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Reading to Children - Are We Doing It Right?
Setting the Stage - Reading is One of the Big Boosts to Life: Several studies over several years in several settings have all shown a high correlation between reading to young children and academic competence throughout their traditional school years. We all know by now that reading stories to a child is an important part of the child's early development, and so we read to them. Some parents read because they enjoy passing along the good feelings they remember or sense they had as a child. Others read to their young children because they have heard it's a good thing to do. Still others do it to calm an agitated baby. And then there are those who don't see the point. The intention of this article is to get you to think about what might be happening inside the child as you approach your reading time together, and see if there might be something that could improve this quality time you are investing in each other. The Problem: The problem with reading to young children is that the available material is often pretty boring to us, the readers. This often makes the actual reading kind of a chore for us. Compounding this problem is the fact that young children, and almost everyone else, can tell when you're faking it. When you put these facts together, unless you are exceptionally gifted or fortunate, your children are probably learning all about faking it along with whatever academic preparation they're getting out of your reading. Or worse, they're getting the idea that reading is boring. It's difficult to tell exactly what's going on in their heads at this stage, but I have to imagine there's a little of both mixing it up in their developing synapses. So, how do we address these potential problems? There are two approaches: APPROACH # 1: Work on the symptoms (Don't feel bad, this is what almost everyone does) - Over-animate with your voice and pump yourself up for the ordeal - similar to sales preparation and self-hypnosis. This is actually a pretty good form of compensation and can effectively mask the boredom. The challenge is in making the boring material come alive through animation. If you can pull this off consistently, you'll be okay. Another "mask the symptom" approach is to improvise to the point that the story becomes interesting to you. This takes a Robin Williams kind of personality, and most people will not be able to sustain this with any level of competence over the long haul. The last "bandaid" is to read it like you see it - make reading a bedtime activity and use it to bore the child to sleep. This may have unpredictable consequences later on, but it has been demonstrated to be far better than not reading to the child at all. APPROACH # 2: Work on the root cause: Select material that you like - not in terms of subject matter necessarily, but in terms of rhythm or clever word construction or fun, off-the-wall logic. It's out there, but you do have to search for it. Select material that helps you recover some of the perspective of your audience and use it as a launching pad to get you "into" their level of joy and sensation. Another approach to chip away at the root cause of the problem is to write your own material to your own standards. Don't be afraid to try this. You won't do any worse than most of the published children's authors. The Scope of the Solution: Since the root cause of the problem is boring material, we need to find more stimulating material that would also be of interest to children who are beginning to understand our language. Ideally, it would be nice to find material that makes some sense, caters to a child's view, is well illustrated, has short sentences, has appropriate vocabulary, and helps us connect with the child's view of life. This can be somewhat tricky, but it is not impossible. Elements of the Solution - Perspective: From the child's point of view, anything that interests you that is prose will work before the age of about 6 months (not chemical engineering textbooks). At this point, developmentally, the child is still getting his bearings, and any audio he gets is useful input to his little computer that is sorting through the intricacies of language at a frightening pace. After this age, it is probably wise to start selecting stories that a child with 6+ months of experience might relate to, from his experiential perspective, so he can become interested in the subject matter as his comprehension skills adjust to the task. I'm talking about stories iwth short sentences that are loaded with vivid, age-appropriate sensory descriptions and common objects that can be found below the 2-foot level. It might be useful for you to walk around with a video camera strapped to a stick that can be easily moved around a foot off the ground, and watch the resulting video to see what your target audience is seeing, and how they're seeing it. You'll be surprised to see how much structural engineering they are recording. This exercise can give you a standard by which to judge the material you think might fit your audience. Examples - both good and bad: Think about the stories you remember and enjoyed from your childhood. There probably aren't very many. For the younger set, the Dr. Seuss collection (Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, Oh Say Can You Say, etc.) seems to be a consistent winner. The rhythm, rhyming and surprises keep the stories moving, the sentences are short, the ideas are simple, and the length of the stories is just about right for the content. The plots and conclusions are sometimes a little quirky, but hey, maybe that's part of the magic. For the same group of young children, The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a good choice. This is what I refer to as a gimmick book - but this one is particularly