Parenting Advices

RASHES AND IRRITATION.  Every red spot or rash shows that the diaper material or texture is not apt for you baby’s skin, or that wetness seeps through and soaks him.

LEAKS.  Side, front or back leaks only mean poor diaper quality. A good nappy should hold wetness for at least  hours.

WETNESS. This happens when the diaper is not able to hold pee away from your baby’s skin, especially when pressure is applied. This may be due to poor diaper structure or material.

LOPSIDED DIAPERS. This means that the sides and tapes are not a snug fit to your baby’s size. Make sure you’ve got the size right, and that the sides and tapes are strong and flexible enough to allow movement.

BOAT RACES:

Help your kids make some paper boats.  When the rain stops, hit the village streets or check your terrace for big water puddles (before they become stagnant mosquito-infested pools).  Kids will love watching their handmade boats sway here and there with the wind.

RAIN PAINT

This is perfect during a slight drizzle. Grab paper plates and pour small amounts of different colors of paint. Get into you rain gear, step out, and watch the rain create lovely swirls of color.  Like handprints, no two paper plates will ever be alike.

WATER PARK

During slight showers, bring out the wash basins and inflatable pools to build your own homemade water park. Gear up your kids in their bathing suites, and watch them have fun splashing around and getting soaked in the rain.

THUNDER CHAIRS

Here’s a brownout-proof game. Play this game when trapped indoors during thunderstorms.  Game mechanics are exactly like musical chairs. The only difference is you will be using thunder instead of music. It can be quite suspenseful waiting for that next crash of thunder.

LET HIM WAKE UP TO HIS FAVORITE THINGS

Wake the kids p early and get them involved in preparing Dad’s favorite breakfast.  Then have the kids snuggle up with Dad and watch as he awakes to a specially laid-out breakfast in bed.

BE HIS LADY-IN-WAITING

Run his bath (and join him!), hand him his slippers, and prepare his get-up for the day (even if it’s just his favorite worn out pambahay). You may even earn more bonus points by offering to dress him up. Just be at his beck and call, atleast for one whole day.

MAKE HIM KING OF THE REMOTE

Let him take charge of the remote control, even for just one day. You could even run a marathon of his favorite action flicks.

LET HIM PLAY ALL DAY

It’s the day when you should just let him finish his FPS (a gamer’s wife knows what it stands for) game; go out with friends you don’t like; and forever tinker with whatever gadget he just bought.

Set The Mood.

An environment conducive to sleep is very important. Lower the temperature a few degrees and dim the lights. I highly recommend upgrading your beddings to sheets with a 600 to 1000 thread count –it’s like sleeping on silky butter—and investing in an ergonomic pillow. You may also use a linen spray with pure essential oils, not artificial fragrances, which trigger our brains to help the body relax.

Drink Milk.

Have you ever observed how happily babies doze off after having their fill of milk? As adults, we can likewise benefit from drinking milk, even the skimmed kind, to help us sleep better. Milk contains the amino acid L-tryptophan, long known to help induce sleep. Avoid alcohol, which can knock you out into a superficial, disturbed sleep that leaves you barely rested.

Do Not Stimulate.

Baby experts warn us against stimulating babies close to bedtime, a good practice that we can carry on as adults. While watching TV or reading newspapers helps us wind down, doing this too close to bedtime can actually rouse our senses. Instead, choose easy bedside reading materials. Leave work-related materials outside your room.

Have A Sleep-Time Routine.

Nothing knocks my baby out better than a warm bath which lowers the body temperature. Have a warm shower, give yourself a relaxing self-massage, or slip into your most comfortable clothes. You can even put on soft music to lull you to sleep. Do this night after night, preferably at the same time, to prepare your mind and body for sleep. We are creatures of habit. Conditioning our minds and bodies through a sleep-time routine will help ensure that we get our much-needed seven to eight hours of shuteye.

Take Naps.

As children, we were asked to take naps to refresh our energy and avoid fussiness in the evening due to over-exhaustion. Research has now shown that these restorative naps are not only for the young. Adults benefit from taking a nap break in the middle of the day. You may be surprised how these power naps, if kept to a maximum of 20 to 30 minutes so as not to disturb our natural sleep-wake cycles, enhance the quality of our waking hours and, consequently, our sleeping hours.

Belly Button Tenderness

Pressure from your expanding uterus can cause your belly button to become very tender.

Increased Vaginal Secretions

Pregnancy can trigger an increase in the amount of  an odorless clear or white mucousy discharge.

