Although toddler tantrums can be both embarrassing and traumatic, it may help you to understand that this is just another normal phase of your toddler’s development. Most tantrums are due to the fact that your toddler just doesn’t have the necessary vocabulary to express his newfound feelings.

He’s gone from being a bystander in life and just letting the world pass him by to fully diving in and wanting to explore and grab every little thing life has to offer. Along with this newfound thirst for life also come many emotions and the feeling of not being able to express these emotions.

That’s why when your toddler feels tired, hungry, or just bored and cranky he will result to having a tantrum as a way to change a situation he doesn’t like or has any control over. By the same token, your toddler may also have a tantrum when she doesn’t get her way.

When your toddler does have a tantrum, you certainly shouldn’t give in as tempting as it may be, if you’ve said no to something you should stick to no. If you give in now, you’re child will think next time he throws a tantrum he’ll get his own way too. This will create a cycle of repeat tantrums.

You should, however, be close at hand and ready to give your toddler a big hug once he has calmed down. Reassure him that you still love him and let him know how pleased you are that he has regained control. This will emphasize the fact that he has been able to control his emotions and will give him the confidence to know he is able to control himself at certain times.

And above all try not to get too frustrated or upset by your toddlers tantrum. The worst thing you can do is loose control yourself; this will only make the situation worst.

As your toddler goes through this normal phase of development, keep the future in sight, you’re teaching your toddler how to control and deal with his emotions and the tantrums will soon pass.

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It’s 2am and your baby is up for the third time since 7pm. She’s 2 months old and from all the books and magazines you’ve read SHE’S SUPPOSED TO BE SLEEPING THOUGHT THE NIGHT!!!!! How long can this go on?!!! As difficult as this is it doesn’t last forever.

The first few weeks of a baby’s life are key in setting a healthy sleep pattern that can last a lifetime.

At first your infant doesn’t know much about the differences between day and night. From what she is used to when the home turns quiet is the time to wake up and when there is movement and activity around her is the time to sleep. Slowly she will adjust during her first few weeks and as she does it’s important to set up nice bedtime and wake up time routines so she will understand her roll in it all. Here are some things to keep in mind…

1. Does your baby have a bedtime routine? Setting up a bedtime routine is key. Bath, book, etc. This can be added on to as the child grows.

2. Is your baby going to bed at an age appropriate time? This is part of the routine. Yeah we know they’re just going to wake up for a bottle in 30 minutes but putting them in the place for sleep early on sends the message that “this is bedtime”.

3. When your baby wakes up each time during the night do you respond immediately with a bottle and cuddling or do you first try the pat and assure method to see if it’s just normal night time waking?

4. Does you child take enough naps during the day

5. Sometimes a little “white noise” can help. I myself sleep with a fan and use hymn CD for my babies.

6. Make sure you keep baby’s crib and bassinet free from toys. This is the place for sleep not play.

7. I’m sure you’ve heard to try and keep the night feedings boring. Change, feed, bed. No talky no playie. I’ve actually done this

with great success.

8. Upon waking make sure you greet your baby with a smile and a good morning. They love that!

Whatever you try remember that there is light at the end of the tunnel and you are not alone.

(This article is for informational purposes only and not meant to diagnose any problems or ongoing issues. Please see your physician for any medical concerns.)

Visit this author’s website at mommybabytools.info

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

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It’s a familiar scene: Kids screaming at each other, complaining that, “He got a bigger piece of pie,” or “She got to stay up an hour later last night.”

When sibling rivalry rears its ugly head, what do you do?

Try to reason with the kids? Scream, threaten or punish them? Ignore it and run for cover?

None of these methods is very effective for very long.

But I’ve discovered a tactic that works every time. It really is guaranteed to end sibling battles, almost instantaneously. The only downside is it requires a bit of patience on your part.

The trick is understanding that it doesn’t matter what the kids are arguing about, the real battle is for your attention.

Really. They could be screaming at the top of their lungs over who gets to play with a certain toy. They could be red-faced and foaming at the mouth over who got to sit in the favorite chair. It doesn’t matter what they’re arguing about. What they’re really saying is, “Mom, I want more of your attention. I want to know you love me.”

Understand this, and you’re 80 percent of the way to resolving all sibling battles.

