Seven Handy Tips for Brand-New Parents

Statistics show that 12% of parents feel prepared when they have their first child. Are you ready to have your first child? How is your partner feeling about it? What things can you do to prepare yourself for this time? No two couples will navigate parenting in the same way, but there are some things that you can do to try to make the process go smoother. Keep reading to learn a few tips for new parents.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

There is the old saying that it takes a village to raise a child. This holds true even today. Many people in your life will likely be offering their time and resources to help you adjust to this new stage in your life. While it can be tempting to decline their offers, it doesn’t hurt to take them up on it. If they want to cook you dinner, it might mean that you and your partner have more time to spend together or that you don’t have to try to make it to the grocery store before dinnertime that day. Saying, “I need help,” is not a sign of weakness — but rather, a strength in this situation. 

 

Sleep when you can

The first year of a baby’s life usually does not mean a lot of sleep for its parents. Sleeping when you can is important. Your sleep schedule will be dictated by the baby, so napping is encouraged when there is an opportunity for it. Taking turns letting each other take a nap during the day or weekend can help with this. Depending on your feeding approach, taking turns feeding the baby at night can help you each get more uninterrupted hours of sleep each night. 

 

Prioritize each other

While the baby is the main focus once it is born, it doesn’t mean that your relationship with your partner goes out the window. Continuing to prioritize each other by talking each morning and discussing how each of you is handling the new change in your lives can help you stay on the same page and provide for each other’s needs. 

 

Get outside

Go for a walk. It sounds simple but new parents cannot be stuck inside the house the entire day. Exercise will be beneficial for both of you and there are strollers and swaddles that you can transport the baby in. Getting outside will help interrupt the mundane nature of caring for a newborn for hours on end. 

 

Take time to relax

Watch your favorite TV show at night, put on a movie together, play some music. All of these things can help you wind down from some of the stresses that come with being a new parent. If you are always running around and never give yourself a chance to relax, other issues can begin to build up. If you see your partner needs a break, offer to take over so that they can relax for a while. 

 

Talk, talk, talk

Communication is extremely important when you have a newborn. What do you need? What does the baby need? What does your partner need? You don’t want to arrive at the situation in which one person feels like they are doing it all while the other feels helpless. Constantly communicating your needs and what each of you could do to solve issues is key.

 

Be confident

Children
Family is the safest place for the children

There is no one way to parent a child that is any better than another. Having confidence that you will be great parents and building on this confidence through experience is key. The more repetitions that you get in with caring for the baby, calming down the baby, feeding the baby, etc will make you more comfortable with the process as a whole. 

 

You’ve got this!

These tips are just a few of the many things that you can do when caring and preparing for a newborn. It will be a stressful time but you will develop routines with your partner that work and slowly gain control over how to parent the new addition to your family. Accepting that you are not going to know everything and being open to learning new things each day will help with this process. And, before you know it, it’ll even start to feel like second nature to you.

How to Make Baby Videos Go Viral on TikTok

Going viral on TikTok whether for baby videos or for something else boils down to just a few things.

Those are authenticity and originality and of course your ability to capture the attention of the viewer within just the first few seconds.

Making baby videos go viral uses the same techniques as do any other video. However, there are some tips and tricks that when utilized will make any video go viral, and anyone can adapt those as soon as you finish reading this blog. 

Stick to the very end, for you have prepared a special tip. But that special tip cannot be understood without reading something, that which you need to find within this article. 

 

Play with the emotions of the audience 

That might sound like something bad. It is in fact not a good thing to be playing with the emotions of other people. 

But the sad reality and the fact remains that the whole entertainment business and the social media, marketing and sales, are built on the premise that you need to be able to trigger emotions if you want someone to do something for you.

For salespeople, it might be that they want to sell you something by triggering certain emotions while marketing may want to sway you towards certain products. 

In the same way, you should make videos that incite certain feelings in people when they watch your videos. 

The harshest one, or the most popular one that is so damn sticky in our day and age, is FOMO. if you don’t know what FOMO is, it is fear of missing out. 

Millennials are full of it. Even Gen Z and all the other generations have caught on to this feeling. 

This ugly feeling is what makes people make the kind of decision they make rather than financially and psychologically, like buying a new iPhone every time it releases another version. 

In the same way, if you are to make a video that ignites this very feeling in the hearts of the viewers, you are guaranteed to receive twice more than the number of followers you have. Buying followers on TikTok also might help in your efforts for baby videos to go viral as the algorithm rewards following growth.

This is not to say FOMO is necessarily negative. But there are other emotions that play as big a role if not better. 

They are aspirations, admirations. If you are to show the best side of your baby, couples expecting a baby are more prone to watch it.

How does playing with positive emotions work?

