What to Carry

As a parent you never really know what situation you'll end up running into next. It is always best to be prepared for some of the more common stuff though. As a parent you should always have a diaper bag with you at all times! Some of you may be wondering how to know what to carry with you.

Let's start with the basics. If your child is still wearing diapers then you should still always carry those, and baby wipes. Even if you don't need baby wipes to change a diaper you may need it to clean them up. Kids love to play and get dirty, and you don't always want them getting in your car or going into a store looking like that.

It is always good to have a sippie-cup of water with you. Kids do a lot of running around, and playing, and get get thirsty fast, and easy. Water is always best to carry, because kids can drink it even when it's hot plus you don't have to do anything to make it. If your child still drink baby formula then you should carry some of that on you too. If you do stop somewhere, and get the chance to make it then you'll at least have it on you to make. You wouldn't have to worry about trying to find a store or having to go back home to feed your child.

Food is always a good thing to carry also. It doesn't matter what kind just make sure it is something that doesn't have to be refrigerated, and is still good warm. Your kid is still growing, so they are going to seem hungrier more often than you. Besides that, you never know how long you'll be gone for, and they can't eat the same foods you can, so it's always best to keep their types of food on hand.

If you have a little baby it is always best to have a pacifier, and teething toys on hand. You never know when your baby will start crying out of no where so it's always best to be fully prepared. Having any type of chew toy on you is good when your child is going through teething. Even having a little tube of teething paste is good too.

Having a toy or two is always good too. Young kids don't have as long of an attention span. Even just on short car rides it's good to have a toy for them to play with. Not only will it give them something to do, and keep them occupied, but it'll also keep them from crying more.

You never know when your plans are going to change. You could be planning on going to a park for a hour then going back home, and you may find out you have to go somewhere else after you leave the park. Kids get really dirty really easy. Sometimes you have no idea how they even get dirty all the time. It is always best to pack an extra pair of clothes just in case something does end up happening.

When you're packing your diaper bag it is always best to pack to much than not have enough. You'd rather have enough then have something come up, and not have anything that you need. While you're packing if you feel you have to much, don't let that stop you. It's more than likely better that way.

Don't throw it away .... Sell it!

Many of you either have clothes that are to small for your child or toys that they no longer play with. Some of you are probably tempted to just throw all that stuff away instead of trying to sell it. I mean who want's to wait to try to sell clothes? Why keep on waiting though when you can sell your clothes, and toys right away?

Once Upon A Child Is a store where you can take old kids clothes, and toys, and sell them to the store. This store is willing to buy good conditions child stuff from you, and give you cash for it. Not store credit. Selling your old stuff to this store doesn't only benefit you, but also others. This is a good for you to make money, and for others to be able to buy good cheap things for their children.

Time to Start Learning

I'm sure many of you have thought about sending your child to school. You aren't the only one who worries about the first day. Your kids do too. When they see you worry, and panic they start to too, because they start to get it in their head that it's worse than they were thinking. The more calm you are about it the more your child will be excited about it.

Some of you may be wondering how to figure out what school to send your child to. Most of you will send your child to the closest school, because it's easiest, and most convenient. Having your kid go to the closest school will make it so they have transportation everyday without you worrying about it. Sending your child to that school may not be the best idea though. Sometimes that school that is closest can have a really bad rating. The teachers could teach in a way you don't want your kid to learn.

Depending on where you live you may have other school districts not to far from you. I know where I live we have 3 different school districts less than 20 minutes away. Sometimes looking into those schools, and sending your kid to school there may be better. They may learn a lot more, and end up getting more help on work they need help on. Kids may be nicer, and teachers may handle bullying better. Some schools may be cleaner than others. You may realize the different environment at different schools, and decide what school you want your kid to go to based on that.

I know sometimes having your kid go to a school of choice can be harder, because of transportation, but sometimes it's better. It may be worth changing your work hours just a little, so you can take your kid, or even hiring someone to do it for you. No matter how sure you are about the school your kid is supposed to go to it is always best to look into that school more before sending your kid there. You can look all schools up online, and get all different kids of ratings on that school. Most school offer you to get a tour of the school before deciding to send your child there. Take advantage of this stuff, and make sure you're doing what's best for your child. 

What to Wear

So many times we will be in a store trying to decide if we should buy something or not. Sometimes it is a lot harder for us to pick out clothes then it is others. Depending on your income typically depends on what you buy. Some of us may shop at second hand stores, while others may shop for the most expensive clothes you can buy. Everyone has different style, and different taste in clothes. So, how do you know what's best to buy for your child?

You can buy baby clothes from most clothing stores you go to, unless it is a store for a specific age group, or specific gender. Different places sell clothes for different prices, and different quality. You want to be careful buying cheap clothes, because you don't want them to have bad quality. You want the clothes to last. You're buying these clothes for your kid. Being kid clothes means they are going to get dirty a lot, and will be crawled in a lot. When babies crawl on the ground their clothes wear-out faster. I know some families can't afford anything, but second-hand store clothes, and that's okay. I wouldn't put this as my first recommendation for baby clothes though. Babies tend to get sick easier than adults do. Some of those clothes contain a lot of germs, and will make your kid sick. If you buy these clothes be sure to wash them before you let your kid wear them. Check the quality of the clothes before you decide to buy them. Some of the clothes already have holes in them, which means they will last an even shorter amount of time.

