Some parents are blessed with babies who love being in the car. Babies who, in fact, are so enamored with riding along that they will even fall asleep every time they are placed in their car seat. So those parents have a sure fire trick for helping their babes to snooze when nothing else seems to work; driving baby is a fun and pleasant experience for all.

You, on the other hand, may have a baby who seems to detest being a passenger in any type of moving vehicle. And anytime you attempt to secure your little one into their seat, they wail so loudly and so fiercely that you have started to dread getting in the car at all. Which means that you have been spending a lot of time at home recently. Because driving baby is something you dread.

Well, it’s time to put a stop to that. Not only because you need to get out of the house for your own sanity, but also because… your baby needs to learn that there is a world outside his or her nursery.

So first things first, let’s try to figure out why your baby might not be enjoying those car rides. Possible culprits include:

• A faulty car seat install that has him or her sitting at a bad angle.
• Car seat straps that are too tight and are cutting into your baby’s skin as a result.
• Gas or stomach pains that are made worse by being in the car seat.
• Sunlight shining into his or her eyes.
• Abandonment anxiety when he or she can’t see you.

Now remember, all babies are different and your baby could be experiencing an issue completely unrelated to these. This is just a general list of the most common reasons why a new baby might not like the car. And here are some potential solutions:

• A visit with a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) could help to ensure your car seat is installed and tightened correctly. There are often CPSTs available at most firehouses.
• A visit to your pediatrician could check for any contributing medical issues.
• Installing a lightweight shade to your back windows (those that are safety approved and will not obstruct your view) could help to keep light out of your little one’s eyes.
• Creating a CD with some of your baby’s favorite songs to play in the car and bringing along a favorite stuffed animal could help to provide comfort and a reminder that he or she is not alone.

If none of these issues or solutions seems to apply to your baby, don’t give up! The solution is out there, and talking to professionals (i.e. your pediatrician and a CPST) may help you to track yours down.

In the meantime, don’t give up on driving. It could just be that your little one needs to become more familiar with being in the car, and that with repeat trips, the cranky tears will lessen.

Written by Leah Campbell, infertility advocate, adoptive mama, writer and editor. Find me @sifinalaska on Twitter.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general informational basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Children raised in bilingual homes are at an advantage when it comes to learning to speak. The earlier your child is introduced to a second language, the faster she will pick it up. In this global world, there are many benefits to speaking two or more languages. Most importantly, it will allow your child to communicate with her extended family and friends who speak another language. Raising your child to speak two languages can actually alter her brain development for the better. If you’re thinking about raising a bilingual child, here are some top tips to help you get started:

1. Do your research

There are plenty of books, blogs and articles out there full of advice that could help you on your journey. There are also plenty of on and offline support groups filled with parents on the exact same journey as you. The more research you do, the better prepared you’ll be when raising a bilingual child. Read the books, sign up to the blogs and join the parent support groups to help make this journey a little easier.

2. One parent, one language

Many families create a bilingual home environment by having each parent talk to the child in a different language. Whilst dad might speak to your baby in English, you yourself may speak Spanish. Consistency here will aid the development of your baby’s language skills. Of course, your baby will hear English frequently outside the home, but if you commit to always communicating in Spanish, this will help your baby to begin to understand both languages.

3. Frequency

In order to truly become bilingual, your child will need to hear both languages frequently. This means you can’t isolate one language to just an hour a day, both must be used frequently to give your baby the best chance at a bilingual start in life.

4. Connect with other families

Rest assured, you are not the only bilingual family in your local area. Look online for other bilingual parents to connect with. Setting up play dates with other bilingual families gives your child yet another chance to strengthen his language skills. Search online for a bilingual baby group in your local area. If you can’t find one, consider setting one up. All you need is a space to meet (it could even be your local park), a few toys and a handful of other families to meet up with. This will give your child another opportunity to see interactions in other languages.

5. Use resources

Even at a young age, babies love having bedtime stories read to them. Storybooks provide yet another opportunity for language development, so make sure you have storybooks in both languages. If you’re trying to teach your child Spanish, reading bedtime stories in Spanish is another great teaching tool. As your baby grows older, you may also want to watch Spanish speaking television shows together and use Spanish preschool apps to learn language skills.

