Ryan Galiotto

Archive for the ‘Kids and Parenting’ Category

Why is breastfeeding in public an issue? It seems breastfeeding in public has undergone a lot of criticism over the last few years without good reason. Its clear that its not an issue of practicality but of the conscience. There are so many different opinions over this controversial issue but its pretty clear that its because of the breast is related to sexuality which creates an awkwardness to expose it in public. The breast was intended to feed babies and this should be the reason why it is morally sound to feed in public. Breastfeeding moms should know their rights and freedoms to breastfeed their baby in public. Many women have chosen to pump with a medela pump, ameda purely yours breast pump or the avent duo pump because of this social stigma.

For years this issue has been discussed by activists and lawyers in the US. Breastfeeding in public has caused controversy throughout the world as people everywhere discuss the moral implications. Most countries have come to one conclusion; public breastfeeding is normal and natural and should be allowed in public places. Every state has different variations to the law so it is important to know your state to guard your rights. There isnt any state that hinders a woman from feeding her baby in public.

Although the entire country legally agrees that women should be able to breastfeed in public, debate remains over the issue. It angers some and scares others. The bottom line is that some men and women do not agree that public is the appropriate place to feed a baby.

One of the greatest reasons is because of the sexual association with the breast. Many people believe it is because of the overuse of sexual innuendo in advertisements and daily exposure, or covering up of breasts. By keeping the breast covered up and mysterious, it has created an unhealthy attraction that is now associated with lust. Its this very pressure from society that generates an uncomfortable feeling in women so they choose to pump with a medela pump, ameda purely yours breast pump or the avent duo breast.

Every state does provide laws that allow moms to feed their babies in public with the breast. The majority of the states, including the Virgin Islands have laws that aggressively protect a womans right to breastfeed in public or in private. 27 states have found it necessary to exempt breastfeeding from indecent exposure laws.

A same number of states protect women by law when it comes to issues arising in the workplace. There are even states that have deemed it necessary to excuse women who are breastfeeding from jury duty. Still there are others who have aggressively created campaigns to make people more aware of breastfeeding benefits and support public breastfeeding.

There are also many states have the unique laws or language that relate to breast-feeding. Here are just some examples of specific laws by states and Puerto Rico as well:

In Virginia, a breast-feeding mother has the right to do so on any property owned by the state. If you’re visiting Puerto Rico, you should know that all airports, shopping malls, public service or government centers and other locations are required to have designated feeding and diaper changing areas that are not bathrooms.

Maryland has a tax exemption for breastfeeding. Any item that is directly used for initiating, supporting or sustaining breastfeeding is exempt from sales tax.

No one should be embarrassed to breastfeed their baby in public. Research the law in your state to find out more of your rights.

We all like to recall things from the past because these jog the memories of individuals of the fantastic times they received in their lives. To save great memories and experiences, increasingly parents encourage their kids to create their own scrapbooks at at an early period so they can maintain their young memories into some of order. Indeed, scrap booking is just about the most efficient and pleasant ways of keeping memories safe and fun to look at. By gathering and holding segments of memories together, anyone can make, and tell a chronicle, so for children, scrap booking can be a learning experience because this can instruct them the worth of resourcefulness, creativeness, forbearance, and persistence.

Scrap booking is an enjoyable activity you can share with your kids and one of those activities they can share with their playmates and friends. Yet, before you get emotional and begin to instruct your children the beauty of scrapbooking, there are some things you need to think about. The first thing is to encourage your children to get into scrapbooking, is their involvement in the art. So, if your child is one of those who are into fine arts and into gathering souvenirs to make another work of art, then she or he is the perfect candidate for the activity because they have the ambition.

If your kid is not yet interested with arts and crafts, it doesn’t mean they cannot indulge in scrap booking because in fact, this is the ideal time to present the to a new area of stimulating and pleasurable activity. Aside from the involvement of your child in crafts and arts, another thing you need to consider is the accessibility of space where your kids can carry out the pursuit. As scrapbooking requires a lot of materials, you will need a space large enough for them to sprawl and to scatter the materials they will use. It is advisable you provide a space where kids can carry it out and a site where they can store their stuff.

Next, you will want to think about the quantity of stuff your kid will need and since you are about to teach them basic scrap booking, you will need stuff which you can find about your house. Your kids will require paper or scrapbook paper, usually 12 inches by 12 inches in size, pens and colored pencils and photographs. Tools such as hole punches, pairs of scissors, card and paper trimmers and rules, stamps - rubber, clear and foam, glue and removers, in addition old cards will also be useful but this list only contains the basics of what they can use because almost anything can be utilized in producing a scrapbook.

