If you are familiar with Twitter, then you are familiar with Wordless Wedneday. When I finally figured out what this was all about, I knew I had the perfect photo of my son…no words of explanation needed.
Breakfast of Champions
I have often written about this, blogged about this and read about this…Lullaby music is said to have a profound effect on babies and children. It has been proven that lullaby music can make your child smarter, sooth them during stressful moments and comfort them in their times of need.
That is one of the reasons that Kidz Comfort decided to begin offering lullaby music CDs to our customers. After all, shouldn’t it be a part of every child’s bedtime routine?
But, don’t take my word for it. Parenthood.com has a great article supporting these beliefs. It doesn’t have to be a music CD though. What is comforting to your child is often just the sound of your voice. So, if you want to comfort your child, sing a little song. As a backup plan, it is great to have a lullaby CD available.
Read my previous post on the great impact lullaby music can have on your child….FULL STORY
Thanks and Sleep Well!
raelynn @ Kidz Comfort
We have a Kidz Comfort Winner!!!
Our contest ran from June 8th to June 14th. We have determined our winner with the help of Random.org.
Congratulations to Marla, who will have her choice of either a Bed Bumper for Big Kids or a Toddler Size Pillow, compliments of Kidz Comfort!
I love my Bed Bumper!
We would still love to hear from you…check out our site and tell us how we could improve. Whether it is a larger selection, more variety for each product, website navigation, or anything else…we’d love to hear your ideas and opinions.
Read more about why Toddler Size Pillows may be the right choice for your child: Read Full Story
Read more about Bed Bumpers for Big Kids and their benefits: Read Full Story
Did you know that the strep virus has a large number of strains, and pretty harmful ones at that? I didn’t, but my family found out the hard way!
My 4-year old son had been sick for roughly a week with a stomach bug, causing vomiting with no fever. Of course, we made sure he did not get dehydrated by giving him small amounts of water and apple juice or Gatorade. We also stuck with the BRAT diet of Bananas, Rice, Apples and Toast. We got past it and things seemed ok.
After he recovered, his face looked different…but we couldn’t place what the difference was. We thought perhaps he was tired from all the sickness the week before.
He got home from pre-school one day and in a voice that sounded excited and curious, he said “Mommy, my pee is orange”. Hmmm, could he have eaten something in pre-school that did this? They did have a party that day, so maybe the cake frosting did this? He wasn’t in any discomfort or pain at all. It sounded a bit like a bladder or urinary tract infection to me.
We started to “inspect” him all over while giving him a bath that night. His belly was distended, almost looking like a slightly pregnant belly. Again, he was happy, cheery, playful and in no pain.
He went to sleep like normal and in the morning I took him to the doctor’s office. They did a urine test and found his protein level to be very high. They sent us directly to the ER. We spent the next seven hours in the emergency room, waiting to meet with the Nephrologist, and unsure of exactly what was going on. At this point he was more obviously swollen and his urine looked like ice tea. Very concerning to say the least.
We were sent home and told to come back the following afternoon to go over some of the blood tests and another urinalysis.
He woke up with his right eye almost swollen shut. Still as cheery as ever and more annoyed by the fact that he couldn’t completely open his eye.
At the doctor’s office, we received some unnerving news. They weren’t sure what this was, but it was affecting his kidneys, causing the blood in his urine and the retaining of fluid. They scheduled him for a KIDNEY BIOPSY…Oh My Goodness! This is serious!
We are sent home, and my husband and I (stupidly) begin googling his syptoms, checking WebMD.com and finding a list of possible diagnoses from leukemia to a simple infection. Of course, what do we automatically think but the worse case scenario.
We don’t quite make it past the weekend as his symptoms worsen. His weight has now gone up 8 pounds in less than a week. He looks awful (still feels great though) and his urine is still reddish-brown. We call the doctor on call and are sent directly to Boston Children’s Hospital on a Sunday. He is immediately admitted due to blood pressure concerns now. We spend three days in the hospital while they try to stop the fluid retention and figure things out. He is put on a reduced fluid diet of only 20 ounces a day, including any fruit or other food containing fluid. He is also put on a diet of no salt and reduced sodium to help.
