a child who becomes distressed or ends up having a full blown panic attack just at the thought of having to swallow a pill. Even worse, this situation can become a nightmare for both parents and child if this medication has to be given on a daily basis, as it is the case for Epilepsy. About a year ago, I found a way to solve it all!

This simple procedure can be used with both young children and adults; it is fast, efficient and makes any pill easy to swallow, while delivering the full medicinal effects of the given medication. Follow these simple steps!

How To Get Your Toddler to Nap

Elizabeth Pantley — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 19:07:00 -0500

All toddlers can benefit from a daily nap, and most parents know that. However, the reality is that many children resist naps. Here's how to make naps happen in your house:

How To Handle Sibling Rivalry

pepper1 — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 12:54:44 -0500

Even if siblings are well-behaved, they will have their occasional arguments or fights with each other. It is a normal part of life to have sibling rivalry. How fighting is handled has a lot to do with how severe or frequent it becomes, including the ages and personalities of children, and how parents handle it.

Sibling rivalries supposedly start when children are younger, and tend to improve as the children mature. It is thought that the age of the child has a lot to do with it. There is more competition among children closer in age.

It is very difficult to completely stop sibling rivalry, but there are always reasons why children fight.

How To Make Your Own Baby Food

J. London — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:29:12 -0500

Mothers know that purchasing baby food can be quite expensive. In addition to the expense, there is no assurance that the baby food you are getting does not contain added sugar and/or preservatives.

However, a simple and smart method can help mothers save on the purchase of baby food, and guarantee that the baby food does not contain additives. In addition, like the slogan often used by the restaurant Burger King, you can “Have it Your Way.” You won’t be forced to make food choices with limited selections.

In order to get started, you will first need to make sure you have the following items:

Blender
Ice trays
Plastic snack-size food storage bags

There are 3 simple steps on how to make your own baby food.

How To Be a Good Parent: Special Situations Such as Child Illness and Behavioral Problems

tjbooks — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 16:09:41 -0500

We all know that boys are different from girls. Boys are more aggressive, want to solve a problem quickly and get it out of the way. Girls like to talk things over and resolve a problem in terms of relationships. Boys will fight at the drop of a match.

Girls will negotiate their way out of a problem. Boys want to be the boss so they are best raised under a reasonable set of unbreakable rules. (You probably should never let a boy off the hook when he breaks a rule.)

Either parent can resolve a problem with a boy. Sometimes a mother resolves things by simply saying, "Just wait until your father gets home, Sonny Boy!" That is often the easy way out. Later the same mother will say to her husband, "You let him off too easy again."

How To Be a Good Parent: Prepare Your Children for Adulthood

tjbooks — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 15:25:47 -0500

I used to tell my kids, "Get yourself an elephant. People will look up to you." What I meant was that a child should do things that are difficult to do. Some parents actually discourage their children from doing what would be beneficial to them. It’s a form of protectionism that hinders growth.

I was pretty free as a child. I could do about whatever I wanted to do. There were two things that I could not do. The first was that I could not have a paper route nor could I sell papers on the street. I could earn money in anyway whatsoever but having a paper route was not one of them. I delivered papers just about everyday with my friends, but they had the routes, not me. The only day I sold papers on the street was VJ Day. I made $13.50. My pockets were so full of nickels and dimes that I could hardly get on the bus to go home.

How To Be a Good Parent: Nurture Children

tjbooks — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 13:54:52 -0500

Parenting can be difficult if you are fully concerned with what is going on today—or last week, for that matter. Thinking ahead can make your life smoother and can help your children to become upright and useful citizens. Here are some things you can do to teach your children correct principles:

How To Teach Your Kids 5 Simple Social Skills for Making Friends

JeanTracy@KidsDiscuss.com — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:19:12 -0500

Stop Worrying! Most kids lack social skills. Now you can give your kids a boost with 5 social skills every kid needs.

How To Make Homemade Baby Food...Cheap!

Mr. Mom — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 13:57:28 -0500

Buying baby food can get expensive. Not only does it create a financial snowball that can sometimes bowl you over, it's just not as healthy as you might think. Don't get me wrong, it's not unhealthy...it's just not as healthy as it could be. Any of the vegetable- or fruit-type baby foods on the store shelf can be made at home for a fraction of the cost. What's better, it can give you peace of mind knowing exactly what is going into your baby's body.

How To Know If Your Child is Having a Night Terror

pepper1 — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 12:46:16 -0500

Waking up to a child's uncontrollable crying and screaming can be terrifying. Night terrors are experienced more by boys than girls (in rare cases, girls or adults will have them), and have a tendency to run in families (as do other sleep disorders). Sleep terrors are quite common in toddlers and young children.

