Dangers of Internet Slang for Kids

February 16, 2010 · Posted in Kids Health and Safety · Comment 

iStock_OMG_000009835566XSmallWhy Chat Room Lingo?

Kids these days are learning far more at an earlier age than their parents did. Although most kids are introduced to computers in grade school, it is more typical that these kids have already been navigating the World-Wide Web for a long time before that in their own homes. This is progress and can be a positive thing, but parents need to be on top of what their kids are doing online at all times.

You might be like some parents who view the computer as a foreign object. Though it is a useful and mostly harmless object, it can hurt your kids if you don’t monitor what they are doing on it. Part of learning about the Internet is just getting online, looking around and using common sense. Take a class to become more familiar with the computer and cyberspace if that’s what it takes.

Online, kids have their own language when they talk with friends in chat rooms and on the boards (that’s message boards). Unlike the language they use with their friends every day, the online chat room lingo needs a translation. Call it Internet slang, text slang, or chat slang, all of those three, four, and five letter abbreviations have meanings and some will be defined here.

Why do you need to learn about Internet slang?

As you probably are already aware, everyone on the Internet is not who they say they are. A certain amount of mystery can be liberating when chatting online, but as discussed in one of my previous blog posts, “5 Guidelines for Safe Computer Use at Home” it is also a way for predators to get in contact with your child. Predators learn the lingo to make it easier for them to pretend they are a 14-year old boy or girl and attract your son or daughter, even if in reality that person is a 50-year old man.

As a parent, you can also learn to decipher what your child is saying to their new friends online. Some of the lingo borders on sexually explicit. If your kids have never been exposed to that kind of Internet slang, or the person on the other end shows an interest in them, that lingo can be used to lure them away from your home and you.  You can also find reliable software out there to monitor your child’s activity online for you.

Internet Slang, Unmasked

Here are some of the more common abbreviations that kids use:

  • POS – Parent Over Shoulder
  • P911 – My Parents are in the room
  • GAL – Get A Life
  • CYAL8R – See Ya Later
  • LOL – Laughing Out Loud
  • ROFL – Rolling On the Floor Laughing
  • JTLYK – Just To Let You Know
  • ILY – I Love You
  • SWAK – Sealed With A Kiss
  • H&K – Hugs and Kisses
  • F2F – Face To Face
  • A/S/L or ASL – Age/Sex/Location?
  • ADN – Any Day Now
  • B/F or BF – Boyfriend
  • G/F or GF – Girlfriend
  • WTGP? – Want to go private (meet in a private chat room)

There are a host of other abbreviations and some are quite explicit. You can find a more complete list here: http://www.web-friend.com/help/lingo/chatslang.html.  The previous list is just to get you started. Predators sometimes ask for personal meetings and for personal information about your child, so it is important to know what ASL means. Disgustingly enough, they may even consider your child their love interest.

Kids generally think they are immortal and that they wouldn’t be fooled by some one online, and using Internet slang is their own secret code to keep parents away, but don’t let it. They could be getting into more trouble than you or they realize and you can help to prevent it by knowing what they are doing online.

Come back in a few days and read about Webcams and Online Safety.

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Sleep Well!

raelynn @ Kidz Comfort

5 Ways to Handle Cyber Bullying

February 12, 2010 · Posted in Kids Health and Safety · Comment 

iStock_Cyber_Bullying_000005912807XSmallSocially speaking, going to school can be a minefield.  Granted, your child is there to learn but school is where they spend the majority of their day and the reality is that they will have to learn to interact with other kids.  Sometimes part of the social scene can include bullying.  In this day and age, when some of this bullying is happening online, this distasteful act is called cyber bullying.

Cyber bullying is defined as the use of online tools to harass someone.  The harassment can take on so many different forms.  It can be threatening messages, unwanted pornographic material, hate crimes and impersonating some one else just to name a few.  Cyber bullying is conducted through social websites, email messages, IM messages and chat rooms. The cyper bully uses these means to terrorize another person and harm them with or without laying a finger on them.