Playing with emotions means teasing them with the good sides of what you are having. If you intend to make the baby videos go viral on TikTok. Then show the good sides.

Wren.eleanor
TikTok channel  example- credit to @wren.eleanor

Film the moments when they are cute and are doing something that is out of the ordinary. Something that may make the audience interested in the idea of what it is like to have a baby. 

You can consider success when your videos convince people to have a baby. While this is really difficult to do, it should be the bar you are aiming to hit. 

Making baby videos go viral then comes down to this one point. It is how well you can fire up that emotion. 

However, that should not just be limited to shooting.  Including great music that affects the subconscious is another great way to make any video go viral. 

If you have ever spent some time on TikTok then you perhaps came across a similar or the same song more than once in one session. 

When songs go viral onTikTokthey go viral like crazy and be everywhere. Of course, you will need to filter that music out to find what fits best for baby videos on TikTok. 

But the tactic is the same and it works for every other type of video as well. 

TikTok challenges and trends 

There are numerous challenges on TikTok all the time. From hashtags challenges to trends to challenges encouraged by celebrities and influencers. 

Taking part in those challenges helps your content with discoverability and depending on the content, its engagement might make it go viral.

It also depends on how well you utilize the tricks above and those below that are about to come. 

Because just those are enough to make baby videos go viral on TikTok or any other video for that matter. 

Have you ever heard about the Ugli baby challenge?

You perhaps did not. But if you did you know how a lot of creators went viral due to their content. 

But those were just the type of content that actually would have gone viral regardless of the trend. This is not to take away anything from the trends which we so highly spoke of.

But to add to the importance of the point we are about to make next.  It is that originality plays a huge role. 

Whether you want to make your baby videos go viral on TikTok or make your business known. Original content is the type that attracts people. 

Originality doesn’t mean without edits and poor quality resolution and poor aesthetics. It just means it is you, and your baby in the video.

Unlike other platforms, TikTok is not that evergreen. If you are to post something or follow along on a challenge, you are to be vigilant and keep doing that again and again. 

 

The untold secret of viral videos on TikTok

The untold secret of going viral on TikTok is that you need to make an impact as soon as someone sees your content. 

Chloeboboey
TikTok channel example – credit to @chloeboboey

This means you will need to make a video that captures the attention of a person within seconds. Which is why we call this secret “The Seconds Secret”.

For example, when you are surfing on TikTok, have you ever skipped a video just because it wasn’t interesting and engaging. I’d argue you do this a lot, and perhaps all the time. 

Well, you are not the only person who does this. That is why when you are creating a video you should think about it from the perspective of the user. 

If you can’t keep them for three seconds you can’t keep them at all.

Thus, focus overly hard on the beginning of the video and how it affects the viewers. Because once they stay, chances are they will watch it till the end. 

Plus, longer watch times send signals to the algorithm that your content is interesting and is worth watching. And the algorithm will recommend it to many other users as well. 

Making baby videos go viral takes this content even more literally. Because an average TikTok user is not interested in watching babies, especially the Zoomers or the youngest generation. 

Although TikTok initially was known for its young demographics, nowadays it has been balanced a little bit with the inclusion of millennials. 

This means baby videos will be of more interest to those older demographics, which makes it even more necessary to make the dazzling intros into each and every one of your videos.

Video is the most powerful communications technology on the planet. And, if you are looking for ways to make your videos better, Larry Jordan’s tutorials are a great resource:  https://larryjordan.com/free-tutorials/

To wrap up

Before summing up, it is important that we mention like many blogs do that choosing a niche, and working on high-quality content is also important. 

Those tips and advice have become so cliche that this article focused on the more psychological part of making any video go viral including baby videos on TikTok. 

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how you get views, it just matters you get them.

However, by following these three tips you increase the chances of getting views organically and in a way that will increase the chances of engagement. 

 

Things You Can Do with Your Kids Outside

If you are not the most athletic and adventurous person in the world, you might be wondering what you can do to get your kids out of the house and away from that PlayStation. You could always just take it away. But that doesn’t seem like a winning move. What You want to do is better motivate them rather than bully them into living a healthier lifestyle. Sometimes, raising smart, healthy, confident children requires more negotiation. The type of negotiation depends largely on their age. You can just force a child to go play outside if they are young enough. But that strategy does not scale well and often backfires in tragic ways. 