So here’s how to resolve the battles: Try to catch them before the argument escalates to the point where one or both kids need to be reprimanded.

If you can’t do that, wait for the next time. There always is a next time, isn’t there?

Next, make it clear that you aren’t taking sides.

Now try to discern which child is feeling the need for attention most. It will typically be the child who started it, though that’s not always easy to figure out.

Turn to that child first and say, “Look, I can see you’re upset. I’m wondering if maybe you need some more attention from me. Can I give you a hug?” (Or rub your back or throw the football around or whatever you do when you give your kids attention.)

When that child is calm, repeat with the other child(ren).

Your goal is to let your kids know that:

1) You understand they need your attention; and

2) You accept them; and

3) You aren’t going to judge them for needing or wanting your love.

Depending on how old the kids are and how long the rivalry has lasted, you may hear a little sarcasm. But I promise you, there’s a soft vulnerability underneath those barbs. If you can ignore the sarcasm and keep offering more attention, you’ll be amazed how quickly the arguments disappear.

Giving them attention doesn’t mean you have to be at their beck and call for the rest of the day. It may mean you give them hugs and kisses. It may mean sitting and talking with them. Or it may just mean sitting quietly and playing a game of their choice for a few minutes.

When They Both Want Your Attention at Once

It helps if you warn them that you’ll have to take turns giving each child individual attention. I handle this in a really straightforward way.

I just say something like, “Listen, I can see you both want my attention now. And honestly, you both deserve it. (That’s the best line I’ve come up with yet!)

I really want to give both of you the attention you deserve, but I’m only human. So how about if I sit over here and talk with you first, then I’ll play a game with you…and so on.”

This also works really well when there’s a new baby in the house. Obviously, if you’re in the middle of feeding, changing or bathing the baby, you can’t give the older one(s) the attention they want.

So just say as sympathetically as possible, “You know what? I bet you want a hug right now, don’t you?” Or, “Could you use some mommy time?” Or, “Does it seem to you like the baby is getting all my attention?”

Then say, “You deserve my attention, too. And I want to give it to you. Right now, I can’t because I have to feed the baby. But as soon as I’m finished I’m going to…[give you a great big hug, play Candy Land with you, etc.]

Is This Really Guaranteed to Work?

Yes, but, of course, you have to put it into practice.

I am the first to admit that when I’m tired, hungry, cranky or PMSish (or worse, postpartumish!), I just can’t bother with this trick. I mean, geez, even Barney would get PMS if he were a woman (and not a make-believe character)! So don’t expect the battles to stop instantaneously and never arise again.

Plus, when the kids are tired and cranky, it doesn’t matter how much attention you give them, they’re not going to respond to anything but food and sleep. Understand that, too.

The reason this trick is guaranteed to work because it’s based on understanding that the root of all sibling rivalry is a battle for your attention. Even if you do nothing other than understand that, and accept that all kids need attention (probably more than you have to give), you’re 80% of the way there.

Stephanie Gallagher is the author of several parenting books and creator of “Mommy Merry Go Round,” the hilarious new online movie that’s taking the motherhood community by storm! See it today at mommymerrygoround.com

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Often, the struggle at dinnertime with your picky eater is not so much about food as it is about control. As children become more independent, conflicts can arise as they carefully scrutinize what goes into their mouths. The more you push, the more they resist with the outcome resulting in tears and frustration.

During one of these scenarios, it is not surprising to see picky eater dissolve into hysterics when faced with a tiny lima bean or hear unpleasant gagging sounds after your seven-year-old sniffs the aromatic lemon sauce poured over the baked fish. Then, as the parents become upset, blowing things out of proportion, generally things become worse.

Instead, you will need to learn on finding a common ground with your picky eater, one by which you all can live. Try to remember that not all battles are worth fighting. Therefore, you will need to decide which ones are the most important in your house. Hopefully, food will not be one of them because it could potentially turn the pleasure of eating into a control issue that can last a lifetime.

Your primary concerns should be whether your picky eater child is getting the requisite amount of calories he or she needs to grow, and if he or she has a proper balance of nutrients to remain healthy. The answer is most likely “yes.” Even if your picky eater child were on a macaroni and cheese kick for the next two weeks, protein, dairy, and other vitamins are still included in the diet.