good in that the sentences and page pauses make it especially easy to animate, and the pictures are big and colorful. Besides that, the gimmick is actually relevant to the story. Very well done. This is my article, so I can interject a personal opinion now and then. Fairy tales are a special case, and probably depend more on your personal memories than on any "gold standard". The abridged versions of Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast and Sleeping Beauty seem to be good ones, in spite of the somewhat unfamiliar concepts of witches and fairy godmothers. On the other hand, Little Red Riding Hood has so many violations of common sense and such serious implications of parental abandonment that responsible adults would run from that story. Of course, that assumes the parents are paying attention, which goes back to my original thesis of boredom being a problem. I can go either way on The Three Little Pigs, but your children must be familiar with the "Huff, and Puff" segments to be accepted later in social settings, and those same segments do make for a great and memorable animation opportunity. Recommendation for Fairy Tales: Confine the stupid ones to the 0-6-month-old set so they can have the benefit of cultural familiarity, but switch over to the more "palatable" selections when comprehension starts to become evident. As the child gets a little older, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day seems to work well. Good perspective, appropriate word choices, fun, long enough to get comfortable, but short enough to stay interesting, and with subjects children can relate to. This is actually close to the ideal children's book, if there is such a thing. A very interesting example is The Giving Tree. This story is pretty good for children because of its style, emotions and vocabulary, even though it involves some fairly complex and abstract emotions that are outside the scope of their experience. These emotions are handled in a way that makes the story work for all ages. Pure Genius. Closing Comments: You are in charge. You are the absolute selection authority for your children. You must take responsibility in the use of this authority you have and make informed selections. You control how boring, inappropriate or insane the material is that you are willing to deal with yourself and subsequently transfer to your children. Conversely, you control how exciting, interesting, and profitable this selection is also. Then you inflect all the excitement you feel for the material through your animation. After the critical selection and inflection phases, the only thing left for you to do is to pay attention to how the material is written and read it with the rhythm that the author was humming in his head when he wrote the story (if rhythm is a part of the content). Kent Walters is a veteran of reading to his own four children from an early age. He is educated in languages and linguistics, with an emphasis in the linguistic foundations of mental orientation and understanding. He is passionate about the benefits of reading to children, and is on a crusade to raise awareness and encourage this behavior in all parents. As a part of this crusade, Mr. Walters has deployed a couple of websites to encourage the review and generation of more quality children's books. He has written a few children's books himself, one of which he gives away as a free sample on his websites, http://www.reading-to-children.com and http://www.kidsstuffnews.com This article courtesy of http://www.reading-to-children.com and http://www.kidsstuffnews.com You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.
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11/29/2021 10:04 AM
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9 Suggestions for Cleaning and Washing Your Baby Quilts
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Cleaning and washing your baby quilts is important since they will get plenty of use from your newborn. Babies tend to make a mess with their eating habits and dirty diapers. Many times that new baby quilt just happens to get dirty and washing it is needed. Here are 9 suggestions for cleaning and washing your baby quilts.
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10/19/2021 05:58 PM
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Online Maternity Fashion Boutique Carries Apparel and Accessories for Breastfeeding Moms
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Recognizing a need for stylish apparel designed just for pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as promoting the nutritional benefits of breastfeeding, Top Secret Maternity was founded in 2004. Offering a way for mums to breastfeed in public discretely, Top Secret Maternity takes pride in creating high quality, stylish designs for Australian mums. Accredited by Ethical Clothing Australia, Top Secret Maternity is proud to offer an incredible selection to a local audience. The company, which is dedicated to environmental-friendliness, actively partakes in reducing their carbon footprint.
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10/19/2021 05:52 PM
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Proven Methods To Stop Your Child From Breastfeeding
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I'm no mother yet but I interviewed mothers who have successfully stop their child from continuing breastfeeding. You have must hear that breastfeeding after two years is not good for both the child and the mom. This is why you need to stop your child from breastfeed when he reach the age of two. On this article, I outlined some of the methods use by moms to stop their child from whining asking for breast milk.
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06/29/2021 05:35 PM
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Why Do Toddlers Gag?