Cost saving ideas are paramount for those parents who want to teach their kids scrap booking but don’t have the wherewithall to purchase pricey provisions and tools. So, if you are operating to a budget, assemble old photographs and let your kids trash the photographs you no longer need and whenever you go to the developing center, ask for the double photographic prints and let your kids play around with the duplicates.

Then after completing a special project, make certain that you put the leftovers and unwanted scraps in a box so the kids can use it for a new project. Don’t forget to go over your old material and bring out the supplies you will no longer use but guide your kids in producing scrapbooks, so they will not waste supplies, time and effort in making projects they cannot use.

The skills involved in raising a family and bringing up children are difficult to learn and no single approach fits every child - just because each child is unique. Yet a large proportion of modern parents seem to believe that the best way to acquire those skills is by consulting one or more of the thousands of books available in bookstores and online.

One thought to bear in mind from the beginning is that so-called “expert” recommendations change periodically. For example, sixty or seventy years ago the perceived wisdom was that a baby who cried should not be immediately picked up because that would train him to expect instant attention. Instead, the realization right from the start that baby had to fit into a routine was an essential preparation for his or her acclimatization to life’s realities later on.

Then some new thinking emerged, notably from Dr Spock. His views were controversial at the time but they became one of the leading works of child care reference. He discredited the regime that demanded discipline and structure because, he argued, every child was unique and demanded a unique parenting stance. So, for example, giving your baby instant attention including lots of kisses and cuddles was now a good thing. And since then, many more “experts” have emerged with more and different opinions on exactly what the right approach is.

My first-hand experience at parenting began more than thirty years ago and at that time, despite Dr Spock and others, moms relied more on family and friends and particularly their own instincts to figure out how to deal with their new bundle of joy. Learning about child care from books was a rarity but doctors and midwives were available to provide help where required.

I am certainly not an expert when it comes to parenting but there are a number of things that I found worked well for me and my children and I would like to share them with you:

* Talking to my babies during breast feeding and bottle feeding: that added to the closeness and increased the bond between us.

* In good weather I found that putting our baby in the yard in the baby carriage helped baby to sleep and gave them plenty of fresh air. I realize that that this is not practical these days as yards are not always fenced, many moms have to work and strollers have replaced the more traditional baby carriages.

* Notwithstanding Dr Spock, the application of a routine was key, even if it had to have at least a little allowance for flexibility. Almost from the start we adopted a process of bathing then feeding then bedtime and after the first few months we added story time to the bedtime. This all calmed them down and allowed them to get ready for sleep even as they grew older.

* Helping to develop language skills by talking to them throughout the day no matter what we were doing: every part of the day provided some opportunity to discuss what was going on and what they thought, ranging from first getting up and dressing through to shopping, cleaning and going out to the park for entertainment.

* Setting aside time during the day for quality time and sharing - I used to get my chores done before lunch and then the rest of the day was devoted solely to the children.

* My husband and I always presented a unified stance in front of the children when it came to discipline (even if we disagreed after the event in private) - kids are great at playing one parent off against another from a very young age.

* Maintaining consistency: we were always prepared to explain what the “rules” were and we worked hard to keep the rules the same, wherever possible, because our children seemed to respect and respond to that.

To be absolutely clear, what I’ve laid out above is what worked well for me and it’s certainly not a total guidebook to be slavishly followed, but I hope you find some thoughts and ideas that help you to do your parenting job more easily. Please just remember that you need to take all published advice with a pinch of salt, because your child is unique and will respond differently than any writer can define.

Generations of Barbie fans know that she has taken on a hundred different roles over the years. One of her most loved is that of the classic princess who is the belle of the ball. Barbie Diamond Castle party supplies show her performing that role to perfection.

Make your party planning perfect with the terrific items that come in the Barbie Diamond Castle Deluxe Pack. The design is a delight and it’s filled with practical items. Barbie and her friend Teresa star as Liana and Alexa, two princesses if there ever were, who are ready for a royal ball.

The Deluxe Pack also holds plates, cups, activity placemats, tablecover, and more. There is also a wonderful centerpiece that looks like it came straight out of Cinderella’s royal realm. That same design is used for the lovely Barbie Mylar balloons and invitations.

Giving party favors is a way to thank everyone for coming. Barbie makes that easy and decorative with her pretty Favor Buckets. Each tub holds a faux-pearl necklace, a heart-shaped mirror, and a brush set. Dig down and you’ll find some roll-on body glitter, too. Then reach all the way to pull out a Barbie Diamond Castle blowout.