Your best bet is to lead by example. You are always the first role model your kids see in the morning and the last before they go to bed. If you have no interest in outdoor activities, they will be less likely to develop such interests. That means you have to find something outdoors that keeps you coming back for more. Better still, you can find ways to kindle outdoor passion with your kids. It is not about what you do individually, but what you do together. Here are a few suggestions that will get you on the right path:

 

Add an Outdoor Kitchen

Outdoor kitchens are all the rage. They can serve to add value to your home and be the spark that gets you and your family outside a lot more often. You don’t have to wait for special occasions to have a cookout. You can enjoy a barbecue anytime you like. Birthdays will be a lot more fun. And it will be a lot easier to have guests that are happy to be there, as opposed to just fulfilling a social obligation. 

Don’t stop with the kitchen. While you have the contractor’s attention, build a gazebo or deck. Furnish it like a park, or like a beachside cabana. It is perfectly okay to be as whimsical as you like. If none of those ideas strike your fancy, craft a putt-putt golf course through your backyard. You don’t need 18 holes and an animated gorilla to have a fun place for your kids and their friends. Use part of the yard to plant a tomato garden with your kids. They will be hooked the first moment they pick a fruit they actually grew themselves. If you want to get the kids outdoors, start with your own backyard. Everyone loves an outdoor kitchen.

 

Camping

Camping
Parents are camping with their children

Do you know what else you can do in your backyard with your kids? Camping, that’s what. It is surprising how easy it is to transform your backyard into something new and exotic just by pitching a tent. When you are ready to take your camping to the next level, there are countless destinations within easy reach of wherever you happen to live.

You are definitely going to need some basic equipment for a first-time camper. One thing many take for granted is how incredibly uncomfortable the ground is when used as a bed. So be sure to bring good bedding made for camping. Don’t let anyone cajole you into roughing it in a way that is extreme and unhealthy. You will enjoy the outdoors a lot more if you are dry, warm, and comfortable. Experience it that way, and you’ll want to experience it again.

 

Photography

Photography might be the most fun way to enjoy the outdoors because it encompasses many interests. You can photograph everything from live sports to birds and insects. Photography might take you on the water in a canoe on a quiet lake. You don’t want anything that could tip you and your camera gear into the drink. If you are into adventure such as rock climbing, someone has to take pictures. After all, pictures, or it didn’t happen. When you can get your kids interested in photographing the world, they will want to be out in the thick of it all the time.

You might have trouble sending your kids outside. But you won’t have any trouble taking them with you outside if you add an outdoor kitchen, take them camping – the kind that doesn’t involve roughing it too much, and nurture their interest in photography. That is truly the Trojan horse of the outdoors lifestyle.

5 Things to Do Before Dropping Your Teen Off at College

While you’re excited for your child to be embarking on their new life as a college student, it can be overwhelming and stressful at the same time. Whether you’re traveling from the Illinois area where you live to another state or your child is staying in the local dorms it can be confusing.

The last few weeks and even days before you drop your teen off at the dorms can be rushed. If you’re looking to go the extra mile in those last few weeks, then try the following things long before you head out on your trip. 

 

 

1. Take Them to the Doctor and Dentist

Growing up, your child’s health was always your top concern, and that doesn’t change just because they’re leaving the nest

If your teen is going far away from home and won’t be home until winter break, go ahead and make an appointment with their doctor and one of the Oak Park dentists if you are near Chicago, or one in your area. This will give you peace of mind in knowing your child is in great health before they start their new life as a college student.

Dentist
The dentist is examining the patient while using the help of RTG record

 

2. Teach Them How to Do Their Own Laundry

While some teens have been doing washing their own clothes for years, many haven’t been. If you’ve always done your child’s laundry for them, take the time now to show them how to separate their whites from their darks, how to wash them, and how to fold them as well. 

It’s best to have them wash a least a couple of loads themselves before they leave. 

 

3. Go Shopping

While you may have already gotten the laptop, books, and other items needed for classroom time, you also need to go shopping for essentials for dorm life

Clothes, sheets, dishes, coffee makers, and more should be on your list of necessities to help your child settle into college without a lot of stress.

Not only will you be picking up the things your child needs to be a happy while away from home, but it’ll also give you time to spend an entire day together before he or she heads off to the dorms. 

 

4. Have a Family Dinner

It’s long been known that family dinners are beneficial to the entire family. If this isn’t something your family normally does, or even if it is, scheduling a special family dinner at home or at a restaurant right before they leave is a nice touch. 

It gives your family time to catch up and talk about how exciting going away to college is, gives you time to be together and just bond the way a family should. 

 

5. Pack Gifts to Open When…

Most kids at college for the first time get homesick at some point. If you’re worried this is going to happen to your teen, pack some gifts for them to open at certain times.

For example, one gift could be to open when they’re bored, another for when they’re lonely, and yet another for when they are under stress. Don’t forget one for when they’re low on cash. The types of gifts can vary but should be appropriate for the moment and mood they’re in. 