Are you currently raising a bilingual child? Do you have any tips to share with other parents?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

First of all, you should never actually try to juggle with a toddler and a newborn. The toddler is way too heavy for you to catch easily in one hand and the newborn doesn’t have the neck strength for life as a juggling ball just yet. Joking aside, looking after a toddler and a newborn at the same time isn’t always easy, in fact, some days it may feel pretty impossible. You will have times where the newborn naps allowing you to spend quality time with your toddler, and other times where the toddler plays happily by himself allowing you to breastfeed in peace. But you’ll also face the struggle of keeping both your young children happy despite their varying needs. Here are some top tips to help you through:

1. Invest in a doll

Toddlers are just learning how to play, and a doll is a great way for them to learn the ins and outs of imaginative play. Your toddler will be able to mimic the way you care for the baby. You can even buy some accessories such as diapers and a pram to accompany the doll, so your child can really enjoy the responsibilities of being a parent.

2. Get a sling

A sling could be a complete lifesaver for you as you try to balance the needs of two children. A sling will allow your newborn to nap happily against your chest and leave your arms free to engage in some play with your toddler. Some toddlers feel jealous of the new baby, but a sling will allow you to ensure the toddler is still getting plenty of one-on-one attention throughout the day.

3. Create a breastfeeding box

Just as you might create a breastfeeding station for yourself with magazines, the TV remote and a bottle of water, you should now create one for your toddler. Have a selection of toys, books and snacks nearby so you can keep your toddler happy during breastfeeds. Storybooks make for a great distraction and are a simple way to keep your toddler happy during long feeds.

4. Get your toddler involved

Your toddler may feel happier if she feels involved in the baby’s life. Let her help you out whenever possible. She can get diapers, wipes or other things from across the room. She can also help to play with the baby with you and will learn a lot from seeing you interact with the newborn.

5. Be positive

What we say has a big impact on how children feel. Think about the way you talk about being a big sister, does it sound like an important and fun job or something that comes with a lot of expectations? Try to speak positively about the sibling relationship and make sure your toddler knows how valued she is as a big sister. Do you have any tips for keeping a toddler happy when there is a newborn in the house?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

One of the great things about breastfeeding is that you typically don’t need lots of stuff in order to do it. Your baby and your own body – that’s all you really need. No bottles, formula, looking for water, mixing, warming, cleaning. Breastmilk is sterile, always ready and at just the right temperature. This makes breastfed babies very portable, and makes traveling with one pretty simple (at least the feeding part).

No matter how you’re traveling, be sure to wear comfortable clothes. Two-piece outfits – so you can easily lift your top to nurse – are essential. You might even want to invest in a couple of nursing tops to help you feel comfortable. A cardigan or other layering, like a scarf, can give you some added privacy if you’re shy about nursing in public.

If you’re flying:

• Pack extra clothes and diapers in your carryon just in case your luggage is delayed (this is true whether your baby is breastfed or not!)
• Pack extra water for yourself – airplanes can be pretty dry and you don’t want to get dehydrated.
• Nursing your baby as your plane is taking off and as it’s landing can help relieve some of the discomfort your baby may feel with the pressure change.
• Carrying baby in a sling or wrap is helpful in crowded airports (though you’ll need a car seat for on the plane).
• Window seats may give a little more privacy and bulkhead seats offer more legroom – so you may want to consider that when booking your flight.
• You may want to talk to the flight attendants as you’re boarding – just to let them know you plan of feeding your baby in flight – and check the airline’s policies ahead of your trip.

If you’re traveling by car:

• Plan for plenty of stops to feed and change baby.
• Find a place to safely stop before removing him from his car seat. As much as you may want to try maneuvering yourself to nurse him while your partner continues driving, it’s essential to take the extra time to stop.
• You might consider planning long stretches of driving during the night or during baby’s regular nap times.
• The motion of the car may lull baby to sleep – if your baby is very young, you may need to stop to wake baby to nurse.

