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#parenting tips
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seeing a lot of videos that are like “I didn’t know babies couldn’t have water” so here’s an incomplete list of things you need to know before having a baby
- the obvious, they can’t have water bc milk is incredibly high in water already so excess water leads to over hydration
- babies cannot have honey until 1
- if ur breastfeeding your kid and saving excess milk, make sure you label what you pumped in the morning vs at night bc your body produces different melatonin levels throughout the day and giving your baby daytime milk at night can make them more alert and fuck up their sleep schedule
- idk why ppl keep saying this but swaddling your babies or getting them those baby straight jacket things is not abuse. It chills them out cuz it reminds them of the womb
- babies have a dandruff like buildup on their head called cradle cap, and it’s very easy to deal with and remove with just some baby shampoo, a gentle scrub brush (MADE FOR BABIES!!) and a comb. It does need to be removed tho cuz it can be very painful after a while. This can also continue to happen late into toddlerhood it’s normal
- you have to clean out the creases of your baby’s skin and hands and feet they WILL collect dust😭😭
- you cannot bathe your baby until their umbilical cord naturally falls off. Use a warm damp rag until then
- tummy time is actually very important
- your baby might have a misshapen head at first (not all the time but sometimes) this will either sort itself out or they’ll need a corrective helmet ask your doctor
- I wouldn’t recommend having your baby leave the house very much until they’re at least 6 months old, especially if they’re born near cold and flu season cuz the common cold can kill a newborn
- you’re not an awful horrible person for having postpartum depression and it’s always a million times better to let your baby cry a few minutes longer than normal while you regain your composure than to freak out and give ur kid shaken baby syndrome
- you’re not an awful horrible person for giving your baby formula milk either
- don’t put shoes on your baby it’ll compromise their toe box and balance
- babies put every single thing in their mouths
- the easiest way to burp a baby is to hold them straight up (spine straight) and hold their head a bit higher
- always support their head they barely have necks
- if your baby fights away food, fights tummy time, vomits every single time you burp them, is gaining or losing an unreasonable amount of weight at a time, wheezes after eating, or goes red after eating, chances are they’re probably allergic to the type of milk they’re eating (again ask a doctor but these are just some signs it’s not just colic)
- they will wobble a lot when learning to do things but you gotta fight the urge to help them every single time cuz they gotta learn
- they’re not always spitting out baby food cuz they don’t like it they just don’t know how to eat. Like they don’t know how to push food down they only know how to stick their tongue out so be patient
- babies craniums are broken up into three parts at first that later fuse together, this is to help make birthing easier but it results in a small EXTREMELY sensitive spot in the top of their head that has no protection. This puts their brain at a high risk. Always protect their soft spot
- read to your baby!! Get cute bright colorful sensory books with sight words and read them to your baby it makes such a huge difference in their educational growth and will help them acquire a love for reading early on. And talk to them never shut up just say whatever comes to mind all the time this will strengthen their vocabulary growth also.
- babies poop like a lot. A lot. an unreasonable amount. Bring back up clothes and more diapers than you think
- no pillows or stuffies in the crib and only use a muslin blanket unless it’s especially cold to prevent suffocation
- babies kick reflexively until they’re out of their newborn scrunch (they stay womb shaped for a while) and if your baby is crying and pushing at the swaddle try letting them flail around for a minute
- consoling your baby is not spoiling them ! They need comfort and they will learn to self soothe on their own
- singing lullabies actually works, they can recognize your voice a consistent place of comfort from the womb and the cadence of lullabies is literally engineered to create a calm headspace
- for the love of god do not get boring ass beige toys. Colors are important for their neurological development
- babies are very responsive to praise from a young age so be as supportive of them as you can
- babies get constipated a lot and you have to do like tummy massages to help ease their pain the easiest way is to lay them on their backs and hold one foot in each hand, kick their feet like bicycles, scrunch up, and then stretch their legs out
- holding them on your hip too much will not cause bow legged-ness if your baby is bow legged that was always gonna happen
- they drool so so much and you have to get bibs for them so they don’t get chest eczema
- don’t use scented products on their skin cuz their skin is sooo much thinner than ours
- when your baby first starts sitting on their own never walk away from them without setting up a nest of pillows and blankets around them. Even minor head trauma can mess them up sometimes