Your birthday girl will look like a princess as she blows out the candles when she’s dressed in a Barbie Liana Costume. Her Princess Throne will be the perfect stage prop when it is gift opening time. Once finished, she can wave her Diamond Wand and declare that it’s time to open the Pinata!

The Castle Pinata holds tons of candy and toys for all the partygoers. It’s a miniature version (18 inches) of the one where Liana will live after she completes her musical journey in the Diamond Castle Barbie film. Fill it through the hidden opening, then let the birthday girl pull the string and watch the goodies come tumbling down.

Save the candy for later, though, after you’ve served the birthday cake. You’ll find that much easier if you take advantage of the Enchanted Castle Cake Pan. This baking pan is large enough to make a cake that will serve more than a dozen children. With the basic shape a cinch, you can concentrate on some clever decorating designs. Use the pinata design as a basic guide.

So, sit back in your throne as all the partygoers enjoy their refreshments. Barbie princess birthday supplies make it really easy for party givers to feel like royalty.

I’ve been having major trouble around our house concerning 3 of our kids and the inability (or unwillingness is more like it) to be ready to leave for school on time. I started thinking about the problem, and wondered if this was my fault (Heaven forbid!) or theirs. Well, the conclusion I came to was a little of both. Let me explain.

I started looking through my Total Transformation workbook for some answers, and I happened upon a section called Ineffective Parenting Roles. Uh oh, this doesn’t sound good. Better take a look, though.

Holding my breath, I read on. It seems there are 7 ineffective parent roles, that seem like I mean well, aren’t allowing my kids to be self responsible, accountable or give them the chance to change. This in itself was a bitter pill to swallow, but not as bitter as the fact I could see myself acting several of these roles out at various times - uggh!

My favorite part - the Martyr.

A glimpse of the Martyr -

* Takes on the childs responsibilities, for example, wakes their child up repeatedly.

* Keeps lower what is expected and having no limits on what is acceptable.

* Fearing that the kid may not be happy or be stressed.

This teaches the child:

* Learned helplessness is effective. The less ability the child demonstrates, the less is asked of him.

* This unconditional approval can be demanded. Not earned, but demanding, threatening, or misbehaving will get it.

* The parents don’t believe they can do it. They sadly learn that they are unable to perform things, to earn the approval or to control how he acts.

Doesn’t that sound great? I was sure I was being effective!

Oh and there are 6 more of these lovely parenting roles.

This is just a brief overview, but I will give you enough info to see if you recognize yourself in any of these. James Lehman fleshs these out in the Total Transformation and the best news is that he will tell you how to resolve them! Yeah!

1. Bottomless Pockets - Buys off the child to avoid conflict or behavior issues. Children learn the sense of entitlement.

2. Over-Negotiator - Negotiates already established rules, commitments, and standards. Child learns that boundaries aren’t solid.

3. Screamer - Get sucked into the screaming and name calling games. Kids learn no one is in control.

4. Ticket Puncher - Over indulges the child emotionally. The parent takes any and all opportunities to shower their child with love and attention. The child learns there is no objective right or wrong.

5. The Savior - Blindly comes to the kid’s defense. Kids learn that they are not accountable to any authority.

6. The Perfectionist - Has impossible high standards to meet. Child learns to only fail.

There you go - do you see yourself in any of those? I hope you don’t, but I know I’ve been guilty of most of them at one time or another. If you do feel like you need some help, or just want to learn more about these ineffective permissive parenting styles, get your hands on a copy of the The Total Transformation and check it out for yourself.

Diaper bags hold diapers. Sure they house many other accessories - but their main function is stated by their name. And a new generation of parents now have a new set of diaper choices. Environmental concerns have led more companies to design better diapers that reduce waste and provide healthier alternatives. The variety of diaper styles now basically revolve around three categories. Cloth diapers with new cloth diaper versions are one type. The old plastic disposables are a second type. And a third style are the new hybrids which combine an outer layer which is permanent along with a disposable inner layer.

I read a statistic recently that stated over 1% of all trash in landfills is disposable diapers. Is that something or what? Here are some other interesting facts to note: Over 27 BILLION disposables are used just in the US alone per year. According to Wikipedia, that translates to a possible 3.4 million tons of used diapers that go into landfills every year. Hmm. That’s not a pretty thought now is it.

It’s known that the plastics, sticky tabs and chemicals used in the disposables can irritate a baby and cause dizziness as well as the diaper pieces coming off and potentially put into a baby mouth as they move. So there are clearly multiple issues to think about for those who want to make an educated choice on these things used even more often than diaper bags. An absorbent in plastic diapers known as sodium polyacrylate doesn’t have the greatest safety record, so it’s good to be informed.