This form of torture has become a real concern. I’m sure you’ve seen such stories in the news lately. It’s bad enough when kids get pushed around and bullied in school by people who don’t like them or who want to pick on them for no real reason. Online, the audience is much larger. Someone who doesn’t even know your child could participate, just because they find it exciting.  As a parent, you are not powerless. You probably know your child better than anyone so use that to your advantage and educate you kids about cyber bullying. Here are some tips to help:

  1. Talk to your child often. Frequently communicating with your child will alert you when something even slightly changes in their behavior. If your child is normally a happy outgoing child who turns withdrawn may have something going on. Talk to them about cyber bullying before it starts and let them know they can confide in you about anything.
  1. Keep threatening messages. If your child does become a victim of cyber bullying, keep copies of all “evidence” for possible future use. Your ISP can trace the messages and find where they originated. For most ISPs, explicit or threatening messages are against their operating policies and they may keep a very close watch for them.
  1. Teach your child how to deal with the situation. First of all, make sure you and your child do not respond to the messages. It will only provoke the sender. Getting into a fight is not going to solve the problem either. Ask your child if they know how the whole situation began. If your child is psychologically affected by the bullying, a counselor could help your child to deal with the harassment. And, as always, just be there for your child. As you know, a parent’s love and support does make a huge difference in any situation, especially a negative one.  Amazon.com has a highly rated book to help with educating a teen on the topic of cyber bullying called Cyber-Safe Kids, Cyber-Savvy Teens: Helping Young People Learn To Use the Internet Safely and Responsibly.
  1. Call the police. When the bullying and harassment take on a threatening tone or involves pornography, call or visit the police station and file a report. They can use their resources to find the offending person. Even if they can’t pinpoint the person who originated the messages, they can trace them to a household and investigate it further.
  1. Don’t let your child become a part of the problem. Many times kids think that talking bad about someone online is harmless not realizing that there is always someone on the receiving end who is probably terrified. Discuss the effects of cyber bullying and the consequences if they are caught doing it.

Cyber bullying is a very real threat to kids. It is happening on a daily basis and often ends in tragedy. It can obviously destroy lives. You can help by taking precautions to prevent it as much as possible and learning to handle the situation if it occurs with your child.

There are so many resources out there on the topic of cyber bullying.  Here are some of my recommendations for teachers, parents and children:

Cyber Bullying: Bullying in the Digital Age

Bullying Beyond the Schoolyard: Preventing and Responding to Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying and Cyberthreats: Responding to the Challenge of Online Social Aggression, Threats, and Distress

Also, here are some great links to other cyber bullying resources online:

http://cyberbullying.us/blog/

9 Signs of Cyberbullying

Come back soon and learn more about the lingo in chat rooms, in texting and other social tools.

Sleep Well!

raelynn @ Kidz Comfort

5 Things Kids Should Know about Social Sites

February 10, 2010 · Posted in Kids Health and Safety · Comment 

By now, you’ve heard terms like Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and Twitter, right?  If you haven’t, I guarantee your kids have heard of them or are currently even using them.  These are just a few of the social networking sites out there where kids can meet others and create their own personal page to tell everyone who they are.  Before letting your kids participate on these or any other social sites, let them know that with a few added precautions, they’ll stay safe.

No one wants to rob their child of some of these childhood experiences out there. It can also be hard for some kids to believe that anyone would be out to hurt them.  But, the world can be a dangerous place.  And, because they are not adults yet, they rely on you to educate them about how to be aware of what is going on around them.  Child predators are counting on their innocence as a way to trap them.  You can speak with your kids without scaring them.  Just keep them informed of certain safety measures.

  1. Don’t give out any personal information to anyone. Kids feel excited to meet new people online, but it could be that the person posing as your child’s new “friend” is actually a sexual predator. They will coax information out of your child over time, and innocently your child will give them the info they want. With a name and address or even a name and a high school, a predator can locate and stalk a child.
  2. Don’t agree to meet with any online friends without parents present. Luring is the term used for online predators that use social sites to convince kids to leave their home and meet them somewhere else.  It is much harder to catch the predator if a child goes out to meet them instead of the predator showing up on your doorstep.  When a “friend” wants to meet with your child, always use your best judgment and always go along, should you even decide to let them meet someone they’ve met online.
  3. Avoid sexual conversations. A sexual predator won’t come right out and ask your child sexually explicit questions.  They start by gaining their trust and then easing into those types of conversations.  You should tell your child not to talk inappropriately and also not to tell their online “friend” what they look like.
  4. Always be honest. Pretending to be someone other than who they are can get your child into trouble.  Acting older can attract the wrong kind of person and unwanted situations.  Also, talking badly about someone else could backfire on them.  Teach your children to remain respectful and honest at all times.
  5. Never ever give out passwords. Believe this or not, a friend could use your password and log in pretending to be you in a chat room or other social site.  It might seem like a harmless prank but could lead to major problems for your child. Someone who is angry with your child could use their profile and say or do bad things.