- this one is kinda morbid and scary but sometimes babies just die out of nowhere and it’s no one’s fault or anything it’s called sudden infantile death syndrome(SIDS) and it’s about 1.3k deaths on average per year in America so not super common but still very real. 90% of these deaths happen during the first four months however edit: apparently it’s bc of an enzyme deficiency which at the very least you can take steps to try and prevent
- smoking and drinking during pregnancy WILL affect your baby and your breast milk and also might contribute to SIDS cases
- babies sometimes have a big red mark on them somewhere called a stork bite immediately after birth but typically it goes away
- babies can’t see very well for a while after birth and they’re VERY wobbly so they’ll typically bonk their head into your chest and face a lot while trying to support themselves
- female babies might have smth similar to a period the first few days after birth, this is because of the hormone transfer that happens during the birthing process and the days leading up to it
- male babies get random erections for the first few days after birth(hormone transfer again) literally do not be weird about this it’s a baby
- things like weaning your baby onto solid foods, potty training, weaning off pacifiers etc, can actually be directed by the baby and will happen naturally will minimal guidance from the parent(some guidance is still necessary) although I would do individual research into baby led weaning for food to prevent choking
- get those chewy feeding pouches to help with weaning
- the most random things will scare the hell out of your baby don’t take it personal 😭
- baby carriers are life savers (tulas are one of my favorites)
- once babies hit toddlerhood they’re tougher than you think, and a lot of their reaction is based on YOURS. they’re always going to be looking to you for how to react to a situation. Remain calm and if they’re ok they’ll calm down but if they’re genuinely hurt they’ll keep crying
- babies will most likely get ridiculously attached to an inanimate object and you have to keep this thing intact at all costs until they’re old enough to abandon it or they will throw a FIT. I got a lemur plushie from a zoo once and every single one of the kids has bonded their soul with it until about 6 years old and once a month I have to stitch him back up
- don’t compare yourself to other parents. Maybe your kid isnt getting grass fed wild caught north Atlantic cheerios but at least they’re fed. If your kid is alive and healthy and happy you’re doing a good job
- you will need 3 car seats, an infant seat, a grow with me toddler seat, and a booster seat
- getting a good diaper bag is a MUST
- the hair a baby is born with will most likely all fall out or they’ll get a bald spot on the back of their head where they sleep cuz their hair is so fragile and thin but once it grows back it grows back thick
- get like 20 muslin blankets so you always have a backup when the main ones are covered in spit up
- the babies grip IS stronger than yours (keep your hair up and keep pets away best you can)
- your best bet for your teething baby is a pacifier you can put your finger in so you can massage their gums and some chewing toys numbing cream can be dangerous and should be used sparingly
- go ahead and come to terms with the fact you’re gonna have to use a Frida Baby to manually remove snot
- babies can get hair and thread wrapped around their toes and fingers that can cut off their circulation try to make a habit of checking
- don’t hit your kid please it’s nothing but trauma and fucked up coping mechanisms from there pls empathize with your child they’re a person too
- be careful not to pull too hard on their arms and legs(like during play or holding their hand while they walk) and NEVER pick them up by their hands this will very easily cause dislocation
- they might have a little tooth like callous on their lip from their pacifier. This does not hurt them and it will go away but it may hurt during breastfeeding
- breastfeeding will make your boobs different sizes
Yeag that’s all I can think of rn but yk i Will add as I remember stuff ppl are also adding things I forgot in the tags in case you’d like to look thru that as well <3
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theygender · 2 years
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August 11, 2022
I just wanted to give everyone a heads up that 30+ brands of nutrition drinks including but not limited to Ensure, Pediasure, Glucerna, Oatly, and Premier Protein just got recalled for possible contamination with the bacteria that causes botulism, a paralytic toxin with a lethal dose of 1.3 nanograms. If you've purchased one of the affected lot numbers please return it to the store to be properly disposed of as a biohazard but do not accept any compensatory gift cards because that can be counted as a settlement if you need to file a lawsuit for any potential damages caused by this later on. If you have any questions regarding the recall there's a phone number listed in the article above that you can call, but if you believe you may have ingested toxins then please call your local poison control hotline. Stay safe
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bethanydelleman · 7 months
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Jane Austen parenting tip #73: You've failed as a parent if the best excuse your children can give when you're suspected of murder is, "Our legal system is good enough here that he'd have been caught."
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toruandmidori · 2 months
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Good to see a community on the same page for once.