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Gagging in toddlers can be frightening because it can indicate a serious medical condition or disorder. In addition to asthma, choking or gagging in toddlers can signal physical problems such as broken bones, head trauma, brain tumor, or head injury. Severe gagging can also be a sign of a problem. These problems are serious because they can cause breathing issues.
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04/06/2021 11:37 AM
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How to Get My Baby to Sleep All Night
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Many things have been proven to make babies feel relaxed, comfortable and to make babies sleep easily. Many women are worried about a single thing that is "how to get my baby to sleep all night"?
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04/06/2021 11:37 AM
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How To Make A Baby Go To Sleep Fast - Real Quick Baby Sleep
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Making a baby sleep fast is one of the major challenges for all the parents. No matter if you have one baby or more at home, how to make a baby go to sleep fast is a common question. You always want to look for the answer to this question. Every time you want to try different tricks that can help to make your baby sleep fast. Here are some tips that can help your baby to sleep quickly.
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04/06/2021 11:37 AM
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How To Make A Baby Go To Sleep - Baby's Sleep Routine
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We have already discussed in detail how to make a baby go to sleep but previously we were talking about infants. As the baby grows up, they show changes in their habits and behavior. This change occurs at different stages and ages.
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04/06/2021 11:37 AM
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How To Get Your Child To Sleep Through The Night
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We often hear parents wondering about how to get your child to sleep through the night. It's a common challenge for parents. As for newborns, they tend to wake every few hours during the night in search to satisfy their little stomach. As the child grows up, they don't rely on night-time feedings. This is the stage where most of the parents think that their child will sleep peacefully throughout the whole night. But it does not always happen.
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04/06/2021 11:36 AM
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How To Make Your Baby Sleep - Tips And Tricks
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Are you a parent who is continually seeking ways of how to make your baby sleep but are failing miserably? No matter how much you try to bring your baby's sleep routine on the right track, you still aren't successful. I am quite sure, by now you have gathered enough knowledge on what to do and are a pro at it, but are you a pro at what not to do? If you are doing everything in the book and not yielding any positive outcome, chances are you might be doing something wrong.
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04/06/2021 11:36 AM
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How To Help Child Sleep Through The Night - Really Helping Tips
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It is a fun fact that your baby may sleep the whole day peacefully but unable to sleep at night. Many parents are worried about the fact. However, the real problem in the matter is sleeping all day. When you will make the baby sleep in day, it is not possible to make them sleep at night. It is helpful to find out how to help child sleep through the night. To give parents a relief, here are some helping tips that really work for fair results.
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04/06/2021 11:36 AM
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How To Get My Baby To Sleep On Her Own
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It doesn't matter whether they are toddlers or babies; it's always a big decision to let the babies put themselves to sleep. In the case of babies, it can be hard because babies are adulated towards you, and it might be hard for them to let go because they have gotten used to you putting them to sleep.
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04/06/2021 11:36 AM
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Easy Tricks Of How To Get 18 Month Old To Sleep
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The sight of a toddler sleeping is heavenly. After a day filled with lots of giggles, hugs, kisses, and snacks, a tired toddler should hit the sack and sleep. This is not the case sometimes. Parents who have thanked their lucky stars that the era of sleepless nights has finally ended can be in for a shock.
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04/06/2021 11:36 AM
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The Process of Getting Baby Into a Routine
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It becomes hard for parents when they have their first child, and getting baby into a routine seems impossible. This guide will help parents to develop a routine for their babies that is acceptable by the parents and the baby.
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04/06/2021 11:36 AM
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Practical Tricks For How To Get Your Newborn To Sleep At Night
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Babies are one of the most precious gifts for parents. In simple words, it is a blessing for parents. Having experience of becoming a new parent is undoubtedly a feeling that cannot be expressed into words. But apart from this, there are still a few things which you as a new parent do not know or mentally not prepare, and somehow this becomes the reason for creating a bit of fuss in your routine cycle.
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04/06/2021 11:36 AM
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All You Need To Know About How To Make A Baby Fall Asleep Fast
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Commonly when searching for how to make a baby fall asleep fast, we look for the things we do. While doing these things, tips and tricks we commonly ignore the things we should not do. If there is a tip that helps to boost the baby's sleep then on the opposite there can be actions that reduce the sleep. In order to be successful with what you are doing, it is necessary to focus the don'ts as well.
