Husband is a great father and breadwinner but a terrible husband. We recently got in a fight where he screamed at me in front of my kids and threw their step stool at the wall and shattered it. All because he says I upset him before his club championship golf tourney and so he played badly. Now he won’t speak to me. He never buys any gifts, doesn’t pick up after himself, is verbally abusive, is obsessed with golf, and generally ignores me when he’s home. Recently I have developed a friendship with his best friend (b/c he’s never around). Sadly, I prefer the company of the friend to my husband anyway. The man is kind, attentive, interesting, and honest, qualities I wish my husband displayed. I feel my husband is actually pushing me towards this man, leaving us alone late night, sending us on errands together, inviting him to family outings. I fear my husband may be cheating and wants me to do the same with this man so he doesn’t have to feel bad about it or divorce. I know he wants to stay married b/c I am a great wife and mom. He even told me a couple of years ago that he would not leave me if I cheated on him. Who says something like that? Why? I am so confused.
Getting your child to brush their teeth sounds simple enough, right? But if you’ve ever had to hold a struggling toddler down to brush their teeth than you know it’s easier said than done. For whatever reason, some kids just hate to brush or have their teeth brushed. However, the alternative of not brushing leads to a whole host of problems like rotten teeth.
Get Them Started Early
To establish good oral habits in your child, start cleaning their teeth from the start. In fact, the American Dental Association suggests that you begin cleaning your baby’s mouth the first few days after birth. The ADA recommends that you take a wet washcloth and clean your baby’s gums after each feeding.
After those first teeth appear, take a cotton ball and gently clean each tooth. Your baby will become accustomed to you cleaning their teeth and will be less resistant as they get older.
Follow these Rules
Most children don’t have the capacity to correctly brush their teeth until the age of six and need your assistance. When brushing your child’s teeth remember…
o Use only a pea-size amount of toothpaste on their toothbrush as larger amounts tend to create excessive foam making it more difficult for your child to brush.
o Make sure that your child gets in the habit of spitting out the toothpaste. Swallowing toothpaste on a consistent basis can lead to a condition known as fluorosis, in which spots may appear on your child’s teeth.
o Be careful of the toothpaste you use. Almost all toothpastes contain harsh flavorings that adults barely notice, but that can sting young mouths. Choose toothpaste designed for young children and a flavor that your child likes. Sometimes it takes some trial and error to find the right flavor for your child.
Make it Fun!
Many children just don’t like to brush their teeth because it isn’t fun or takes away time from more desirable activities. Try and make brushing their teeth a fun activity.
o Let your child brush your teeth. You should laugh a lot and make it a fun activity. Then allow them to “brush” their own teeth. Finish by brushing your child’s teeth.
o Have your child brush their favorite doll’s teeth before you brush theirs. Remember always allow them to “brush” their own teeth and then follow up by brushing their teeth correctly.
o Hang a piece of bright construction paper on the bathroom wall. Each time your child has a thorough brushing, he or she can choose a sticker or star and put it on the poster.
o Get a toothbrush or toothpaste with their favorite character on it. Or better yet purchase one of those toothbrushes that light up or play music. These toothbrushes are fun and usually have a timer on them to let the kids know how long to brush.
Remember instilling good brushing habits now will stay with your child for the rest of their life and preserve those beautiful smiles that parents love so much!
We have the Elmo toothbrush and toothpaste, he has his big boy step stool and he loves to “brush his teeth”. His idea of brushing is to suck the toothpaste of the toothbrush and then smile at himself in the mirror (it is very cute). However, his teeth are obvious not clean using his method. When I try and brush them the right way, he goes crazy. He won’t open his mouth and it is a struggle every time. I don’t want to turn him off from oral hygiene by forcing it on him but at the same time, his teeth need to be brushed. Any ideas?
We have been to the dentist and he cried the whole time that his teeth were being cleaned. He doesnt like to be forced to do anything he doesn’t want to do (like most kids).
My son is 3 yrs old and we haven’t been very successful in the potty training department. I’ve tried a few different ways and had no success with them. But I did find that wearing undies or being naked does seem to get the best result than any other method. I’ve done reward systems (Tattoos, stickers, potty chart, M&M’s, toys) and they only work for a day or two before he loses interest.