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bootleg-nessie · 3 months
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If holding children at gunpoint and forcing them to smoke an entire pack of cigarettes is a crime then lock me up
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maitaiwiththecorpses · 8 months
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Things That People With Kiddos Should Know As Someone With Kiddos
This is by no means an extensive list of things parents/guardians/caretakers should know and take into account when raising and taking care of kids, nor is this telling you how to run a household or parent, however, from my experience, these things can make your life SO MUCH EASIER and make the relationship with your kiddos and you much smoother. I'm mostly going to be focusing on more adolescent-specific topics, but a lot of this advice can be applied to kids of all ages. Some of these things that I mention might work perfectly for you and your kiddos, and some of them might not. Some of them you might have to practice working on or modify them to fit your situation. Not everything on here is golden for everyone, and not everything on here is trash either. What works for one situation might not work for another.
With that being said, let's get to it.
Take your kids clothes shopping in person as much as possible. Make them try everything that they pick on. Kid's measurements are weird and are going to be changing drastically throughout their lives. Find the clothes they like and fit into in person and buy them online for cheaper (or in person. Whatever floats your boat)
Do not waste money on surprises unless you know FOR A FACT that they're going to like it! What does for a fact mean? Well, they've either explicitly stated that they want the item, or dropped some obvious as hell hints! Do not go guessing and buying based on what you think they'll like, or what you like. That's setting you, and your kid up for failure.
Be interested in things they're interested in. Your kid likes Taylor Swift? Cool! Your reaction should be "awesome, you wanna listen to the Era's Tour setlist in the car?" or, "what's your favorite album, let's listen to it together!"
Similarly, if your kiddo creates (art, music, poetry, stories, crafts, woodwork, videos, coding, etc,.) BE INTERESTED IN THAT. Consume their work! Show interest in it! Ask to read their writing, ask to see their art, ask to listen to their compositions. They might not say yes, but make it clear that you want to, and that's something that excites you. This will bring your kiddo joy.
DO NOT. AND I REPEAT. DO NOT. BELITTLE THEIR INTERESTS. Remember: You were once a kid with wacky interests, too. Kids are always searching for validation, whether they exhibit it or not. And even if they aren't? It's just a dick move to make fun of them for something they like.
buy pencils, pens, and notebooks in bulk. You'll need them.
Oh, and sticky notes.
If your kiddo comes to you for help of any kind, academic or otherwise, you damn well help them. "I need help studying for my math test tomorrow," ok, whaddya struggling with? How can I help? Do you just need a body double here, or should I do some problems with you?
give them notes. In their lunches, on their desks, in presents, on the fridge- hell, stick it on their doors! It doesn't have to be anything long- just a simple "morning!" or, "have a great day!" works, too.
Tell them you love them and that you're proud of them. Regularly. I know there are some people who think that makes their kids soft but I assure you, you're doing the exact opposite. By building your kids up, and regularly telling them that you love them and are proud of them, they know that they are valued and worthy and loved. This will set them up for success later in life and make them emotionally intelligent and flexible. Also, kids don't hear it enough these days.
They're going to see some scary shit. You can't avoid it. This past year I had to report three attempted suicides and many more cases of self-harm that came from other peers and people I was very close to. I initially was not processing the fact that someone so close to me was hurting themselves or trying to kill themselves, and the reporting process (sometimes even involving police) was extremely traumatizing. When I finally did cry, it came days later, and even today someone might say the name of one of these people and I will immediately shut down and change my whole demeanor. And I know our kiddos are experiencing these things, so please, be there for your kids and always tell them that telling adults when someone they know is hurting themselves or trying to end their life is important and could save their friends and loved ones.
Be prepared for your kids to have some kind of mental illness or learning disability. Do not try and gaslight them by saying that it's "all in their heads" (no shit?) or that they're "making things up." take everything seriously. "Mom, I think I have adhd," alright, let's see a doctor and do some research. "Tia, I'm so tired all the time and I just want to disappear," darling, that's not healthy, that's a sign of depression- you're important and loved, how about we set up a session with a therapist so you can talk to someone about these feelings who can help you better than I can?
Always be prepared to help your kiddos and reach out to licensed professionals who can help them.
carry snacks with you everywhere. And not that healthy shit, either. Within your kid's eating restrictions, get something like a chocolate chip granola bar or a Reese's cup and stick it in your going-out bag. It will save your life when hungry time comes around.
Don't be surprised if your kids are queer in some shape or form. Support them, love them unconditionally, make sexuality puns as needed ("if you're not dating anyone rn, does that mean you're on stand-bi?") and do your own research in regard to sexuality and gender.
help them get ready for school dances and stuff. Makeup, hair, clothes, pickup lines, the whole ordeal. I promise you they're going to love you for it.