We are sent home, but readmitted two days later for the biopsy. The word “biopsy” scares the ^%$^# out of me. My husband and I felt so out of control and scared, I cannot even put it into words.
His final diagnosis…post strep glomerulonephritis. It is frightening…there is a strain of the strep virus that actually can impact the kidneys in some children. It is a fluke. You can carry this strain of strep and not have any symptoms, but certain children can come into contact with it and end up in the hospital. Left untreated for too long and it can actually lead to the need for a kidney transplant.
There are many many strains of strep most commonly affecting your throat and skin, however, in more serious cases can affect blood, heart, brain, spinal cord, intestinal tract, bladder, liver and KIDNEYS.
Our little boy was exposed to strep and showed no initial symptoms, such as a soar throat. His stomach virus was unrelated (strangely enough) but may have lowered his immune system. His prognosis is GREAT. He will follow with a Nephrologist periodically, and may have high amounts of protein in his urine for up to two years, but he has no permanent damage to his kidneys. We were fortunate.
Of course, like any virus or bacteria, the best way to avoid them is to wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds or more. Coughing and sneezing should be done into your arm and not into your hands. As adults, we can attempt to control what we are contracting and spreading to others. I know it gets a bit tougher with our kids, especially while they are in school. But, we can still teach them how important it is to wash our hands and not share drinks and other items that have been in other’s mouths.
In honor of “Children’s Sunday” on June 14th, I am giving away one of our great products that are MADE IN THE USA by Moms.
Here is your chance to win your choice of a Bed Bumper for Big Kids OR one of our Toddler Size Pillows! Whether you have kids or need a gift for some one else’s child, this is a great opportunity!
Come see our one-of-a-kind Bed Bumpers for Big Kids. I know you’ll appreciate them! I know I did.
I LOVE my Bed Bumper for Big Kids
When I checked on my son the other night, I was soooo thankful that I had created these bumpers. After all, he is a wild sleeper. I just had to snap a picture to show everyone exactly how useful they are. My son had managed to turn himself completely sideways, jamming his head up against what would have been a hard wall.
Our Bed Bumpers for Big Kids are made of 100% cotton with a thick polyester non-allergenic fill creating the soft and safe buffer for your child.
In addition, during colder months, it actually prevents a child’s body from resting up against a cold wall. We especially appreciate that up here in New England.
We had originally created these bumpers for our own two boys just over two years ago. We had been concerned about all the tossing & turning they were doing, and all the banging and bumping we could hear during the night. At least one of them would wake up from this several times each week. I had to come up with something to help.
The Bed Bumper for Big Kids was then born. It works on any clean painted wall, best used where your child’s bedside runs along the wall. It will help them sleep safely through the night, comfy and cozy.
If you are still confused about how they work, check out this video on how to actually mount the bumper on your child’s wall.
Don’t forget to pass this on and enter as many times as you like.
Sleep well!
Read more about Bed Bumpers for Big Kids HERE.
raelynn @ Kidz Comfort
It is one of my favorite times of the year…time to garden. I love the whole process, from beginning to end. I love the preparation, the turning of the soil, composting and all the broken fingernails that it brings. And, I especially love involving my two young boys.
Composting
Firstly, I’d like to let you know how easy it is to compost. There are many products out there that you can purchase to help the process along, but I am somewhat frugal, so I improvised a bit. I went to a Bargain Outlet and spent maybe $5.00 on a black trash barrel. I took scissors and poked lots of holes in it, all the way around. I dug a small divot in the dirt where I wanted to place it so that the barrel is tipped at a 45 degree angle. That’s it! The boys and I throw all our veggie and fruit scraps, egg shells, grass clippings, leaves and some dirt with worms into it. Every now and then, just rotate it so that it mixes a bit. Next Spring, you have yourself some “Black Gold”…perfect natural fertilizer for your garden! Here are some further tips: U.S. EPA Website
Tomato Ideas
Now, to the garden…My 5-year old is a big tomato fan, so this year, he chose many different types of tomatoes. There are big ones, small ones, yellow ones, red ones and golden ones. We enjoyed the planting of these as well. This led to a great question…what the heck am I going to do with all of these tomatoes?! I came across a great blog posting at Dr. Mommy Health Tips called “5 Ways to Enjoy Tomatoes” so I thought I would share it with you. Some great tips to preserve them all year long. I would love to hear what else we can do with the thousands of tomatoes that we are expecting.