Not only will these little gifts help them get through their first weeks away, but it also shows them just how much you care and are thinking of them while they’re gone. After all, it’s the little moments that count with family, don’t you think? 

Going off to college can be scary for you and your teen. Doing these few things in the weeks leading up to them going away will help you keep organized and do things together before the day arrives that your chick flies the coop.

How to Create a Perfect Study Room for Your Chid?

People with enough space in the house may like to create a dedicated study room for their children. A study corner will help the little one learn better without outside distractions. There are many things to consider while planning a study room. The process of education has shifted over the last few years. Therefore, modern study rooms should accommodate students with all the facilities needed to perform to their absolute ability. Continue reading the article to know more about how to design a study space for your child. 

 

Décor Of The Room:

 One of the fundamental things to remember while decorating a study space is that the Room should not feel cluttered with unnecessary things. The study corner needs to be spacious and airy. Ideally, natural light is preferable for the study place, but if you live in a congested city and want to block the outside noise, you can always install more lighting to brighten up the space. 

  • The wall color should be muted without much detailing work. The minimalistic décor will help one focus more on the study without distracting too much. 
  • A strong desk is required in the study room. The desk should have many drawers to keep all the papers and learning supplies intact. 
  • The study table can double as a laptop table since most of the studies are conducted online. Even if you are not keen on online studies and want to provide your child with hardcover books instead of PDFs, a student must research topics online to stay updated on the subject.

 

Learning devices: 

As mentioned earlier, most of the studies are conducted with the help of gadgets these days. Therefore, one must furnish the study room with the desired gadgets and instruments. These classroom devices help students continue their studies without difficulty. 

  • A computer is a must-have gadget in the study room. Make sure you install a high-quality internet connection and Wi-Fi system to run the system smoothly. One may also install parental control software on the computer to monitor the child’s online activity. 
  • Other gadgets such as a Tablet, printer, and interactive projectors are conventional devices installed in a smart classroom.
Children
A boy and a girl are attending online lectures together

 

Soundproof Room: 

If you live in a busy city, the child will likely have a hard time dealing with the noises from the outside. Therefore, a parent may also consider soundproofing his child’s study room to help him concentrate on the lessons. The Room should be big enough for your child to have a group study session with his classmates. During an online study session, you don’t want the noises from the house to be heard by others on screen. The global pandemic has taught everyone that one should treat their study room as a classroom in the school. Therefore, these days when most of the classes are held online, soundproofing is even more required.

 

Quick Storage: 

In addition to having a large desk with drawers, one may also install a bookcase in the study room. The bookcase will serve as a library in the study, with plenty of storage space at the bottom for extra copies and supplies.

 

Military Family Life: 10 Ways To Improve Quality Time Together

Getting quality family time is crucial for all members of the family. When a parent is in the military, it can mean long periods of separation and frequent moves across the USA and beyond. Finding the time to ensure your family gets to bond is essential to help kids grow up well-adjusted and mentally healthy.  

You should consider all your options when trying to make family time. You can spend time bonding just as well at home as you can on vacation or a day out. What is important is that you make time for each other and stay present for your kids.  

 

Put The Electronics Away

When you have the chance to spend time in person with your family, you must be present. Avoid using cell phones and other electronics. Consider having a ban on phones at the dinner table. Engage with your family and actively listen to what they tell you.  

 

Spend Quality Time With Your Partner

Carve out time for you and your partner to connect. Have a regular date night where you hire a sitter for the kids. Do something different each week to keep the spark between you bright.  

 

Make Care Packages

Send care packaging back and forth when on deployment. Military members can send trinkets and keepsakes from wherever they’re based, and families can send reminders of home and country. Include handwritten letters and drawings from the kids.  

 

Play Board Games

Have a regular games night at home. Stock up on various games to suit the ages and interests of your kids. Look out for games in thrift stores and online.  

 

Create A Permanent Home Base

Create a permanent home base to give your kids stability and make homecoming more special. Consider buying a property with a VA mortgage, which doesn’t require a down payment. Find out how much you can borrow using this VA mortgage calculator from Hero Loan. Always choose a dependable VA loan provider like Hero Loan.  

 

Travel Together

Go on family vacations regularly. Travel throughout the USA and beyond. Choose unique experiences each time you travel to give yourself and your kids strong and fond memories. Consider adventurous vacations like camping in a National Park, trips to Disneyworld, or city breaks abroad.

 

Think Of Unique Days Out

Explore all your local area has to offer. Take your kids to try different activities like white water rafting and horseback riding. Make every family day memorable by trying something new. Ask your kids what they want to do.  

 

Read To Your Kids

Father
A father is telling the goodnight story to a baby son.

Make reading time a regular fixture in your home. Read to kids before bed as part of a bedtime routine. Let them choose books for you to read.  