Make the puberty/sex talk a casual yet thorough thing. You want to cover all the information, but you don't want to make it so uptight that they never want to talk about it again or ask any questions. Pull up diagrams, do the whole shebang, but make it clear that they don't have to memorize everything in that very moment. Questions are ok, even after the fact.
Take them to the library.
For all your menstruating kiddos out there, stock up on pads and tampons and anything else they use every month/every other month depending on how much they use. Don't make it seem like a hassle, don't make difficult, just do it without question. If they tell you they like a certain brand or type/size/etc, adhere to that and respect it. Menstruating is uncomfortable as is, don't make it worse by not listening to your kid's needs.
Give them this thing I like to call Cuddle Days (or sensory overload days, or Overstimulated, Get Me Outta Here days). These are the kinda days that can show up on weekends after a long week and basically it's a ton of movies, pillow forts, blankets, and comfort food. And lots of cuddles, of course.
Don't guilt trip them for existing having needs. Your kids are going to need a lot and do a lot and they are grateful, but it just feels weird to express that feeling of gratitude as a teenager.
And, most importantly, let them be kids. Let them have pillow fights, and roll on the grass. Hang fairy lights up and tell them stories. Giggle about their crushes with them, and paint your nails together. Play Mario Cart and eat takeout together. Kids are so complex and amazing and it would be a shame if we took away the part about being kids in the process of them growing up, because one day they're not gonna be our babies anymore.
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bli-o · 9 months
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hey parents. never fucking name your kid “christian” or other religious titles. you failed “respecting my child’s self agency” before they could even walk.
if that kid grows up to be an atheist—which it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to be prepared for, because your kid is their own person and not a mini-you—they might understandably hate it.
My middle name is “grace” after the grace of god, and at least in my own experience, it’s just a reminder that my parents had already demanded me to fit into their mold and check all their boxes on my own birth certificate.
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pro-birth · 10 months
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Friendly reminder that sleeping with your infant is normal outside of the US, they have lower SIDS rates, AND there is a safe and unsafe way to co-sleep. This website is filled with information and research, so refer here if you have questions, concerns, or wish to know about infant sleep options.
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coelii · 4 months
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Any new parents out there changing diapers? 💩💩
Remember to lay your baby on a clean surface. Unfasten, clean, & replace diaper. Keep wipes handy. Practice makes perfect!
You got this mama! 🐣
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Imma let y'all in on a stroke of millennial parenting genius that probably won't work today, but I recognize as supremely impressive in hindsight.
If you don't know/remember, Webkinz is/was a brand of plushies that you could buy at the Hallmark store and register online to take care of and play computer games with. They were kind of like a superior competitor to Neopets. If you had a Webkinz account, you had to buy and register a new Webkinz plushie every year or so to keep your account active.
When I was a kid, I had a friend who was really into Webkinz. Like, she had a bed worth of surface area devoted to excess Webkinz that were unregistered so she could renew her account on a moment's notice. I don't know where she got them-- could have been from family and friends as gifts, could have been all she spent her allowance on. Point is, she spent a lot of time playing computer games, and when I went over to her house, that was most of what we bonded over.
Her dad was also kinda technologically savvy-- I think it was part of his job. I don't even think this was that hard to do at the time, but he had the TV set up to act as the monitor for their family's desktop computer. Like, it was a huge TV, so their family computer basically had a comically large monitor.
We thought this was the coolest thing ever, and the most "secretive" thing we ever did on the computer at that age was type in our Webkinz password. We didn't think anything of the fact that her parents could sit behind us on the couch, or see the TV from the kitchen, and monitor what we were doing online as though they were sitting on a bench at the playground.
We got to obliviously live our rich-kid-magic-tech dreams and play our computer games, and they got peace of mind knowing that we weren't being exposed to porn or animal torture while on the internet.
I so hope that this will work on gen-alpha kids by the time I have them because it is not the internet's job to be kid-friendly. It's its job to be organized with kid-friendly spaces, but I think being able to monitor kids' play during screen time the way you monitor them during outdoor play is a no-brainer.
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intothestacks · 3 months
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Cool Board Games for Your Library
Kids Dungeon Adventure – $6 USD
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Type: RPG Players: As many as you want! Mechanics: RPG Playtime: Variable Age: 4+ Skills You Practice: Imagination, Strategy, Cooperation
An RPG game designed for parents to play with preschoolers and kindergarteners (the parent is the dungeon master/narrator while the child ultimately guides the story, using their toys and building blocks to play out the tale).