Size Doesn’t Matter
You don’t need much room for a few veggies that your family may love to eat. Ours is somewhat small and includes the things that we buy weekly during the winter months. It is a fun and educational experience for kids and they absolutely LOVE to eat what they are growing. Classic choices are cucumbers, green beans, tomatoes (of course), perhaps some broccoli and cauliflower. There are lots of options for you.
Fun with the Kids
The key is to involve the kids and to make it fun for all. My kids LOVE playing in the dirt, so asking them to dig holes was no chore to them. They love playing in the water and spraying the hose, so watering the garden becomes fun for them too. And there is nothing like picking their own veggies and eating them right off the plant. My kids cannot wait to pick all the ripe veggies. If you have too much to possibly eat, what a great way to share home-grown garden-fresh produce….bring some to your friends and family! They’ll love ya.
Weeds & Maintenance
If you are not a lover of gardening because of the maintenance involved, there are natural ways to help. If you absolutely hate pulling weeds, you can help prevent them by putting your grass clippings all around your vegetable plants and cover the dirt completely between them. Keep layering it. It serves a couple purposes, often preventing weeds and also keeping the moisture and nutrients in the dirt for the veggies to feed off of.
If you are or are not much of a garden-lover, I have one final interesting blog reference. You can actually eat your yard-weeds away! Did you know that dandelion greens were VERY nutritious? I didn’t, until I read this post… Eat Your Weeds Away: Dandelion Greens. A must read!
Send Us Your Tips
I hope you find some of these tips inspiring and helpful. I am always looking for more tips and hints, so if you have any to share, please post them here.
Happy gardening!
raelynn @ Kidz Comfort
As a Mother, I am quite aware of all the stressful milestones that take place during the toddler and pre-school years. One of these stressful times happens to be transitioning from a crib to a big boy or girl bed. There are several tips and tricks that you can use to make this transition go smoothly and safely for both you and your child.
It can sometimes be difficult to determine when your child is ready to leave the crib. With this decision it is important that you follow the child’s lead. A sure sign is if your child can actually climb out of their crib. This can pose the risk for injury to your child. At young ages, children often do not have the coordination and stability to climb safely, not to mention the risk of falling several feet to the floor.
Children usually transition from their crib to a bed between the ages of 18 months and 36 months according to experts. If they are not climbing out of the crib yet, there is no need to rush it. Dr. Laura Jana, a general pediatrician in Denver, Colorado, and one of Dr. Spock’s experts says “there is no definitive answer to the question of when a child should be switched from a crib to a bed. Each family’s situation is different, and in many ways this issue really boils down to a matter of opinion.” One thing to consider is that the longer a child stays in a crib, the more attached they may become to it and transitioning to a bed may be more difficult.
There are a variety of things that you can try to make it easier on everyone involved. Once you’ve determined that it is time to abandon the crib, set a time-frame for the transition period. The reason for doing this is that it is often easier for the child if they see a bed set up in their room for a couple days while they continue to go to sleep in their own crib. This allows them to mentally adjust to it.
The type of bed that you transition them into is strictly a personal preference. Many choose to place a mattress on the floor initially so that there aren’t any accidental falls from the bed that are from too high up. There are thousands of different styles of beds available today from toddler beds to twin beds and larger. You can find themed beds, beds shaped like cars, canopy beds, etc…The list is endless. Keep in mind that the fancier the bed, the more costly it will probably be, also considering how many years they will be in this particular bed.
Allow them to help create their own space. Take them shopping for the bedding and accessories. Let them choose one special item that they can sleep with each night such as a new teddy bear or other soft cuddly item. Toddler size pillows are usually a better and safer choice than standard size pillows as they are more proportionate to the child’s smaller body. These ideas will comfort them while they try to adjust to their new sleeping arrangement.
