Finding out you’re pregnant is an exciting and life-changing moment for those who’ve been wanting and planning for a child. Soon there will be a new little life joining your world! You’ll have the joy and pleasure of seeing them born, growing into a child, waving them off on their first day of school, to watching them leave home for university.

But after the joy has somewhat worn off the worries of parenthood, and all its tasks, set in. The panic of a parent never really goes away, because once you’re a parent, you’ll always be worrying about their safety. To help with some of those post-joy worries are some tips and guides to help you plan you for a new little bundle.

Vaccines

Although there are negative myths about vaccinating your child, they are false. While there are some very rare cases of people having allergic reactions to vaccines, it is so rare that not vaccinating your child because of this worry would do more harm than good.

Childhood vaccinations help protect your child from childhood diseases that have been infecting children for millennia. Our technology and medical advancements mean we’re able to study such diseases and create ways of preventing the harm they cause. Vaccinating your child against childhood illnesses such as Diphtheria, Tetanus, Acellular Pertussis, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Meningitis, and other illnesses, means your child already has a stronger immune system going into life. And don’t worry if these names are a mouthful, vaccines are a topic discussed with you by your OBGYN at your prenatal and antenatal visits.

Teething

While you won’t have to worry about your baby teething until they’re around six months old, being prepared for this process will save both you and your baby some pain. For babies, teething can be painful, but providing teething toys such as medical grade silicone rings to chew on, can help relieve their discomfort. Teething rings and toys are available at your local chemist, as well as specialized parent and baby stores.

Your child’s teeth are always something you’ll worry about, especially while you are abroad. A child can chip or fracture a tooth with ease. Luckily, most countries offer great emergency dental services. A quick search along the lines of dental implants hong kong will steer you in the right direction.

Breastfeeding or bottle?

Now, there’s that old saying, “breast is best”, but for some, breastfeeding is too hard, or even impossible to sustain. While it’s true that anti-bodies are passed on from parent to child through breast milk, many, many children have also been raised just as healthily on formula milk from the bottle. Again, your OBGYN will provide you with all the information you need, and will discuss with you your worries and intentions on breastfeeding or formula.

Many people shame new parents for choosing formula over breast milk; those people are wrong. Regardless of choice, or why it’s chosen, it’s a parent’s prerogative to do what they feel is best for their child, and themselves. The only people whose opinion is valid in making these decisions is the parents and their baby’s doctor.

So, from making sure your baby is protected against common childhood illnesses by vaccinating them, to preparing yourself for the terror that is teething and deciding for yourself what is best for you and your child about feeding, I hope that this guide has helped you prepare for the arrival of your little one.

These days we are almost entirely focused on the progression of the tech world. We are all excited to see the release of a new phone or smart device and can spend hours every day playing and using our own personal tech. This was not the case over a decade ago when these technologies didn’t really exist and so we had to find other ways to entertain ourselves. This was especially the case if you were a child growing up in the years before the technologically advanced 2000s. Kids back then would spend hours and hours outside, exploring their local area and hanging out with their friends. However, kids these days choose to spend their time surfing the web or connecting with friends on social media.

It is rare to find a child that prefers to experience the outdoors over new technologies, and though these new technological advancements may be exciting, it really is not healthy for children to spend all of their time indoors. Here is why it is important to get outdoor time with your children.

Health reasons

As we have advanced in terms of technology, we have also seen a rise in the number of children suffering from childhood obesity.  This is because children are not taking the time to go outside and get that much needed physical exercise. There have been steps to try and combat this through the use of technology, as many gaming companies have released games that encourage people to get on their feet. Though this has been helpful, nothing can really combat the feeling of walking through the great outdoors and stretching your legs.  Getting your child into the routine of often going out to play is also much more useful than trying to make them do strenuous exercise that they may not enjoy.