Plastic diapers typically have the best grades for absorbing wetness. But then again, if you’re changing cloth diapers regularly, you won’t have the child in a wet diaper for long anyway. As discussed, the other drawback from an environmental perspective is that a lot more detergent will be used. And thus more chemical waste into the environment. The cost factors for cloth and plastic are debatable but are roughly the same. It really depends on the individual situation.

Mail order companies can provide cloth diaper services as well. While there is a greater cost up front to purchase all the diapers you’ll need in a typical rotation of washing, the savings can be significant. Some statistics show that disposable diapers can cost over $2000 in some situations over the life of using them with a child. Cloth diapers can cost significantly less after the initial purchase of the set. New cloth diapers in a larger size will be needed at some point too. This will still be a reduced cost from 2-3 years of plastic diapers in nearly all cases.

Hybrid diapers come in a multitude of options as well. Companies like g diaper provide inner layer inserts which can be thrown away. They have a reusable outer layer which is secure and keeps leaks at bay as well. Other companies use various microfiber which can be washed. Seventh Generation has a diaper which is a throw away. However, it it marketed as having significantly less toxins and reduces waste. This is still a disposable diaper, but you’re getting some reduction in environmental waste. Not the optimum green choice, but still perhaps better than the stock plastic diaper.

The next time you refill your diaper bag, you’ll know the additional choices available in the diaper world. Technology has advanced even in the world of diapers. It’s a matter of deciding whether one wants convenience at a more expensive price for the planet and for your money. Or whether a little more time needs to be spent in washing diapers and having some cost savings in a little bit of time. There’s no need for one extreme or the other either. Many companies are providing a happy medium which gives benefits in savings and reduction of waste.

So you own an American Girl doll. Well, as the owner, extra effort is expected from you for your doll to always look best. As the owner, you must know how to take good care of your doll so she will always be presentable. You must know the do’s and don’ts in regards to taking care of your doll.

I myself also own a doll so personally I have my own list of do’s and don’ts in regards to taking care of my doll. And I actually want to share this list to you.

Do’s:

Keep doll away from sunlight. It is not advisable to expose the doll to sunlight most especially for a long period of time. Doll will quickly look old when often exposed to sunlight.

Wash hands before grabbing the doll. Our hands are oftentimes full of dirt and so grabbing our doll without first washing our hands is not a good idea. It is best to wash hands first to make sure they are clean.

Clean doll’s face with baking soda. According to some doll collectors, baking soda can help clean doll’s face and so it will help if sometimes we use baking soda along with water when cleaning doll’s face. However, never rub the baking soda directly to the face. Mix baking soda with water first.

Use good wire brush when brushing doll’s hair. Using other kind of brush is actually a bad idea.

Keep doll in her box if possible. If you can, keep your doll in her box but if you can’t just be sure to clean her up regularly.

Don’ts :

Never place doll near foods and drinks. Some foods and drinks can cause stain to dolls.

Don’t keep your doll in a damp wet environment. Keeping your doll in such kind of environment won’t bring forth any good result.

Never use hair dryer or the like on your doll. Heat can damage your doll’s hair.

Don’t tumble dry your doll’s clothes. Aside from your doll, her clothes are also important. What is she going to wear if her clothes are all damaged? Dolls’ clothes are normally delicate and should not be tumbled dry.

When someone begins a family, they start to learn a lot about themselves and the world. Being a good family member requires absolute selflessness as you place the needs of your children and spouse ahead of your own. It is a painful transition for many, as evidenced by divorce rates, depression rates, and bolts in the night. But if you truly want the best for your family, you will learn to place your own needs to the side. There are many different ways that you can selflessly serve your family, and you should try to excel in all of them. When your kids grow up to be successful and healthy individuals, you will know that all of your effort was worth it.

First of all you need to recognize the idealistic differences between you and your spouse. Do you feel the need to have everything extremely clean all of the time while your spouse doesn?t mind living in a pigsty? That is fine. It may cause some of the trouble in your marriage, but you will eventually learn to deal with it. The best way to do it is to clean things up on your own, without grumbling or pointing out the faults of your spouse.

If he or she mentions it, just say something along the lines of ?oh, I just prefer it like this, don?t worry about it?. This kind of reaction from you will hopefully get your spouse to start keeping things tidy, the way you like them. If not, just continue to do it yourself without being bitter about it.