Again, safety is always a priority. Be sure to have a means for keeping your child from falling out of the bed such as a bed rail. If the child’s bedside is up against a wall, another great safety item is the Bed Bumper for Big Kids. This will help to prevent nighttime bumps and boo-boos while your child tosses and turns in their sleep, creating a barrier between your child and their wall.
Gradually begin to let them nap in the new bed during the day if they are still taking naps. This is also a great way to actually be awake while they “react” to their new sleeping quarters. After several successful naps, begin getting excited with them about how big they are now. Let them help you disassemble the crib and remove it from the bedroom. Make the whole experience exciting and happy.
To prevent wandering around the house, a gate can be used to segregate them from the rest of the house, either by putting it in their doorway or by putting it in a hallway so that they can only access your room or their own room. Be sure that all precautions are taken with regards to child proofing your home.
It is very important that you are patient and give it time. If you are relaxed and loving during the whole process, your child will do fine and you will all sleep very well.
To sum it all up:
• The bedroom and home should be completely child proofed.
• Make their sleep area fun and interesting, allowing them to choose some décor.
• Make sure there are comforting items in the room; nightlights, stuffed animals.
• Reasonable transition period with new bed in room while child is still in crib.
• Start by having them sleep in the new bed during nap times.
• Be sure to segregate them from other areas of home by use of gate.
• Give it time.
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Rae Lynn Glispin is owner of Kidz Comfort, offering great sleep solutions for children and encouraging a calm and soothing bedtime routine. First to create the Bed Bumper for Big Kids, she expanded her product line to include comforting and stylish items for every child. Visit http://www.kidzcomfort.com for more information. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rae_Glispin |
When my boys were born, it was so cute (and often helpful) to see them sucking on a pacifier or their thumb. My first son always used a pacifier, or binky as we called it. We spent some time worrying about his teeth and how we were going to get him to stop using his binky, and much to our surprise, he ended up doing it on his own. He threw his last one away when he was around three years old.
Then baby boy two came along. We were so relieved when he didn’t want a binky. What a relief…no struggle to get him to stop sucking on a binky in our future. But, what he did start doing was sucking on his thumb. Little did we realize that this cute little action would be a harder challenge for all of us.
Here we are, our youngest is going to be five and we cannot get him to stop sucking his thumb. It is obvious in his teeth that he is a thumb sucker. They are already starting to “move”. So, I do what I love to do…research and find out how we can help him to stop sucking his thumb, in a non-traumatic way, and possibly preventing future dental work.
I came across an article in the May issue of Scholastic Parent & Child Magazine. It gave some great tips on ways to handle thumb-sucking. Like most other obstacles with children, we should be using positive reinforcement and distraction rather than admonishing him for sucking his thumb. It recommends occupying his hands at times when he sucks his thumb. Boredom can be a big cause, so try to keep their hands busy and their minds occupied.
Shari Green, C.O.M., I.A.O.M, Certified Orofacial Myologist, and more easily termed “the Thumb Lady” of ThumbLady.com, states “Over 85% of children who suck their fingers and thumbs past age 4-5 may develop speech problems, tongue thrust swallows, and have flaccid weak tongues and lips.” She offers a program on her site that is based on behavior modification and positive reinforcement.
Babies begin sucking their thumbs because it is comforting and natural from the time they are born. If a child continues sucking his thumb, Shari Green states that “Childhood thumbsucking beyond age 5 is a HABIT — nothing more, nothing less. There comes a point in time when children truly want to stop, but often the habit has persisted for so long and is so ingrained, they cannot stop on their own.”
I would love to hear about your challenges and successes with thumb sucking. Leave a post…it may just help another parent!
raelynn @ Kidz Comfort
We often hear news clips or read articles about the dangers of exposing our children to a variety of products due to their chemical make-up. We’ve also seen news clips and articles about the food we eat and the pesticides that can cover our fruits and vegetables, not to mention the foods that we buy that are made using many chemicals for a variety of reasons: to thicken, to thin out, to color, to stay fresh, etc… What about the water we drink? What about the air we breathe. The list is almost endless.
