Any parent can tell you that when they are reprimanding their children, they feel like they are speaking at a brick wall and that at times they get nowhere. Follow these bringing up a child tips to start enjoying your family more.
You can clear an area on the counter in the kitchen, roll up a soft towel, lay the child back on the towel with their head over the sink, then gently run the water over their hair and scalp. Many toddlers fear having their hair rinsed by dunking their head underwater, so this method should take away some of that anxiety.
Take a break once in a while. Even if you can only manage to find a babysitter for a couple of hours or have to ask a family member, the break will do you good. Stress can get the better of parents who constantly care for their kids, and this results in increased tension in the household.
If there are children living under your roof, avoid smoking indoors. Actually, it would be extremely helpful to kick the habit altogether. Exposure to secondhand smoke is almost as risky as the act of smoking itself. Exposure to second-hand smoke puts children at higher risk for respiratory conditions like pneumonia, asthma or bronchitis.
You have to remember that every child is unique. Successful approaches you developed to parent one child may have no effect at all on your next one. You should equally consider rewards and punishment. Even so, keep track of what methods have worked well for you.
If you child is teething, chill some pickles, cucumbers or carrots and let your child gnaw on them using a mesh teether. There are many items your child could chew on like a teething ring, but a tasty item is much more likely to be gnawed upon. The longer you can get your child to use the teething device, the more relief they will have during the day.
The best way to keep the peace among your children is to establish family rules that are both clear and positive. Telling your children “hands are for helping and not hurting” is better than just saying “don’t hit” because it gives them an example of what to do instead of just telling them what NOT to do.
You have a great responsibility as a parent. As you apply our advice to your life, you can enjoy that responsibility much more. While child-rearing entails a lot of different responsibilities, it also brings infinite joys as you learn more about the person your child will become.