You want to protect your child’s right to act their age, but take the proper precautions.  Just remember to teach them to be safe in online situations so they don’t become a victim.

Here is a highly rated recommendation and great resource for families that want to stay safe: How to Protect Your Children on the Internet: A Road Map for Parents and Teachers.

Come back in a couple days for more about Online Safety and Internet Safety for Kids.  Sign up for our RSS feed, or join our email list to receive notices of new topics in our blog.

Sleep well!

raelynn @ KidzComfort.com

5 Guidelines for Safe Computer Use at Home

February 8, 2010 · Posted in Kids Health and Safety · 1 Comment 

iStock_Computer Safety_000001520756XSmallSome of you may remember that there was once a time when computers took up an entire room.  Now, almost every household has at least one.  Between our old clunkers and newer replacements, we have five computers!  Even if you have only one computer (desktop or laptop) in your home and the kids have access to it, it will be worth your while to implement a few guidelines to keep them safe while on the Internet.

Everyone in your household values their privacy.  As your kids get older, their desire for privacy grows and grows.  If you have teenagers this is most likely a big issue for you now.  When it comes to online communication, their safety should come first, whether they understand it or not.  You lock your home’s door to protect your family, but unfortunately these predators have found another way to get in – through your computer.

How can you be sure to protect your kids when they are online just as you do when you are inside your home?   Here are 5 important ways to make computer time for your children safe and give you some much needed peace of mind too.

1. Communicate with your children. This is one of the most important lines of defense against child predators.  Open and clear communication creates an atmosphere of trust in the home.  Just explain that the Internet can be dangerous and that certain safeguards are set up for their protection.  This also means that you shouldn’t overreact if they slip up.  Kids are naturally curious and a slip-up or two is to be expected and dealt with calmly and in an understanding way.

2. Keep computers in a common area. When a child is using the computer behind closed doors it is much harder to keep track of what they are seeing and doing.  In an area where there is traffic, such as the family room or den, you can walk by or be in the same room while they are online.  If you do allow a computer in their bedroom for school work, the door must always remain open while they are using it.  This will usually keep most curious kids from viewing explicit pages since they know their parents might walk by and spot them.

3. Set up parental controls on computers. Kids of all ages know how to use the Internet now.  My kids could navigate the internet and get to their learning sites by the time they were going into Kindergarten!  Parental controls can stop them from (unknowingly or not) accessing pages that have potential adult content on them.  You can also install highly rated software such as CyberPatrol Parental Controls 7.7, or Safe Eyes Parental Control Suite to monitor their time online.  This software will also prevent the sending and receiving of material that may be considered explicit, and personal information from being exchanged.

4. Teach kids not to send personal information to others. Some membership sites, such as social networking sites (among many other sites) ask kids to enter personal information to sign up for contests or just to use the website.  When your child gives out any information about themselves, it can lead a predator right to your front door.  There are many sites out there that are just a setup to gain access to your child.  Your kids should ask you before filling out any questionnaires or forms online that require any personal information.

5. Filter email accounts. Email is a very common way for pornographic or other non-kid friendly messages to be sent.  Allow your kids (with your help) to add their friends’ email addresses to their address book, but block all others.  This will keep them from receiving and opening emails from people they don’t know and possibly seeing things that they shouldn’t.   Safe Eyes Parental Control Suite will also help with this.

Online safety begins at home.  What your kids learn from you will help to keep them and your whole family safe from online predators.  Then, when they are away from home, you wont have to be concerned.

Here are some great resources from Amazon.com:

Cyber-Safe Kids, Cyber-Savvy Teens: Helping Young People Learn To Use the Internet Safely and Responsibly
How to Protect Your Children on the Internet: A Road Map for Parents and Teachers

Come back in a couple days for more about Online Safety and Internet Safety for Kids.  Sign up for our RSS feed, or join our email list to receive notices of new topics in our blog.