You will be shocked to see this video. It is almost hard to comprehend. The Kid-Safe Chemicals Act will change the current, and very lenient, regulations for new chemicals that are used in our environment, in our food and in our personal care products. An overhaul of our nation’s chemical regulatory law is CRITICAL.
See the facts about babies that are being born pre-polluted with as many as 300 industrial chemicals in their bodies when they enter the world. It is frightening…
One time or another, all children lie. It’s just a fact.
What made me research this topic is that my 5-year old son began kicking it up a notch with the lies. I can easily understand why he is lying about certain things, but what was more curious to me is how did he actually learn to lie.
Is it a trait that humans are born with? Or, is it something they actually get exposed to and learn to do from others.
Susan Epstein, Parent Coach at ParentingPowers.com says “Children lie for a number of reasons.”
Susan adds “The most common reason is for fear of getting in trouble and disappointing parents or feeling shame. They took something they shouldn’t have. The parent finds out and gets angry. Best response: ” What you did is wrong..but we all make mistakes. Please don’t do this again.” In other words…if you don’t shame your child but correct the behavior instead it isn’t scary or humiliating when they do make a mistake and lie about it. Children also lie because they want something very badly. For instance, “I went to Disney Land” from a 5 year old…could mean “I wish very much I could go to Disney Land.” The best response a parent could say would be: “I know you wish you had gone”…in other words teach the child the difference between wish and truth.”
As stated above by Parent Coach, Susan Epstein, “The most common reason is fear of getting in trouble and disappointing parents or feeling shame.” Creating excessive fear in a child may actually reinforce their desire to lie rather than solve the problem. To avoid this issue, create an environment where your child feels comfortable telling the truth. Make sure your expectations are not unrealistically high for their age.
Dr. Benjamin Spock says that “When a child lies regularly, it may mean that she is under too much pressure of some kind.” As a parent, your job is to work with others that are close to your child such as their teacher, to find out what is wrong. Begin by saying something like “You don’t have to lie to me. Tell me what the trouble is and we’ll see what we can do.” Your child may not even know the answer to this question right away, but be patient and it will pay off in the end.
More recent studies show that lying is related to intelligence. Lying demands both cognitive development and social skills that honesty simply doesn’t require. If your child is already starting to tell little white lies at a very early age, such as by the time they are 2 or 3, it could actually mean that your child is very intelligent.
By the age of 4 most children will have lied to avoid punishment of some kind. Many books and other resources will even advise that you should just let the lies go at this age because they will grow out of it. The opposite is actually true…the truth is they’ll grow into it if allowed. Make sure you are explaining why it is important to tell the truth and not lie.
As they age, not only will they lie to avoid punishment, but also to increase their “power”, their sense of control, and as a way of getting more attention. Many older children will actually make up stories about who they’ve met or things they’ve done, just so others will be impressed by them.
If your child has a sudden dramatic increase in lying, it can be a danger sign of other more serious concerns. Excessive lying is often a symptom of other underlying issues.
Children who don’t feel good about themselves often lie much more. We should be trying to determine what the issue may be without expressing anger at the dishonesty. It is important to make sure our children don’t have low self-esteem. Low self-esteem can be the root of many other future concerns.
Another reason that children begin to increase their dishonesty is because their parents may be too intrusive. As children get older, their desire for privacy also increases. They maintain privacy, individuality and control by controlling the amount of information that they share with their parents. Too much “where were you”, “what did you do”, “who were you with” will eventually lead to dishonesty.
Children often react by lying when they know or sense that there is an issue in the family. If parents are fighting, divorcing or if there are other issues within their family, this may be the way they vie for attention and work at getting the fighting parties to work together again.
Acting out can be a cry for help.
Children may lie at all different ages and for all different reasons. Do your research and pay attention so that their lying is not a red flag for more concern. Get involved, but do not smother them. You may even make your family bond stronger.