Palmar Erythema

It occurs when the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet develop a reddish hue.

Skin Tags

These are tiny polyps that occur anywhere where skin rubs up against skin or clothing.

Pyogenic Granulomas

Tiny nodules might appear on your gums when you’re brushing your teeth one morning. They are harmless, non-cancerous growths.

Eye Changes

High levels of estrogen can also led to “dry eye”, which is characterized by dryness and burning, blurred vision and sensitivity to light.

Good guest manners don’t end with your kids. Some things to remember:

GOODBYES CAN MAKE OR BREAK IT

Remember that other parents run a tight ship! This means that picking your child up at the previously arranged time is as important as your child thanking the parents for having him over.

DON’T SEND SIBLING OVER

Treating the other mom’s house like your daycare center by sending your entire caboodle over to crash the playdate is just wrong. No buts about it.

BE READY WITH SOME CASH

If the family plans a movie and restaurant outing with your child, offer to pay for your child’s share of expenses.

ASK HOW IT WENT

It’s always good to ask for feedback, so the host parent can tell you what went well… and what didn’t.

RETURN THE FAVOR

Reciprocating is an unwritten rule. You don’t want the other parent thinking playdates with your child are a one-sided arrangement. Do it already, as soon as the playdate is over.

PUT THE FOOD YOU USE EVERYDAY ON THE TOP SHELVES

This includes butter in a covered dish; cheese, which you can keep in its box but in its wax wrapper; and fruits like citrus, grapes and watermelon.

STORE LIQUIDS THAT TAKE LONGER TO SPOIL ON THE FRIDGE DOOR.

It’s the warmest part of the fridge so it’s perfect place for condiments, which are high in preservatives; reduced-sodium soy sauce; and even an open bottle of wine (but store it only for three days).

STOCK FOOD THAT SPOILS FAST ON THE BOTTOM SHELF

If you can’t finish a batch of eggs in two or three days, keep them fresh here and in their original carton. Milk may fit in the fridge’s door, but the bottom shelf will also keep it fresh longer.

VEGETABLES THAT RELEASE MOISTURE GO IN THE CRISPER

But make sure you keep the produce segregated. Wrap fresh herbs in moistened paper, and place in a plastic bag. Long or leafy vegetables should also be wrapped in newspaper (not plastic bags).

According to an article by the ADA Public Relations team, “from a fat and calorie standpoint, butter and margarine are the same with about 35 calories and 4 grams of fat per teaspoon. Both are primarily fat; only the source differs. Butter contains more saturated fats than most margarine. Because margarine is made from vegetable oil, it has no cholesterol.” Now that we know this, our next grocery list must include a tub of soft or liquid margarine. The tub contains less saturated fat and minimal or almost no trans-fatty, as compared to the margarine stick. Whipped versions of butter or margarine have less fat per tablespoon, too. Reduced-fat margarine is also available but is not suitable for some recipes. Just a reminder, whether you choose butter or margarine as spread, it must be enjoyed in small portions.

Proper table etiquette doesn’t just make you look nice–it can also help you lose weight

Here’s something to chew on:

SIT UP STRAIGHT.

You instantly look taller and thinner, and the more “formal” posture makes you less likely to linger at the table. Many people eat way more than they need just because they’re too comfortable.

CHEW SLOWLY

It takes the brain several minutes to register that you’re full. By taking slower, longer bites, you actually savor the flavor and give your body time to tell you when you’re ready to stop.

TRY A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING

It’s not polite in Pinoy society to refuse food. Today’s diet gurus say that it may not be prudent. Many people fall off a diet because they feel deprived. So go ahead — satisfy a craving with one or two bites, then fill up the rest of our plate with the healthy stuff.

To prevent diaper rash, keep baby’s bottom dry and clean. Make sure to change your baby’s diaper after it becomes wet or soiled.

If it’s only a wet diaper, gently wipe your baby clean with a wipe or warm washcloth before diapering.

If your baby has soiled his diaper, wipe his bottom clean with a gentle alcohol-free baby wipe or warm washcloth, and gently pat him dry. Always wipe from front to back to prevent the introduction of bacteria into the urinary tract.

Spread a thin layer of zinc oxide cream or petroleum jelly over your baby’s bottom as extra protection against wetness, or try a diaper that includes skin friendly ingredients to have the same effect.

When putting on a fresh diaper, don’t secure it too tightly to allow some air to circulate.