Sleep well!

raelynn @ KidzComfort.com

Nintendo Wii Fit Plus Review

January 12, 2010 · Posted in Kids Health and Safety, Recommended Shopping · Comment 

Let me start by saying that like most people, I have a hectic schedule. I work part-time, I own a business and I have two very young boys. I have a hard time going to the gym and for several reasons….I like being home, I don’t really enjoy exercising, I get bored, it’s too much time away from my family…the excuses are endless when it comes to being fit. I even have an elliptical machine at home so that I can do some cardio, but even that is a struggle for me.

As I hit my 40’s I’ve noticed that my body is not what it used to be. I’m sure you can relate…as we get older, some things just don’t look or work the same. Well, my issue is with my back and neck. I was frequently stiff and often times pulled muscles just by bending or moving the wrong way.

It was time to begin a routine that would stop this stiffness, muscle aches and pains.

I swore up and down that I would not give in and allow my kids to start playing video games at such a young age. After all, they are only 5 and 6 years old. There will be plenty of time to let them become video addicts.

Well, guess what “Santa” brought this year! A Wii!

To my surprise, I am enjoying it sooo much. With some extra Christmas money that our family received we went out and purchased Wii Fit Plus. I LOVE IT!

Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board is game software for the Nintendo Wii, and can include the balance board. It is designed to help stay on a fitness routine and have fun doing it.

When we first purchased the Wii Fit Plus I set up my profile and added a goal for myself. Not a hard one, but one that I could actually attain. All this is done directly through WFP (Wii Fit Plus). I also created a routine that I felt I could handle and then modify as I got better at it.

Each morning, I turn on my WFP and do my body analysis. It tracks my progress and tells me what I need to do to meet my goal. It measures my BMI, weight, and can even track my calories.

I then head over to my personal trainer and do the routine that I had set up for myself. It is 30 minutes of stretching yoga poses and also strength training. After that, I do some aerobic activities that are also a lot of fun: Hula Hoop, rhythm boxing, step aerobics, etc.

Besides the great routines you can set up, you can also do tons of balancing and coordination games. From ski jumping, snow ball fighting, soccer heading, skateboarding, biking, running, Segway racing…the list goes on and on.

The best part is that my kids are exercising along with me. They aren’t just sitting on the couch with a controller. They are up and moving around. Our whole family has Wii nights now where we compete in tennis, baseball, bowling and more.

I cannot say enough about it. It was well worth the money. I wake up with much more energy, my back is no longer stiff and sore and my balance is better, making my posture better as well.

So, if you still have doubts, send me a note and I’ll tell you everything I’ve experienced so far with our own Wii Fit Plus.

Best money we have spent in a long time.

Here is another review of the Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board:

Stuff to Love

Thanks!

-raelynn @ Kidz Comfort

PS: There are affiliate links within this email, so keep in mind that if you actually purchase a Wii Fit Plus through the links included above, I will receive a very small commission. This is not why I wrote the post though….I truly do LOVE my Wii Fit Plus!

Bed Bumper for Big Kids Winner Announcement!

June 17, 2009 · Posted in Contests, Toddler Bedding, Toddler Sleep Safety · Comment 

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!

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

Post Strep Glomerulonephritis

June 15, 2009 · Posted in Kids Health and Safety · 3 Comments 

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.

Bed Bumpers for Big Kids

June 8, 2009 · Posted in Contests, Toddler Bedding, Toddler Sleep Safety · 12 Comments 

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!

  • Entry: Just visit our site and then come back here to let everyone know what item and what design you would choose.  I would also love to hear your suggestions on new designs.
  • Extra Entry: Join our email list, either here or on our website, and you will get an extra entry.
  • Extra Entry: Tweet about this contest on Twitter and receive an entry.
  • Contest closing is midnight EST, Sunday June 14th.
  • The winner will be chosen using Random.org.

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

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

Summer Gardening with Your Kids

June 2, 2009 · Posted in Cookin' Kids, Kids Health and Safety · Comment 

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

Crib to Bed Transition: Making it Safe & Smooth

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.

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.

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