Buying clothes from Walmart, or Meijer is a good idea for babies. Their clothes aren't to expensive, they last, and they are cute. If you are a higher income family, and don't mind spending a lot of money on clothes for your child I'd recommend going to an actual baby store like: Babies "R" Us, Baby Gap, or The Children's Place. Their clothes are a little more expensive, but are really cute, and last a little longer.

Picking out what clothes to buy isn't as hard as you may think. Make sure the clothes aren't to small, but aren't to big either. Remember you'd rather buy clothes that are a little big than clothes you are questioning if they're to small. Kids will grow, so they will eventually grow into the clothes. You don't want the clothes to be to big to the point they fall off though. Babies are always trying to move, but if their clothes are to big, or to tight it makes it very hard. Don't stress about buying clothes though, because it is a lot easier than you may feel.

Owww ow ow

All babies will experience mouth pain at a young age. This is completely normal, and is what we all know as "teething". During this stage you're going to be hearing a lot of whining, and crying. Having new teeth growing in cause a babies mouth to hurt and ache. This may be a stressful time period for some parents. Thankfully there are ways to go about making it more enjoyable for you, and your kid. You can buy toys for the baby to chew on. What kid doesn't love toys? While going through teething they're going to want to put a lot of things in their mouths. Don't stop them unless it's something you don't want ruined. You can buy teething rings from many stores. Teething rings are little rubber circles that look like a doughnut. Some teething rings you can put in the fridge, others you can't. It's best if you buy both kinds, because sometimes the coldness helps more. Another recommendation is to buy teething paste. You can buy these from most stores. Some parents wont use teething paste, because they wont put their finger in their kids mouth. They are to scared of hurting their kid or doing it wrong. All you have to do is put a little bit of paste on your finger and rub it on the top of their gums. Some of you may not be able to go to the store, or aren't able to afford teething rings, or paste. That is completely okay. There are many options you have that you have around the house. You can freeze many types of food, and give that to chew on. Cheese sticks, waffles, and long carrots work the best. Any food that is bigger than their hand will work though. Trying some of these methods will help relieve how stressed out you get. Giving your child something to chew on will help stop all the whining. Don't ignore the problem, because it'll only keep your child in pain for a longer time period. Keep trying different things until you find what works best for your child.

Yum Yum Yum

Food is something most of us love. Picking out what food is best though can be challenging. There are many different brands, flavors, and types of food you can buy. When babies are first born you have two choices: formula, or breast feed. Choosing to breast feed is up to you. Some women aren't even able to breast feed, so you may not have a choice. Choosing what kind of formula to buy can be challenging. Buy the formula that sounds most nutritious. You may have to try different kinds of formula before you find the right one. If at first you baby gets sick give it a few days before you buy something else. It may just take time for the baby to get used to that kind of formula. After you take your kid off formula you start feeding him/her baby food. Baby food is smooth like pudding, so the baby doesn't have to chew. There are many different flavors you can buy. If there is a flavor your kid doesn't like it will be spit out, or when you try to feed it to them your kid will turn its head. Buy the stuff that sounds the healthiest. Slowly start to put a little more crunchy food on their plate. Make sure to still feed them BABY crackers, not adult crackers. Baby crackers are a great food to always have on hand. They aren't messy, and they are easy to grab, go, get them out, and enjoy. Don't rush getting your kid off baby food. You'll know when the time is right (normally when teeth start coming in) to start changing what they eat a little more. Just be patient with it. They more teeth that are coming in the more food you can start feeding your kid. When the time comes when you feel you can take them completely off baby food start slow. Start off with feeding it simple things like bananas, apple sauce, cereal, and crackers. It's always best to break things up, so it's easier for them to eat, and so it's less likely for them to choke.

Ew the thing we all try to avoid - diapers

All babies go through a stage when they wear diapers. Different kids wear them for different amounts of time. The more you work with potty training your kid the sooner they will be out of diapers.

Picking diapers can be a challenge at times. Sometimes you may want to buy one brand or kind of diaper, but wont be able to afford them. You don't necessarily want the cheapest nor most expensive diapers you can find. Picking the right diaper really depends on what you feel works best for your kid. You keep trying different brands, and kinds until you find what works best. You may find that one kind works best at night while another kind works best during the day. Always be sure to have extra diapers on you, because you never know when you'll need one. Diapers are like toothpaste. It's the one thing you always want to make sure you have.  

Diapers can be disgusting to change at times. No matter how nasty the mess is though you must not put it off. You have to change it. Leaving a kid in a dirty diaper will lead to rashes, and other problems you don't want to deal with. Changing a pee diaper is a lot easier then changing one full of poop. Even when changing a pee diaper you still need to wipe the child.

While changing a kids diaper it is always best to make it a fun time. Letting the kid play with a toy, or you alone playing with the kid will make it so it's easier to change. The kid will be to distracted with whatever toy its got in its hand to even want to move around. At times a kid may not want to get their diaper changed, and it may turn into a hassle. You may have to hold the kid down at times in order to be able to change it.