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.