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04/06/2021 11:36 AM
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How To Get 7 Month Old To Sleep - The Easiest Ways
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Everybody loves babies. The beautiful cooing sounds they make and the tiny bouts of giggles can melt any person's heart. The challenging question is how to get 7 month old to sleep through the night undisturbed.
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04/06/2021 11:36 AM
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How Do You Get A Baby To Sleep - Secrets Revealed
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The most common problem all new parents face once they bring their little bundle of joy home is: How do you get a baby to sleep? Yes! Unfortunately, the little bundles of joy and endless cuteness can turn your once peaceful nights into terrifying nightmares.
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04/06/2021 11:36 AM
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How To Get My Baby To Sleep At Night
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The most common thought running in parents' minds is 'how to get my baby to sleep at night.' If your little one is a night owl, then I don't blame you. Sleepless nights can make any parent's life a living nightmare. You try all in your power but all your efforts go in vain. No matter what you try, your efforts seem to have the opposite results. Your baby is wide awake and cranky as ever. What are you doing wrong? There are many ways you can try if you're wondering how to get my baby to sleep at night.
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04/06/2021 11:36 AM
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How to Get Newborn Into A Routine
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Creating a routine for your newborn is as necessary as providing them with the basic necessities of life. But a common question that most parents ask, how to get newborn into a routine, still prevails. Setting a schedule for your little ones is not as hard as it might seem. The process is pretty simple, but there are various factors that you need to get right.
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04/06/2021 11:36 AM
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Parental Tips For How Can I Get My Baby To Sleep?
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Having a baby is undoubtedly a blessing and treasure of happiness, which cannot be found in words. So if you are new parents or have your babies already then, you know the actual meaning of happiness of seeing the baby for the first time.
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04/06/2021 11:35 AM
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How To Get My Baby To Sleep - Tips And Tricks
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Is the question 'how to get my baby to sleep' clouding your brain? Have you tried every instruction in your mommy guide but to no avail? Fret not because we will be sharing amazing tips and tricks to get your little one fast asleep in no time.
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04/06/2021 11:35 AM
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How To Get My Newborn Into A Routine?
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If you are a new parent so you might be having problems like sleepless nights, being tired during the day, due to sleep deprivation, your schedule is messed up, and your daily routine is disturbed. You might be wondering how to get my newborn into a routine.
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04/06/2021 11:35 AM
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Sleep Schedules - How To Get My Nine Month Old To Sleep
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"How to get my 9 month old to sleep" is a question often asked by many. When a baby gets to the age of 9 months, there is a lot of physical and mental growth. There is the growth, then the growth of taste buds, there is also the increase in height about 10 inches or so.
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04/06/2021 11:35 AM
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How To Get Newborn Into Routine
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Newborns can be a hassle to deal with. They are sometimes stubborn and moody and do not obey. Moreover, they do not have fixed timings for literally anything. It is hard for some parents to learn how to get newborn into routine.
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04/06/2021 11:35 AM
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How To Get Your Newborn Into A Routine? - A Complete Guide
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It is a universal fact that newborn babies sleep a lot. Mothers will observe that their newborn will sleep for about 16-18 hours a day. It has been found that newborn babies cannot more than two hours. Their sleep time will not last longer than this period. The newborn will start developing good sleep habits from the fifth week. Newborns will sleep less during the day and more at night.
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04/06/2021 11:35 AM
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How To Make Baby Sleep - Fast And Effective Ways
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If you are a new parent who is always struggling with his/her baby's sleeping pattern, look no more. We have compiled a few easy pointers about how to make baby sleep on time. So, without wasting any time, let's get started.
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04/06/2021 11:35 AM
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Learn How To Get A Baby To Sleep Fast
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Most new parents ask this question the most, how to get a baby to sleep fast? This challenging yet rewarding experience can prove to be overwhelming for some couples. The first time parents can find it very difficult to put their baby to sleep quickly and for an extended period.