 

Cook And Eat Together

Cook meals as a family to get your kids interested in healthy eating habits. Ensure everyone has a job to do during meal prep, and everyone helps wash up afterward.  

 

Help Out With Homework

Help your kids with their homework to improve their academic abilities. Have designated homework times where you gather around the dining table to help them work. Consider hiring a tutor for any subjects they struggle with.

Types of Schools for Children With Special Needs

Finding the right educational facility for your child with special needs is no easy feat. After all, they will be spending a large chunk of their formative years there. This is why you want to provide them with the best learning environment in which they can grow and thrive.

While a typical classroom may work for some, the majority of students with special needs may not find it suitable. Fortunately, there are quite a few options when it comes to choosing the best school for your little one. Below, four types of schools to explore and make the most of your child’s educational experience.

 

Public school

Friendship
Two boys are playing together

When exploring different schooling options, many parents consider the possibility of enrolling their special needs child in a local school. A public school in the neighborhood can be a great option for many reasons. For starters, it gives your child an opportunity to meet and develop relationships with their peers from the area. The school will also include your child in many in and after-school activities, and it’s free, which is great.

That said, it’s important to mention that public education is often underfunded. What this means is that public schools often lack teachers trained to work with children with learning difficulties. This makes it more difficult for these children to thrive. A public school may also not be suitable in cases where the child is dealing with marginalization or bullying. If that’s the case, they’re more likely to thrive in an environment that’s more specialized.

 

Special needs school

Father and son
Father and his son with trisomy of the twenty-first chromosome – Down’s syndrome

As a parent, you want to help your special needs child reach their full potential. Sometimes, that will mean enrolling them in a private setting that’s been tailored to fit their particular needs. As the name itself suggests, special needs schools are set up to cater specifically to children with disabilities. This means that they have staff that’s fully trained to work with special needs children. Plus, their entire curriculum is modified so that it’s able to meet the individual needs of every child who gets enrolled.

While these schools have staff who’s willing to work with children with special needs, they have several drawbacks. For instance, they do not need to follow the same procedures and laws as public schools. And while there’s certainly a higher chance of your child feeling socially accepted, these schools are outside a local community. As such, parents may find it difficult to get and stay in touch with therapists, teachers, and the friends of your child.

 

Therapy-specific or condition-specific school

Sometimes, the perfect learning environment for a special needs child will be the one that focuses on a specific diagnosis. For instance, if your child has a certain condition such as autism, ADHD, or a particular mental health issue, they may benefit from being enrolled in a condition-specific school. If you’re looking for a school that has a specific therapeutic or philosophical approach to special needs education, your safest bet would be to look into therapy-specific schooling options.

Both therapy-specific and condition-specific schools offer teaching options that are suitable for special needs children. If there’s a particular teaching strategy or a therapeutic approach you prefer, you shouldn’t have trouble getting the teachers and staff on board with it. Keep in mind that condition-specific and therapy-specific schools are relatively rare which is why they may involve traveling long distances.

 

Homeschooling

Perhaps you’re having difficulty finding a curriculum and learning environment that best suits your child’s special needs. This is when many parents decide to take control over their little one’s education and begin homeschooling them. This can be beneficial for the child in more ways than one.

For starters, it’s the parents who get to create the learning environment and design it according to their child’s needs. Homeschooling also allows parents and children to avoid dealing with common school issues such as bullying or test anxiety. That said, homeschooling can be an isolating experience, and may not even be a viable option for parents working full-time. While it can be a chance to create a one-on-one learning environment that’s the perfect fit, homeschooling can be draining. Some parents find homeschooling to be overwhelming, especially in cases where a child is dealing with significant challenges. If you do opt for homeschooling, you may need to apply for permission depending on the state you’re in.

 

Wrapping up

No one child is the same, and no type of school is best and most suitable for every student. You, as a parent, know your child’s strengths and challenges best. As such, you should be able to determine what’s the best type of school for your little one with special needs and make a smart choice.

6 Best Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms

“Bottles fill his stomach, but breastfeeding fills his soul.”

– Diane Wiessinger

The feeling of becoming parents is unexplainable, and especially for a mother, it is a lot more than just contentment and fulfillment alone. A new mother has tons of responsibilities that come with the baby. Mothers are accountable for the finest upbringing of their children. As she enters into motherhood, breastfeeding becomes part of the identity of women.

A new mother feeds her baby the very first meal, which is full of nutrition. This means breastfeeding for the majority of women. Even though breastfeeding might seem easy, you can still fret over supplying your infant with the right nutrients. And you presumably may have a dozen questions about how everything functions.

Our greatest suggestion is to loosen up; you and your child will ultimately be used to it. To encourage you, we have made a list of breastfeeding tips that will provide you with the best nursing advice.