Next you need to give your spouse and your children the time that they deserve. It is cushy for a working adult to get caught up in a cycle of working and relaxing, without setting aside time for continual family time. Eat dinner with your family and force interactions, even if you are not feeling up to it. Sometimes it takes a lot of willpower to forget the stresses of work and to simply enjoy the presence of your kids. But once you get used to doing it, you will start to enjoy it more and more and your kids will certainly be better off since you are interactive and involved.

You should also try to create a good attitude in your children. Teach them your own ideals. If you selflessly clean up after your spouse, teach your children that this is the way to maintain a good relationship. Teach them that sacrifice is important. By spending this time and effort to cultivate the personalities of your children, you are improving their futures and most likely creating a smoother family life for the short term. There are no ways that a good personality can create family problems, so do your best to teach your children to be agreeable and pleasant.

It can be hard to focus on all of the different points of family life at the same time. But just take things one day at a time, and one step at a time. Starting today, spend a few hours with your family, chatting and getting to know each other better. When you grow old and you look back on your memories with your family, you will be full of pleasant memories and you will have no regrets.

Is it feasible to put up a babysitter wanted sign if you need sitting services? You may think from then on that everything will move on smoothly. The truth is that looking for a sitter and hiring one can be stressful and time consuming. It is even more so if you do not know where to start. Here’s what you should do when you need to hire a sitter.

Start the Search

Begin somewhere. There are a couple of sources that could offer you some good babysitter prospects. You could ask for a recommendation from your friends or neighbors. You could also contact newspaper ad posters or post an ad of your own.

Babysitter Agency - Another option would be to look for a babysitter in an agency or in a sitter service. These days, agencies and services are easier to access because of the internet. Some online services are now quite cheap and very efficient in providing you with good help.

Find Out How Much

Consider the cost. Once you find some prospects, you have to find out how much they are worth. Determining a sitter’s rate is not as easy as consulting the average rates in your area. The rate of your sitter would have to depend on the specific situation. You would, for example, definitely have to pay a high rate for sitters with a lot of experience. Higher rates can also be given to those who are expected to work late, watch over a lot of children and perform tasks other than child minding.

Research on Background

Your search doesn’t end there. Your efforts don’t end when you take down the babysitter wanted sign. As soon as you find a babysitter, you have to make sure that she is absolutely the right person for the job. You have to be extra sure because you are putting the lives and safety of your kids on her hands. It would therefore be best if you interviewed your sitter extensively first. Ask her for details of her experience and if she is used to handling kids with the same ages as yours. Dig into her references too.

Chat with Your Sitter

House Rules - If your sitter checks out okay, then you have to discuss house and sitting rules. This is important because you want your sitter’s rules to be consistent with yours. You would also want to make the experience of minding your kids as easy for your sitter as possible. The best way to do this is to give her in advance the set of house rules that you would want her to follow when minding your kids. This will give her clear guidelines to follow pertaining to bed time, meal time and dealing with bad behavior.

Find Out If Kids and Sitters Match

Find out if kids and sitter match. It would be a good idea to have a first session trial. Have your sitter mind your kids for a few hours. After the initial session, ask both your sitter and your kids how everything went. It would be best to speak to them separately so that both parties would be comfortable telling you honestly about the experience.

Many of you will wait until the last-minute before seriously considering college applications. It’s a horrible idea, and the last thing I’d recommend.

I’m guilty of it too - that’s what my secret guide to Harvard admissions is all about - how to make yourself sound like an amazing candidate in the months that you have left. And if you follow my five steps below, I guarantee that it will help you get into Harvard, Princeton, or Stanford.

1) Take a deep and long breath, because you’re about to work harder than you ever have. You only have a few months - I’ll show you how to use it in a smart way

2) Go crazy busy in your last summer before college applications. College admissions committees look at this summer extremely closely to see what you can accomplish. What do you truly love to do? MAKE SURE you spend your last summer working on those interests

3) If you don’t have a strong GPA or class ranking, you have to start immediately showing improvement. That’s the key. Get good grades in every class. Here’s a secret - take college classes over the summer to show that you can do well on the college level. It’s impressive to admissions committees.

4) Treat the college application like you’d treat your best friend. Spend hundreds of hours writing and re-writing your essays, asking favorite teachers for great recommendations, and writing out supplemental info and descriptions that sound amazing. This is your face to Harvard and Stanford - make sure you look good

5) Think of yourself as a salesman. You need to convince admissions committees that you’re the right candidate. This means showing yourself in the best light possible - highlighting and exaggerating accomplishments if needed

The above should get you to a great start. Focus on your story and your passions - particularly if you’re a come-from-behind candidate. Only by telling a unique, interesting story about your life will you stand a chance at getting into Princeton or Yale.

Good luck!