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04/06/2021 11:35 AM
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How To Make Baby Sleep In Crib
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Now that your child has grown up a bit and is ready to be shifted to the crib, you would need to have some information on how to make baby sleep in crib. Several factors need to be accounted for if you are to ensure your child's undisturbed sleep.
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04/06/2021 11:35 AM
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How to Get Baby to Sleep In Own Bed
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It doesn't matter whether they are toddlers or babies; it's always a big decision to stop sharing beds. In the case of babies, it can be hard because babies are adulated towards you, and it might be hard for them to let go.
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04/06/2021 11:32 AM
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How To Get Baby To Self Soothe To Sleep?
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Self-soothing is a technique to teach your baby how to put himself to sleep after he wakes up at night. No matter what is the age of your baby you can teach him and get him into a sleep routine. Self-soothing also helps the mother to get a sound sleep. You can start training your baby to self soothe by using various techniques before the baby becomes dependent on you to sleep.
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04/06/2021 11:32 AM
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How To Get An Overtired Baby To Sleep Without Any Sleep Medicine
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Human beings are meant to function with timed sleep. If you get too tired to sleep, you get sleep-deprived which results in unbearable mood-swings. Now your babies are like that on a normal day. When they get overtired, it gets a whole lot worse.
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04/06/2021 11:32 AM
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How To Get A Newborn Into A Sleep Routine
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It can be a bit of a challenge to make your newly born child follow a routine. They have just arrived in the world and are confused. In this guide, we are going to teach you how to get a newborn into a sleep routine. Unlike before, we are going to elaborate it in a further organized manner and divide the process into weeks to make it simpler for you to understand and follow.
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04/06/2021 11:32 AM
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How Do I Get My Toddler To Sleep - Some Tips That Can Help!
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Putting toddlers in bed is one of the hardest jobs every parent has to do. Almost all the parents make sure to search for how do i get my toddler to sleep. It is essential for them to find out some tips that can help them to put toddlers to sleep.
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04/06/2021 11:31 AM
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How Do I Get My Baby Into A Routine?
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Do you know the significant complications that arise soon after you want to get your baby into a routine? You find yourself helpless because you are already tired of not having enough sleep, and a constant question is bothering you, "How do I get my baby into a routine?".
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04/06/2021 11:31 AM
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How Can I Make My Baby Sleep - Things To Avoid
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In search of finding the best answer about how can i make my baby sleep, parents commonly make some mistakes. All they want to give their baby the best sleeping treatment but remember the obsession can go wrong in many ways. Therefore, here are a few things that parents need to avoid when they are trying to make their baby sleep well.
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03/26/2021 02:14 PM
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How To Make My Baby Sleep Fast At Night
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Bedtime for many parents may seem overwhelming if the baby puts up a lot of fuss. It may become a tiring process and lead to anxiety and stress if the parents and the baby don't get enough sleep.
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03/26/2021 02:14 PM
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How To Get Newborn Baby To Sleep At Night
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You can learn from anywhere how to make routines for newborns or how to make babies sleep at night. But the main problem comes after it; once you have put the baby to sleep, you think that you can relax now. But no, the question is how to get newborn baby to sleep at night?
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03/26/2021 02:14 PM
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How To Get My 2 Month Old To Sleep. A Baby Care Guide
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Caring for an infant is very important as they are unable to do it themselves. The babies are dependent upon the parents or guardians to meet their implicit needs. But a common question in an infant's care is how to get my 2 month old to sleep?
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03/26/2021 02:14 PM
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How To Get My Baby Into A Routine
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An infant's requirements are not complicated, but still, some parents can find it challenging to attend to the random needs of their child. For this reason, they try to create a routine for their baby and often ask others about how to get my baby into a routine.
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03/26/2021 02:13 PM
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How To Get A Newborn Into Routine?
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A question arises in the minds of couples who are having their first baby. The first one arising is how to get a newborn into routine? Well, the answer to this question can be both tricky or easy-to-understand at the same time; (saying positively) it is just a matter of perception.
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03/26/2021 02:13 PM
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How To Put A Newborn Baby To Sleep Without
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You are not less than the most blessed person on earth if you have a cute little baby. But we can't forget that raising a newborn child is hardest. There are some difficulties that every parent has to go through in order to raise their child healthily.