 

1.     Munch well, Mama

 You’re what you consume, and it’s crucial for you so your little one can get a nutritious supply of milk to eat. Although you don’t need to strain yourself, a balanced postpartum diet is essential for your achievement in nursing. Firstly, drink a lot of water. Your body works hard to generate the milk for the baby, which is why you may always be thirsty for water. Aim to drink eight glasses of water each day to build up the milk supply and keep you hydrated. Second, eat an evenly balanced diet. Devour those portions of protein, calcium, whole grain, and fruits and vegetables to ensure that you are stuffed properly. Add healthy fats to your diet. Much healthy fats are needed for brain functioning, particularly omega-3 fatty acids found in fish with low mercury and DHA-enriched eggs.

Third, don’t skip your vitamins. Continue to take it until breastfeeding has been fully completed. You can also continue to take your DHA pregnancy top-up essential for the health and wellbeing of a new mother.

 

2.     Lactation should be comfortable, not painful

 Breasts are your number one asset when it comes to breastfeeding. For new moms, it helps prevent many infectious diseases in the baby and provides it full nutrition. However, please note that you shouldn’t be breastfeeding more than needed. What happens due to over breastfeeding is Mastitis. It is when certain germs reach the milk canals via nipples and make them sore. This occurs more often to the moms who find it difficult to breastfeed their babies. The soreness around the breasts can be painful. To avoid Mastitis, you can pump the milk to feed the baby. The doctor will also prescribe you some antibiotics that will help in reducing the pain and soreness. It just doesn’t mean they should be uncomfortable because your breasts are functioning super hard. After every nursing practice, lanolin cream used may aid. But above all, modify your lactation practices and ensure a proper latch for the baby.

 

3.     Assist yourself with the best consultation

 You aren’t the first one having trouble breastfeeding. Enlist the help you need for your breastfeeding experience to resolve problems. There are several consultants at the hospital or birth child care centers available. Some even make house calls. Join a mummy’s group in your area or take a breastfeeding lesson to enhance learning.

For additional support, please get in touch with the breastfeeding home visit services provided by some authentic consultants.

 

4.     Drippy breasts aren’t a problem

 If it sometimes leaves you feeling like you’re at a wet T-shirt competition when breastfeeding, don’t be ashamed you’re not alone. In fact, leaking breasts are lovely because they reveal a mom’s natural need to feed a baby, but they are no less chaotic. If it sometimes leaves you feeling like you’re at a wet T-shirt competition when breastfeeding, don’t be ashamed you’re not alone. In fact, leaking breasts are lovely because they reveal a mom’s natural need to feed a baby, but they are no less chaotic.

You may begin to leak before feeding your baby, listening to the baby’s soothing voice, or even drooling over a picture of your baby boo. Careful planning can help with your leaky breasts, and it includes:

Keep a bunch of nursing pads to avoid.

Place napkins below when you sleep so that you do not need to change your bedsheets in the morning if there’s a leakage problem at night.

Wear dark colors, so the leaks don’t peek out if they appear. 

Don’t just pump too hard. Excess pumping will not help leaky breasts to stop. Nonetheless, it actually only boosts your production and aggravates the problem.

Mother and newborn
The newborn is sleeping on the mothers chest

 

5.     Quality Pump matters

Pumping breast milk is something every Mama should do to make sure she is not breastfeeding her baby all the time. Pumping milk has its own perks, and you get some time to relax if the milk has already been extracted before. There are two types of manual and automatic pumps with a single or double pumping ability.

The efficiency of each pump can distinguish between an incredibly simple and annoying experience. A double breast pump cut down the time needed to express milk from both breasts. A double breast pump is generally thought to be a great way to promote the growth of your prolactin hormone, too, while making it an easy and timely experience for mothers. A quality pump really matters if you want to pump more milk at a time.

 

6.     Posture at ease

Deciding on a lactation position, which works best for you, makes lactation much easier. Select your favorite fit with a few experiments until you adjust yourself properly. Firstly, you can lay back and breastfeed. Lie down with supporting head, neck, and shoulders. Put the entire front of the baby on your entire front and let the work begin. On your bare breast, put the baby’s cheek.

Second, Breastfeed the baby as you lean it in your lap, with the head of your baby in the elbow. You can use pillows to raise the head to the level of the nipple to breastfeed the baby properly.

The third is the crossover hold position. Keep your baby’s head from the presently nursing breast with the opposite hand. Lastly, the side Lying position is the most convenient in the middle of the night—mom and child, both on their sides, facing each other. 