We don’t use a small potty because he didn’t like it. He used it as a step stool so he does use the regular potty and does it pretty well. I’ve set the timer and gone to “try” to use the bathroom every 45 mins. (Not sure if that’s too short/long a period of time). I’ve limited his liquids before bed and he wakes up dry.
The mornings aren’t really a problem with using the potty as we’ve made it part of our routine. At times, yes, he will fight me on it. He’d rather go watch cartoons to which I tell him he can’t do that until he pees on the potty. (Kicking and screaming and tantrums are likely to happen at any given time)
Daycare is willing to help with potty training and I suppose my only chance is to send him in undies and just let him figure it out. (??) This morning at daycare they told me they are splitting up the 2 and 3 yr old kids. The 2 yr olds are non-potty trained and the 3 yr olds are all potty trained. Or, in my case, my 3 yr old son will be in the 2 yr old room until he’s potty trained. (And 2 other kids will be also)
My husband is furious about this but I have to say while I don’t like it, I understand it. A teacher won’t have time to stop class and change diapers when all other kids are able to get up and use the potty on their own. It takes up time. So instead, they’ll stick these kids, like our son, with the teacher who stops to change diapers as part of their day/routine.
A) Do you think it’s fair that they have now split the potty trained kids from the non-potty trained kids? (Just curious as far as my husband and my debate goes)
B) What was your best kept secret with potty training your child? What absolutely did NOT work for you and your child and what worked best for you and your child?
i have brushed ruby’s teeth since the first one popped. it had never been a problem. in the last month or so, she has started to freak out and refuse to open her mouth for me. last night i had to force her — she was crying so hard. it was perhaps the worst experience of my life, forcing something on her while she cried. but she has 8 teeth, and i know i have to brush them at least once. (she is 16 months old). any special secrets for getting her to like it again — or at least not hate it. i mean, she was screaming last night as if i were torturing her. help???
oh: i have tried every different kind of toothbrush (even letting her pick one)…tried doing it in the mirror…tried clapping every time we managed to get one tooth brushed….
edit: she will eat the toothpaste straight if i let her, so she does like it….
edit: yes, i try to let her do it herself, and i always brush mine while brushing hers…doesn’t seem to work anymore.
Imagine how frustrating it is for a toddler when they can’t reach the counter or the sink. By their very nature, small children want to practice independence and have the ability to perform tasks by themselves. If they are thirsty, they demand to fill their own cup with juice. No matter the mess, they will beg to put together their own sandwiches. Toddlers know full well which cupboard the sweets and cookies are kept in, and want immediate access to them.
These little ones are simply not yet tall enough to do these sorts of things for themselves. They would even welcome the opportunity to wash their hands if they could perform the activity without having to rely on someone bigger to lift them up to the sink. Life can therefore be very frustrating for toddlers who know they need help for even the simplest things.
To enable small children to practice independence, purchase a step stool to allow them to do more by themselves by putting items they need within their reach. Stools can be plain and unobtrusive or colorfully themed with Major League Baseball logos, Hello Kitty, Mr. Rodgers, Sesame Street or Barbie motifs and designs, all of which make them more attractive to little ones.
The variety of stools, sometimes referred to as step ups, include the themed ones just mentioned, as well as single step, two step, with built in storage capabilities and even personalized with your child’s name. Just as there are fancy models of cars, there are fancy types of step stools which are more than just steps.
The Guidecraft Kitchen Helper might be classified as a deluxe model of step up. It is easy to simply fold up and store away in a small area because it was created with this purpose in mind. A raised platform design is a feature of the Guidecraft Kitchen Helper. Both your child and you will feel more confident with the model’s four sided railing and wider floor. Step stools are a great way to help your children learn independence as they’re able to do things for themselves. Think of all the help a step stool will give children as they are able to reach the sink by themselves or use the light switch.
Your child will grow in independence with the help of a step stool however, from now on, you might want to place the treats and cookies even higher in the cupboard!
I have a 13 month old toddler with 8 teeth: four at the top, four at the bottom. Her pediatrician said I can start brushing her teeth, but I have no clue of what kind of toothpaste or tootbrush to use.