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03/26/2021 02:13 PM
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Tips For Training Baby To Sleep Through The Night
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Nowadays, the most challenging task for parents is about training a baby to sleep through the night. There are different techniques that you can follow to train your baby to sleep through the night. It is essential to follow the methods regularly to get the best results.
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03/26/2021 02:13 PM
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How to Get A Baby To Self Settle
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Whether they are newborns or not, babies require some help to get a good night's sleep. There are various methods to make babies asleep, but we are not going to discuss that in this article. But as they grow up, it becomes necessary to teach them to self-settle.
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03/26/2021 02:13 PM
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How To Keep Baby Asleep
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It has always been hard for the parents to attend to the needs of the child. One of them is how to keep baby asleep so that they can help themselves rest and freshen up. Many factors account for the continuity of the baby's sleep. If you make sure that these are considered for before you put the baby to sleep, he won't wake up until it is time to wake up.
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03/26/2021 02:13 PM
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How To Get My Newborn Baby To Sleep?
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A question might be arising in the mind of a parent that "how to get my newborn baby to sleep?" the answer to this very question, in one way, is easy enough to understand, and in the other way, it is quite challenging to digest.
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03/26/2021 02:13 PM
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How Can I Help My Baby Sleep
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All parents face some problems while putting their children to sleep. In today's article, we will answer your question: how can i help my baby sleep? As the baby grows up, they show changes in their habits and behavior. This change occurs at different stages and ages.
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03/26/2021 02:13 PM
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How Can I Help My Baby Sleep Through The Night
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Are you tired of struggling to get your baby to sleep through the night? Then you should follow these simple three steps. This article is a detailed guide for those who have a standard question, such as how can I help my baby sleep through the night.
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03/26/2021 02:12 PM
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How Can I Help My Baby Sleep At Night
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Becoming a parent is as much of a challenge as a blessing. The needs of a baby are quite simple yet very hard for the parents to meet. A common question regarding parenting is how can I help my baby sleep at night?
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03/26/2021 02:12 PM
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How Can I Get My Toddler To Sleep
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Many factors prevent toddlers from sleeping at night or cause them to fight sleep. Do you often ask this question: how can I get my toddler to sleep? If yes, we are going to give you the answer today.
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03/26/2021 02:12 PM
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The Process Of Getting Baby To Sleep In Crib
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If you have a newborn or a toddler, you'd know how intense measures there are to be taken to make them stick to their routine. Apart from crying and feeding, there is one more thing that baby needs the most in their routine: sleeping. According to doctors, the process of getting baby to sleep in crib is much safer than having them sleep in the bed. Sharing the same bed with a baby can create chances for SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Most people don't know about it, but cribs are made for a reason: they create a safe boundary wall for your children and provide them the safest environment to sleep.
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You are getting ready to welcome your baby into your life and one of the items you are considering is a stroller. Strollers come in various styles, features and brands.
Baby Car Seat Glossary Guide
To the uninitiated parent, buying a car seat for your child can seem technical at best. There are a dozen terms designers and retail stores use to describe car seats, their various accessories and features.
Perfect Baby Shower Hostess Gifts
Picture this; you are invited to a baby shower. How do you show your appreciation for the hostess who had put the whole affair together? By giving her thank you gifts.
Five Easy Steps to Potty Train Your Baby
No?Don't let your child pee or poop every where and make your life miserable. Try to potty training your child since baby.
How to Save Money on Wedding and Baby Shower Favors
Planning on having a wedding or baby shower soon? Getting favors is a nice way of saying thank you to your guests for coming. Here are some tips for saving money when purchasing baby shower or wedding favors.
Preparing for New Baby or Traveling with Baby this Summer
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children in the United States. In 2003, 1,591 children ages 14 years and younger died as occupants in motor vehicle crashes and approximately 220,000 were injured.
Make Your Baby Shower a Success with the Perfect Table Setting Decorating Idea
The perfect table setting decorating idea will be determined by three main things. First, by where the shower is being held.
7 Stages of Potty Training
There are seven stages of potty training. They begin with showing signs of potty training readiness and conclude with being able to use the toilet away from home.
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