One way to differentiate between night terrors and nightmares is that nightmares happen in the early stages of sleep, while night terrors happen at late stages of sleep. The child that usually exhibits fear when awakening, and acts strangely, is probably having a night terror episode.

Usually something in the child's environment is setting him off. Find out what is causing the episodes, so you can help your child have a restful sleep. Talk to the family doctor so he can help you to help your child.

How To Discipline Your Child Without Spanking

bronwyn — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:16:56 -0500

Disciplining children is a tricky subject for parents, and indeed, for those without children as well! There are many different points of view, especially about spanking. Some think that corporal punishment is abuse and others see it as a vital method of discipline for any child being raised correctly. However, for parents who are opposed to spanking, or those who have mixed feelings, there are many effective ways to discipline your child without spanking.

How To Make The Most Of Your Life As A Stay-At-Home Mom

Mrs Darling — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 22:43:14 -0500

You've decided to quit your job and stay at home with the children. Now you are asking yourself, "What comes next?" You may be worried that without that second income, your children will not be able to have all the things their friends have. You may have a private fear that you will feel trapped and unfulfilled. You wonder how you will find happiness in the daily grind of motherhood. How will you find fulfillment in your home?

Following are a few tips for making your day go smoothly:

How To Use Eye Drops on Kids

teacher — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 14:08:19 -0500

The first time I had to use medicinal eye drops on a kid happened to be while I was babysitting my four-year-old niece. She had a bad case of Pink Eye. Of course, using eye drops on anyone is a chore, let alone a child. Even adults dealing with allergies, conjunctivitis or dry eyes have a hard time dealing with looking at the drop as it dangles above their eye without blinking or closing their eyes. Closing one's eyes is an automatic reflex, making the use of eye drops a real challenge.

I had seen both my sister and brother-in-law dealing with all the fuss when trying their best to use medicinal eye drops on their daughter. That is when an idea dawned on me: “What if the dangling drop was nowhere to be seen in the first place? This is when I decided to try a little experiment while babysitting her one day:

How To Parent the Child with Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Mrs Darling — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 12:47:01 -0500

If your child is belligerent, mouthy and downright disobedient, it's time to take a closer look at the reasons why. All children go through times when they just will not obey but the child with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is one who will never obey and one who will always push the family's boundaries. The child with ODD is an instigator. He loves to poke and prod and do all the tiny things behind the scenes to get his siblings in trouble. He is the child that challenges everything you say. Most often this child will not have friends.

How To Enjoy Restaurant Meals with Young Children

Elizabeth69 — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 11:28:47 -0500

Childless couples often enjoy dining in restaurants, but once they are parents, many people fear that pleasurable restaurant meals may be a thing of the past. While romantic dinners for two may be hard to come by, family meals in restaurants can be fun and relaxing, as long as parents plan ahead a bit.

How To Eat Healthy on the Run

Elizabeth69 — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 21:04:31 -0500

A few generations ago, most meals were cooked and eaten at home. Outings to restaurants were reserved for special occasions and snarfing down a meal in the car was almost unheard of. Today, however, most of us find ourselves short on time and tempted to grab whatever is easy and call it dinner. Choosing healthy foods -- even on the go -- isn't all that hard to do, but it does require a bit of thought.

How To Choose a Vegetarian Diet for Children

Elizabeth69 — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 20:37:00 -0500

Many adults choose vegetarian diets, each for their own reasons. Some cite animal rights while others believe that avoiding meat consumption is the healthiest way to eat. Whatever their reasons, some vegetarians express concerns about the healthfulness of a vegetarian diet for babies and children, wondering if it can provide growing kids with all that they need for healthy development. A well-balanced and carefully planned vegetarian diet can be beneficial to children, but parents must be sure to choose foods wisely.

How To Choose Healthy Foods for Your Family

Elizabeth69 — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 10:18:38 -0500

Parents who choose healthy meals for their families are helping their children to establish sound habits that they will take with them throughout their lives. Eating healthy doesn't have to be complicated (in spite of all the magazine articles that give contrary and ever-changing information!) or difficult; it just requires a bit of common sense.

Become a Label Reader: Nutrition labels offer a wealth of information, as does the list of ingredients posted on packaged foods. Many companies design their packaging to make foods appear healthier than they really are, with pictures of fruits, vegetables and natural grains prominently displayed. While these pictures may give the impression that the contents of the package are healthful, the nutrition label will tell the complete truth.

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