Why it’d be good for a library collection:
Popular topic
Family-friendly
Makes a popular kind of game accessible for beginners
Small storage space
Cheap
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theygender · 2 years
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August 24, 2022
There's a new recall that I would like to spread awareness of: Great Value Shredded Hashbrowns have been recalled for possible contamination with listeria. Listeria can cause food poisoning and flu-like symptoms in healthy adults, but it more commonly affects infants, pregnant people, senior citizens, and the immunocompromised. In these groups it can also lead to more severe infections including sepsis, meningitis, and encephalitis, and symptoms of listeriosis can appear up to 2 months after a contaminated food item has been consumed. This recall currently only includes 64 oz bags with the following date codes and UPC, but if you're seeing this on any date other than the one listed above please make sure to check if the recall has been expanded:
Description: Great Value 64 oz Frozen Shredded Hashbrowns
UPC: 7874215557
Dates: 7/25/2023, 7/26/2023, 9/14/2023
This recall hasn't yet been reported by the FDA and at the moment this information is only being communicated by email to people that Walmart has records of having ordered Great Value Frozen Hashbrowns within the past 6 months, so if people wouldn't mind reblogging to spread awareness (especially among disability and parenting circles) I would greatly appreciate it. The current direction from the company is to discard affected bags and request a refund from the store, but I would caution against accepting any compensatory gift cards from the store in addition to your refund because they may try to claim it as a settlement if you need to sue for medical bills or damages later on
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Yenna gets teddies and coins in exchange for her soup ❤️
(and a knife in case Orin comes back)
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quotidian-oblivion · 3 months
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Helloooo! Don't think I've done one of these in a while :)
Tell me about a time a kid younger than you (sibling, cousin, child you babysat) did something you were proud of them for, but you knew an adult would not approve of.
bye now!
I love this one. Thank you.
Boy oh boy, with three little siblings, you know I have stories. Many of them.
Oof, which ones to choose...
Sister B, when she was around two, cat-fought another toddler-age boy over a balloon which he was trying to steal from her very own hands at McDonalds. His dad was around but didn't stop him. My sister won the fight against that boy with her own two violent toddler hands.
Sister A, she goes picks and chooses friends like one does strawberries, never minding their feelings, and putting herself first. Though I do lecture her about being nicer to people, she managed to do something which I could not: dictate her own life with the people she wants to hang out with.
Sister C, when she was in her toddler years, just. did whatever she wanted. She was the embodiment of "do what you want with life". While the rest of us were keeping a five foot distance from a dog and trying to be on our best behavior for the adults, she was there, slaying, getting licked by dogs twice the size of her, and entering an unknown apartment and eating their washing powder while the whole family ran up and down looking for her. She doesn't do that now, but by God, was she a handful.
Regarding other kids, I've worked with children a lot and since I'm the eldest daughter, I've looked after them a lot at parties and such too.
I've seen a kid say "No" to someone who wanted to cuddle them, horrifying the adults and her mom.
I've seen a kid run a line of questions over an order their parent gave them which was perfectly logical and warranted while the parent was frustrated they just didn't do what they were told.
I've seen a kid on the bus who stared at their grandmother with the most neutral face and responded to her very public yelling with calm, yet firm statements and handle her temper in such a diplomatic way, it would put any president or monarch to shame.
I've had a student who was the class clown and disrupted the class so much that he even drove me crazy, who talked back to me with statements and comments which had the understanding and knowledge level of a young adult while he was just a 10-year-old boy that he ended up being my favorite despite making fart noises to make everyone laugh in the midst of me explaining something.
I've had a kid who continued crying and wailing loudly in the face of someone telling him that he's not allowed to cry because he's a man.
I've seen so many kids display such brave, confident, intelligent, kind and admirable actions. I don't know why or how so many adults get irritated with them just because "they're kids" and are "supposed to do what they're told".
But overall, my absolute favorite and top moment, is with my youngest sister when after a line of questioning, she admitted that a bad thing she did was her fault and she did that by herself, moving me to tears because grown, mature adults would never admit to something that was their fault, but a 7-year-old said it with genuineness and regret so freely by herself.
Hell, so many children display strong levels of emotional intelligence but are squashed down by adults undermining them instead of supporting them and teaching them how to use their skills for good.
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bootleg-nessie · 3 months
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Did you know babies have a power button? (The soft spot on their heads)
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ross-hori · 7 months
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Piggyback!!
Taken a decade ago.
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