Bonding

Spending time with your children can also be very beneficial in terms of building your relationship. If you spend all day inside, it is easy to get on each other’s nerves and this may put your relationship on the rocks. One of the best things that you could do with your child is to go on a camping trip. Camping trips are a great opportunity to take on the great outdoors and work together. It will also mean that you are spending an extended time away from technology, which can be extremely helpful if you are trying to gain some mental clarity. If you are hesitant to take a camping trip due to a lack of outdoor knowledge, you can always go online and look at reviews of gear for the outdoors. This will give you a good idea of what gear you will need and how to use this gear.

Memories

When your child gets older,  you don’t want them to only have memories of their childhood based indoors. There is nothing exciting about looking back at the days you spent indoors watching tv, so getting your child out and about will be a great opportunity to form memories that they will be able to look back on and smile.

Fish

A classic pet to get your children used to the responsibility of owning an animal, parents have been buying fish for many years now. Fish take little maintenance apart from their daily feeds and cleaning of the tank so they are definitely a safer option when it comes to buying your child their first pet. Your local pet shop is likely to sell a whole range of different fish, depending on how many you buy will depend on the size of the tank and the other equipment you will need. Something to remember is that you will require the right size aquarium filter to ensure the filtration system is able to effectively filter the aquarium, according to how many and what type of fish you choose to buy. Fish are particularly great starter pets as they teach children the responsibility of having a pet, and a fish can be a great compromise in comparison to the other pets they may want.

Lizard

If you think a fish may be too basic for your children, a step up in terms of responsibility would be a lizard or gecko. Leopard geckos in particular would make a great starter pet as they only require a small-sized tank, and little maintenance or attention. The only thing that really requires observation is the maintenance of a warm temperature within your lizard’s enclosure, as lizards tend to be from warmer areas of the world it is important their tank is at a regulated temperature, if you feel that your children are ready for the responsibility of owning a lizard of some kind, it is definitely something that should be thoroughly researched before going ahead with a purchase.

Hamster

Another great option for a starter pet would have to be a hamster, as hamsters are kept in a contained hamster cage, they are perfect for starter pets as they can be constantly observed. Hamsters are an affordable alternative to the larger pets your children may want, as well as teaching valuable lessons about the responsibility of owning a pet hamster are relatively easy animals to look after. For a starter pet, you want something that doesn’t require daily activities such as walking, if you are a busy family it can be hard to find the time to look after a larger animal like a dog. It isn’t fair to bring an animal like that into a home where its needs are not properly met, hamsters are a great alternative as they only require regular feeding and cleaning, which can be done around work or school schedule.

Cat

A cat may not be the first pet you think of when it comes to buying your children their first animal, however, cats are actually pretty low maintenance animals as they tend to look after themselves, aside from the daily feed, ensuring fresh water is available and changing the litter tray if you choose to let your cat outside it is likely you won’t see them until they return for something to eat, or to sleep. Giving your children the responsibility of ensuring the cat has everything they need on a daily basis can prove to be a very valuable lesson in what it takes to own an animal. Something to consider before getting a cat is deciding on where to get it from, as a potential pet owner you should be aware of the illegal breeding of pets that goes on, so you should either make sure that you find a reputable breeder or consider adopting a cat from a licensed charity such as the Blue Cross.

Birthday’s for children are one of the most exciting times of the year, right behind Christmas. It’s the day they get to be spoilt rotten and the focus be on them. But it can sometimes be a challenge trying to work out what gifts will suite the special day. Below are a few ideas to help guide you in the right direction.

Painting Supplies

Even at a young age, kids love to get creative. Anything that lets them flex their creative muscles is going to go down well. And nothing is a better present than a set of painting equipment. Not only will your young one have a fantastic time creating works of art, it is something you can do as a joint activity and bond over.

Personalised Bracelet

Bracelets are a wonderful way to treat your daughter or niece. And nothing is better than having it personalized as well. It shows you care and lets them wear something that has a bit more flare to it. Personalized rubber bracelets are a cheaper and longer lasting alternative to traditional jewelry options and are more likely to survive the rough and tumble lifestyle that six-year olds lead.

Actions Figures or Dolls

Kids love to play games where they can live out fantasies and take characters on amazing adventures. Or sometimes they just want to play with their favorite heroes or villains. Action figures and dolls are the perfect gift for girls around this age. Take the time to find out what they are interested in, weather that be superheroes, barbie, cowboys or dinosaurs. Whatever it is, there is a world of options available to you.