Getting your child to brush their teeth shouldn’t be too difficult. It just takes a bit of mental discipline and time for the child to develop the habit of doing it. There are some basic things that you can focus on in order to get them on the right track.
1. While you want your child to get their teeth clean, this does not mean that they need a large amount of toothpaste on the brush.
When you are bringing home a new dog or puppy they need to feel safe in their new environment. Whatever the kind of bed you pick for them you want to make sure it is located in a quiet corner of the house that they can make their own. A calm, warm and soft doggy area will go a long way in helping your new companion feel at home in no time.
Out of the various types of dog beds available commercially you will find that one of the most popular kind is made out of wicker. The creaking sound made by this natural material when the dog moves around seems to have a calming effect on our four-legged friends, but on the other hand it can be quite a dirt trap. You may also want to bear in mind that puppies like chewing when they are teething which could not only wreak havoc on their wicker basket but could also be potentially dangerous to them if they swallows pieces as they break off.
Hard plastic are another popular type, as they are very durable and resist well the gnawing assaults of teething young dogs. Same goes for beanbags but with the caveat that the covering must be very strong indeed and washable.
When picking up your new companion’s bed you must consider that the most important thing is for them to feel safe, at home and settled rapidly. With this in mind it is little surprise that one of the most sensible options is to get your new friend their own home within your home, in the form of a specially designed enclosure. These crate-like cages come in various sizes to suit all breeds and will soon become your dog’s new safe haven.
Your new puppy may whimper and howl when first placed in the cage but with a few props like a blanket and maybe a hot water bottle to create a cozy little nest they will soon settle down, though in the first few moments it may be hard for you to resist their cries. Of course your new puppy will not live in the cage but it will be a safe base to explore their new surroundings from. Their bed will also be the best place for them to get a good night sleep, regardless how much they want to hang out with you instead. Just like children puppies need a little discipline and comfort to thrive: be firm about the sleeping arrangements but you can make it easier for them to settle for the night by placing one of your garment in their bed so your scent can have a calming effect on them without you actually being there.
Having children is an adventure that every parent enjoys, no matter how difficult or frustrating they might find it in the beginning. There is no sight better than a child growing up gradually and demanding to do things by himself or herself. This scenario can have most parents melting because of the joy and pride that they feel for their child. Sooner or later, a child has to learn to do things himself or herself, if he or she is going to grow up into a stable, balanced and mature adult.
Looking at such a situation, imagine how a child would feel if he or she could not do something because of lack of height. Such a situation has the potential to really leave a psychological scar on the child. As Freud discovered and any qualified psychologist would agree, the way a person deals with hindrances, problems and frustrations in his or her childhood becomes the way he or she is going to deal with his or her adulthood. Therefore, it is of utmost importance for parents to equip their children with the required tools of growing up in a balanced way.
This is where toddler stools come into the picture. Toddler stools are, basically, stools that allow children to physically reach higher as height is a major limiting factor for children. These stools can be manipulated into varying heights as per the requirements of the child. For example, one of the most common situations where a child requires toddler stool is when he or she is trying to brush his or her teeth. Another situation is when he or she needs to get into his or her cupboard. In both these situations, the height requirement is different but the same stool with some height manipulation can be used.
Furthermore, it should be noted that toddler stools come in a wide range of shapes and sizes not to mention colors and designs. The variety is such that if a person looks hard enough, he or she can come up with extremely unique, innovative and maybe exclusive designs for their children. Therefore, the toddler stools are not only appreciated for their functionality but also their unique and original looks. With so many positives in favor of toddler stools, it is no wonder that they can be found in almost all homes with children in them.
Thesestools can be found in a couple of ways. For one, they can be bought at the local furniture or even children’s store. However, if one buys them at a local store then one needs to take into account logistics such as transportation, as the toddler stools can be cumbersome. The best option is to acquire toddler stools online. Internet stores are known to provide a whole array of toddler stools to choose from with respect to style, color, shape, size etc. In addition to this, a parent can easily compare the merits and demerits of all thetoddler stools conveniently. Another advantage of this is that many stores deliver these stools to the buyer’s doorstep which removes the problem of transportation.