 

Endnotes

 We know that breastfeeding can sometimes be immense, but the tips mentioned above in practice will help you to enjoy your child with breastfeeding. So, take into account the needs of your child, be content and satisfied. Assess the signs of good breastfeeding and try to remain hydrated.

Nothing’s wrong with asking for assistance.

In the beginning, breastfeeding can be a sentimental rush, but you and your baby are likely to hang on with a bit of time and dedication. So get faith! Since this is a good way to feed and bind your child, it’s worth the hassle.

Remember. When you follow these guidelines, your baby will continue to flourish right before your eyes!

 

Financial Tips for Parents to Consider

 

Whether you have just one child or a whole crew of little ones at home, you may sometimes find yourself financially overwhelmed as a parent. It can be hard to figure out how to manage expenses related to housing, utilities, meals, diapers, clothing, childcare, and other necessities. Following the right financial tips can help families to manage their money better. These five tips can help your family budget for all of your needs while still saving up for long-term goals and potential emergencies.

 

Attend Money Management Seminars and Classes

If you’re trying to understand how to stay out of debt while raising a family, then you need to learn a little bit more about money. Money management classes and seminars are a great way to learn more about budgeting, saving, and spending wisely. Look for free seminars that you can attend in your area or online. If you attend college, you may also want to consider enrolling in one or two finance classes. Even if you do not pursue a career in finance, you can learn valuable information that you can apply to your career and home life.

 

Remember That Brand Names Have No Significance

When shopping for children’s clothing, shoes, food, and toys, remember that brand names have no real significance. Many name-brand items are the same as their store brand counterparts, just with different labels. Children grow out of clothing items and shoes quickly. There is no reason to overspend on items that will turn into hand-me-downs within just a few months.

 

Cooking is Cheaper Than Eating Out

Fast food and take-out meals can seem inexpensive, but those purchases add up in the long run. If you have a large family, buy groceries in bulk to stay stocked up. Bulk groceries can also help you save money. When grocery shopping, look for inexpensive but filling and nutritious foods like potatoes, whole grain bread, apples, carrots, and brown rice. You can also use paper and digital coupons while shopping at the grocery store. In general, it is a good rule of thumb to avoid eating out with your family more than once per week. When you do spend money on restaurant meals, make it a more special occasion. Take the time to sit down somewhere with family members and appreciate the food and the company.

 

Teenagers Can Work Too

If you are worried about the math adding up on 18 years of expenses, remember that your child will probably start making some of their own money before moving out of the home. Teenagers 14 or older can work at restaurants, swimming pools, retail stores, and other entry-level businesses. They can also mow lawns, tutor younger students, and babysit. Teach your child good spending habits. Encourage them to save some of their income and avoid spending money on frivolous purchases. You can also teach your working teenager how to invest in the stock market and manage their credit appropriately.

 

Teenagers
Teenagers are working on their computers

 

Money Doesn’t Buy Character

One of the most crucial tips to keep in mind when raising a child is that money doesn’t buy happiness nor does it buy character. Children require love, attention, enrichment, and education, not expensive gifts. Instead of giving your child cash or expensive gifts as a reward, you might want to try rewarding them with exceptional experiences. For example, you may want to bake a cake or take your child to the beach as a birthday treat instead of buying them expensive gifts. Often, these experiences will be more memorable than gifts ever could have been. Cleaning up after yourself is a fundamental human responsibility and a sign of self-respect. You do not have to reward children with cash for taking out the trash, putting away their laundry, or washing dirty dishes.

The Ultimate Guide to Plan Your Kid’s Birthday Party

“A birth date is a reminder to celebrate life as well as to update life.”

Coming up with ideas for your kid’s birthday party can be a stressful, challenging, and overwhelming experience, especially if it’s the first time you’re doing it. Do you want your kid’s birthday party to be just perfect and a memorable experience for them as the years pass by?

Keep in mind that a birthday party can only be a success if you plan and are organized about the steps you need to take. To help reduce your burden, we have shared the ultimate birthday planning guide with you so that your kid’s birthday party can be the talk of the town.

Without any further delay, let’s get right into the birthday party planning details.

 

1. Select a theme

Do you and your kids love going to theme parties? Do you feel theme birthday parties are more fun, exciting, and easy to set up? If yes, then your very first step should be thinking of a unique and creative theme that your kid with love.

Think of your child’s interest or something that they are crazy about. It could be a cartoon character, a TV show, or maybe their favorite activity such as gaming or painting. Once you finalize an idea, check if the accessories are easily available for the theme. Even if you cannot find the accessories at a party shop, there’s no need to be disappointed as you can always make them at home. If non of the options works for you, why not order customizable decorations that can serve both as decoration and entertainment? Whether you’re looking for a fun focal point for a child’s birthday party or you want to create a more sophisticated atmosphere inflatable bounce houses and customized pools are great options. These unique custom inflatables can be designed to meet the needs of the theme and will not only astonish guests with specially printed pictures but will also give them the chance to enjoy themselves to the full. With a little imagination, you can easily create a unique look that will complement your event’s theme. So if you’re looking for ways to take your decorating game to the next level, consider investing in some custom products. You won’t be disappointed!