Stuffed Animals

Six-year olds are nuts about cuddly toys. Having something they can squeeze tight at night is comforting and joyous. And they can often bond with the stuffed toys for many years to come. Nothing is stronger than the bond between a kid and their teddy. And there is such a large selection available. Find out their favourite animal and bring them a pleasant surprise friend.

Or go one further and take them along to a build-a-bear workshop and let them have the joy of creating their own friend to keep. Along with leaving with a fun present, it will have been a great bonding experience for you and them to take part in together.

A day out experience

It is often said kids have too many toys, and sometimes that is the case. So maybe you want to take a different approach. Why not take them out for a day experience. At age six, young girls are more curious and excitable than ever, so there are endless possibilities. Perhaps a day down a local farm or petting zoo. Maybe going to a show at the theater or cinema to see a movie. Or take them along to the funfair for an amazing day out. What ever you do, they will love being out and about with you.

Pregnancy is a long, often exhausting process, but there are lots of joyous times along the way. One of the most exciting times for expectant parents is decorating the soon to be baby’s bedroom. It is a lovely bonding experience and lets you flex your creative muscles. Below are nine simple, yet effective, ideas for decorating your new baby’s bedroom.

Cot

The most important part of the nursery is the baby’s bed. It is where it will spend most of its time. So you will want to invest in one that provides, not only comfort, but also safety for your little one. It needs to be sturdy and secure.

But looking further than that, you will want it to match the overall feel and theme of the room. Maybe look at the color scheme you are using and paint it to match.

Changing Table

Aside from the most obvious thing a new baby’s room needs, a cot, there is a lot more that can go into the nursery to make things easier for both the baby and you, the parent.

Investing in a new changing station will be invaluable. It will quickly become one of, if not the most used item in your house. You don’t want to be scrimping on cost when it comes to this. That being said, taking some time to look for one that meets your creative wants as well is not to be ignored.

Painting

Babies love colour. At a young age a colour scheme serves to stimulate their senses and engage them. At the same time it can serve to calm them down when they get upset. To that end you will want to look at perhaps some softer colors, baby blues or light greens.

This interior decorating company has a wide range of options and colours available and will be able to help you create room worthy of your new-born.

Toys

Kids love toys. It is the universal truth of being a child that the most exciting time of the day is playtime. To that end taking the time to invest in a solid selection of toys will be invaluable to you and your baby.

Play Mats

Playtime is a great bonding experience for you and your child. But it can be an absolute nightmare for your knees and legs. To that end you will want to invest in a playmat. Setting aside a corner of the nursery room just for a play station will be a good idea. Find something comfortable for both you and your little one.

Rocking Chair

Sleep will not come easy to you once the baby arrives. You will have countless nights of running into the babies room and soothing it back to sleep. A great idea will be investing in a comfortable rocking chair. Having somewhere by the cot to rock your baby back to sleep will be invaluable and a rocking chair will make things easier for you.

Baby Monitors

Baby Monitors are an obvious tool needed to care for your new-born. They will let you know when your baby needs you at all hours. But there is no reason this electronic device cant be used as a great decorating tool. There are many visual models that can be bought. Maybe have the monitors shaped like a comforting animal to help soothe the baby. Maybe have them shaped like fluffy clouds to fit in with the colour scheme of the room.

Themes

As the baby grows you might find they start showing an interest in certain things. Fairies, cowboys, space. What ever it is, this is a perfect opportunity to decorate to the theme. Maybe grab some interesting wallpaper or some cot bedding with their favorite animal on it. What ever it is, don’t be afraid to go all out for the enjoyment of your little one.

Stuffed Animals

Stuffed Animals are a great decorating tool and plaything for your little one. Their softness means there is little chance of any accidents and children are naturally inclined towards softer objects. Having something they can cuddle at night is both healthy for them and will bring them endless joy. Alongside that you can fit the theme of the stuffed animals to match the theme of the room.