It’s not unusual for baby’s schedule to change when traveling. All the excitement, overstimulation, and schedule disruption may take some adaptation on your part. Don’t forget babies get jet lagged, too. Allow extra time for adjustments.

Pay attention to your own hunger and thirst cues, as well as your need for rest. Allow plenty of time to get from one place to another – traveling with children always takes more time than you think it will.

Written by Michelle, childbirth instructor, lactation consultant, and mother to 4 busy kids

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice.  All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Ever since your baby was born, you’ve probably felt like you’ve gotten to know your pediatrician better than your neighbors. Pediatrician appointments in the first few months start to feel as routine as going to the grocery store, and for good reason—newborns are fragile, and new parents are often overwhelmed. Having that extra set of eyes on your little one can set your mind at ease and provide you with a forum for asking any questions you may have.

But now that your baby is past the newborn stage, your routine well-baby checkups will start to spread out a bit more and will be aligned with your vaccine schedule. Which means that unless your baby becomes sick or you have a concern, you probably won’t be heading in for pediatrician appointments every two to four weeks anymore.

When will you see him or her, though?

Your pediatrician’s office should be able to give you an accurate timeline of events from this point forward, but on average, there are still seven appointments ahead of you from now until when your baby turns two. Usually, they are:

• Fourth month
• Sixth month
• Ninth month
• First birthday
• Fifteenth month
• Eighteenth month
• Second birthday

At each of these appointments, your baby will be weighed, measured, examined, and usually given a series of vaccinations—meaning he or she may feel groggy or irritable for 24 to 48 hours after. These appointments will also serve as your continued opportunity to bring any questions you may have to your pediatrician, and to make sure your little one is still thriving, meeting milestones, and growing healthy and strong.

Of course, if ever you find yourself with questions between appointments, you can always call your pediatrician’s office and ask a nurse on duty. Usually, if they can’t answer your question right away, they will either have the doctor call you, or will ask you to come in if they think it’s something you might benefit from having an appointment for. And with immune systems still building up in those first two years, most babies have their share of illnesses; so it is likely you will be seeing your pediatrician plenty in between.

If for some reason you’ve come to realize you don’t particularly care for or trust your child’s current pediatrician, now is the time to start asking your friends for recommendations and interviewing potential pediatricians you could switch to. With many years ahead of taking your child to the doctor on a regular basis, working with someone you are comfortable seeing will be key to keeping your little one healthy and thriving.

Written by Leah Campbell, infertility advocate, adoptive mama, writer and editor. Find me @sifinalaska on Twitter.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general informational basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

For some dads, bonding starts as soon as they first see a beating heart on the ultrasound scan. For others, it can take until the baby is born before they really feel bonded to their child. And for others, bonding is a process that can take a little longer. There is no ‘right time’ to feel bonded with your child. Though it’s not something many dads talk about, bonding can be a slow process that takes places over the first few months of a baby’s life.

Many dads take on the role of carer after the birth. Caring for their partner as she recovers from the birth, and enabling her to care for the baby. Of course, he’ll probably get put in charge of diaper changes, but he may find that the bulk of the caring is done by the new mom. If the mom is breastfeeding, that can take up a large chunk of time each day, so it’s no wonder that bonding takes dads a little longer.

Here are seven easy ways you can help your partner to bond with the new baby:

1. Get him involved

You don’t have to stop breastfeeding to enable dad to bond with the baby. If you want to, you could express milk so dad can take over one feed each day, but there’s no need to if you don’t want to pump. Your partner can build a strong relationship with your baby without ever having to feed her, so don’t fall into the trap of blaming breastfeeding. Many dads take on the role of chief diaper changer instead. It’s not as glamorous, perhaps, but at least they don’t end up with cracked nipples. Leave the diaper changing things in another room so that each diaper change gives your partner some time alone with the baby.

2. Bathtime

The evening bath is another favorite of dads. It gives them the chance to have fun and play with their baby, whilst also being an important part of the evening routine. While your baby may be breastfed to sleep, bathtime allows dad to be involved in this important bedtime tradition. Enjoy some time to yourself whilst they bond at bathtime.