However, if you are having trouble deciding a theme for the birthday party, some popular ones include unicorns, superheroes, mermaids, pirates, Disney, and Barbie. If your budget allows it, it’s also a great idea to take the kids to a theme park. A Disney-themed birthday party in a Disney theme park would definitely be an unforgettable experience! If you choose this option, make sure to check Disney Orlando deals for group discounts.

 

2. Create a budget

As birthdays come only once a year, you need to budget a few weeks ahead of the birthday party so that you can throw the best party ever. Create a list of the finances that will occur, such as the décor, food, cake, theme, and the kid’s clothes.

As your child will be the guest of honour, you should ensure that their outfit and shoes match the theme. Once you have completed the budget, you’ll automatically know where you stand. If you start planning a few weeks earlier, you can also pick some extra shifts to collect money for the party.

Having a budget will ensure that you don’t end up overspending and regretting later on. Make sure you stick to the budget you have finalized because some unexpected last-minute expenses might pop up out of nowhere.

 

3. Choose the location

It is important that you choose the most suitable location if you are looking forward to planning the perfect birthday party. You wouldn’t like to end up with a location that is too crowded or stuffy, right? While there are many birthday party places in Brampton, you should pick a comfortable spot for everyone.

If you have a limited budget, do you think your house will be a suitable venue for the birthday party? Or, if you want to go with an outdoor venue, keep in mind the costs that the planners will charge you for the theme, decorations, and food.

Another very important point which people forget is that they don’t take the weather into consideration. You won’t want your outdoor party to blow up because of a sudden storm. If it’s winters or the rainy season, consider getting an indoor venue to be at ease.

 

4. Shortlist the guests

Once your final budget is calculated and you have finalized the location, then comes another main step. Obviously, you and your kid won’t be able to enjoy the birthday party without having people over.

Sit with your family and write down the names of people you would like to invite, starting from your family. Ask your kid about the number of friends they are expecting to come over and calculate the estimated number of people for the party.

Make sure you don’t go overboard with the number of people you invite because you will have a limited budget and venue to host. It will be a very embarrassing situation if people don’t have a place to sit or plates to eat from.

 

5. Send out the invitations

Would you like to add more creativity to the birthday party you are throwing for your kid? How about customized birthday party invitations that match the theme of the party? That would look cool, wouldn’t it?

To involve your kid in the planning process, you can develop unique and creative DIY birthday card ideas. If you haven’t made birthday cards before, you can follow a YouTube tutorial on arts and crafts.

Also, request your guests to confirm their presence at the birthday party so you can make arrangements accordingly. Don’t forget to mention the party’s timing on the invitation as many venues have a strict timing policy.

Mention the birthday party theme on the invitation card so the kids dress up accordingly and do not feel out of place once they arrive.

 

6. Choose the perfect birthday cake

As a birthday party can never be complete without a delicious cake, make sure you hire the best cake maker for the party. It will be great if you match the birthday cake with the party theme and give the baker some ideas from Google or Pinterest on how you would like the cake to be.

If the people attending your party have some allergies or food restrictions, request them to inform you in advance so that everyone is able to enjoy the food. You can opt for a two or three-story cake depending on how many people you have invited. The more the cake, the merrier it is.

 

7. Confirm the food order

Other than the cake itself, don’t forget to place an order to the caterers for party snacks and drinks. Some common birthday party foods include chips, biscuits, pizza, cookies, pasta, and cold beverages.

Before you confirm your order with the caterer, don’t forget to add the foods your kid likes. Please provide them with the number of people you have invited to prepare the food order accordingly.

 

8. Plan some games and activities

For the entertainment of the kids and guests, plan some fun games and activities beforehand, so no one gets bored.

How about some old-school games like musical chairs, passing the pillow, and dancing statues? If your budget and the venue allow, you could also set up a jumping castle or trampoline, as they are a favorite among the kids.

Make sure that you supervise the games at all times so that no kids get hurt or end up fighting amongst themselves. You could also request an older sibling or cousin to keep an eye on the kids and keep them away from the restricted areas at the venue.

 

Closing Note

Planning a birthday party can be a difficult job as a lot of details and attention go into the planning process. However, if you follow the detailed guidelines mentioned above, we assure you that you will have the time of your life. Just make sure you include your kid in the planning process and ask for their input as it is their birthday party, after all.