3. Baby massage

Baby massage is another great activity for helping your baby to unwind before bed. It’s also a great way for your partner to unwind after a long day at work. Sign your partner up to a baby massage course so he can master the techniques. Massaging the baby each day will give dad a chance to bond with the baby whilst also building his parenting confidence.

4. Get a sling

Babies love to be carried. You’ve probably noticed your baby is happier in your arms than in a crib or pram. It’s not practical to carry your baby at all times, after all, you need to use your hands for other things occasionally. A sling or wrap can solve this problem for you. It allows you to carry your baby whilst keeping your hands free. A sling or wrap is a lovely way for dad to bond with the new baby. They can go for an evening stroll together, or he can wear the baby around the house for comfort. It also provides you with the benefit of a little bit of touch-free time.

5. Special little things

If you see someone having fun with your baby, it’s almost impossible not to mimic this fun at a later date. Everyone plays differently, and if you see dad having fun in a new way with the baby, it’s only natural that you’d want to get in on the action too. Leaving the new game to them, however, allows them to have a special activity that the two of them can share. This is a great way to encourage bonding, help dad feel irreplaceable and help them start building special memories.

6. Think before you speak

If you’re home all day with the baby, it can be frustrating when dad gets home from work and starts doing things ‘wrong’. Think carefully before you criticize, because you could knock his already fragile parenting confidence. Does it really matter whether he does things a little differently to you? You’re both individuals and, of course, will have different ways of doing things. As long as your baby is safe, loved and happy, is it really worth mentioning that he’s put the baby’s clothes on backward?

7. Make time for him

Since the baby came along, you probably haven’t been able to spend much quality time with your partner. You’re both exhausted by the end of the day, perhaps even irritable, and it’s hard to find the time to invest in your relationship. Remember, your partner is a new parent too. He’s just as tired, emotional and unsure as you are. Try to make time for him. Ask him how he’s feeling, show him that you care and tell him you love him. Don’t forget to tell him what an amazing father you think he is.

How does your partner bond with the baby?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

You’ve probably already noticed that nobody has the ability to cheer you up quite like the gorgeous baby in your life. One look into his beautiful eyes, one flash of the gummy smile, and your problems disappear. It doesn’t matter what it is that’s stressing you out, your baby can giggle all of your problems away with minimal effort.

Some people find that becoming a parent takes them a few octaves higher on the happiness scale. As your heart swells with love and pride, the highs feel so much higher than ever before. And the lows? Well, you might find that things simply don’t seem as bad as they used to. Babies are born with the ability to make us happy, and it’s as important for them as it is for us. So why do babies make you happy? Here are four reasons why your baby makes you feel happy:

1. Oxytocin

Oxytocin is often referred to as the ‘love hormone’ because it’s responsible for the love you feel when you spend time with your baby. Skin-to-skin, breastfeeding and eye contact can all trigger the release of this oh-so-important hormone that helps you to bond with your baby. It’s a two-way street, your baby is releasing some oxytocin during those interactions too and is enjoying the same bonding experience. You’re busy falling in love with each other, and that’s why spending time with your baby makes you feel happy.

2. Perspective

Having a baby to love suddenly puts everything else in perspective. You may find you sweat the little things less, or spend less time obsessing over things that annoy you. With a baby to look after, you’re too busy to waste time worrying about things that aren’t important. Having a baby will show you what is important. After all, even the worst day can be made better simply by a cuddle and smile from the little baby who loves you unconditionally.

3. Innocence

Babies are arguably the most innocent people on the planet. They might keep you awake all night, spray you with vomit and almost drive you crazy with their incessant cries, but none of it is done with malice. They’re totally and completely dependent on you and, as such, are totally innocent. You just can’t stay mad at that adorable little face.

4. Survival

Babies really need to be liked to increase their chances of survival. Making people happy is a pretty good way of getting them to like you. Babies smile to encourage us to smile back. They make you happy because, traditionally, that would increase the chance of you looking after them properly. So, really, it’s totally selfish, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it.

What does your baby do to make you feel happy?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.