Be realistic in your expectations. Children (not just picky eater children) up to age ten still use their fingers quite a lot in ways that adults don’t, like pushing peas onto a spoon and picking up pieces of meat. They still have some trouble chewing and swallowing tough or dry or fibrous foods, like steak or chops. Part of the problem might be that they don’t have the jaw strength to chew up the meat.

Another part is that up until about age eight their swallow is immature. They swallow with their cheeks, as if they were suckling from a straw, not using their tongue like you or I do. Children this age still have a limited number of foods they readily accept. Do not despair. The number of accepted foods will gradually increase, as they get older. The numbers will increase — that is, provided you don’t make a big issue about it. Often times making a big deal can cause and decrease in food acceptance rather then an increase.

To learn more about picky eater children and get some quick and easy picky eater recipes visit http://www.mypickyeater.com

Learn step-by-step how to successfully cope with Picky Eaters with Help There is a Picky Eater in The House! Full of Proven Strategies and Great Picky Eater Recipes that are Guaranteed to Help. Get Effective Picky Eater Help Now!

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As your children grow older and start to eat a variety of food, they often times turn into picker eaters. It isn’t unusual for mealtime to turn into a fight with a young children because they don’t want to eat the the food you so lovingly prepared for them.

Here are some tips on how to make a picky eater eat:

1. Get the whole family involved - Everyone is so busy these days; you can rarely find a day when everyone is home at the same time. This makes it hard to get everyone to sit down at the dining table and enjoy dinner together. Challenge yourself to start eating dinner together at least three days each week. When your child sees his siblings, or parents, eating their veggies and meat, they will be more likely to try these foods on their plate as well.

2. No more alternatives – Sometimes it seems easier to just go ahead and fix a different meal for your picky eater that you know he will actually eat. Some mothers with two or three children fix something special for each child. Stop the short cook ordering in your family. Cook one healthy meal for everyone in the family to enjoy. Your picky eater will fight with you at first, but eventually will realize that you will no longer cook him his own little dish. Being a picky eater can in part be a way for your child to explore how much control and power he has over you as well as a way to get extra attention. Find other outlets for this such as letting him pick which pajamas he’d like to wear or getting in some extra cuddle and reading time at night.

3. Introduce one new food at a time – Don’t try to overload your toddler’s palate with too many new foods at once. Present your toddler with one new veggie or fruit for a week. He may not even want to try it for several days. Stick If you offer him too many new foods at once, he may feel overwhelmed and not attempt to try anything new at all.

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Hitting is a common form of aggression in children. Sometimes children may hit in defense, other times hitting may occur for various other reasons.

If your child hits, this behavior can be altered over a period of time. It is a process, so you shouldn’t expect it to stop overnight. These guidelines can help you deal with children who hit:

1) Monitor activities. If you know your child is hitting, the first step of action to take is to closely monitor your child during any activities. Be sure to keep an eye out for hitting, biting, or scratching. If your child displays any of this behavior, you should remove him immediately from the situation.

2) Take control. After removing your child from a volatile setting, take control right away. Hold your child close to you. Don’t allow her to wiggle free from your grasp. To calm your child down, first make eye contact. Talk to your child in a soft, but firm tone of voice. Instruct her that her behavior is unacceptable. At first, you may find great difficulty in calming your child. After a few times though your child will recognize this calming routine and will comply quicker.

3) Use a timer. If your child becomes aggressive during playtime with other children, consider using a timer. Give each child three minutes with the toy, for example. Let your child know that when his turn comes, he will be given three minutes with the toy. Keep reminding him of this as he waits his turn. After your child’s turn is finished and he passes the toy on to the next child, praise your child for sharing the toy.

4) Enforce a Positive Time Out. Many parents are familiar with the time out routine of placing your child in a corner or naughty seat for a time out. Instead of using this approach, implement a Positive Time Out when your child hits.

5) Provide an alternative to hitting. When a child doesn’t know how to verbally express her feelings, she will use physical force as her method of communication. As a parent, you have the ability to teach your child how to communicate without hitting. Help your child verbalize feelings and thoughts by using their words instead of hitting. Give them special phrases they can use to express what they’re feeling, like, “George really hurt my feelings,” or “What Mary said to me was really mean.”

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The terrible twos… Even the most dignified parent has been left red-faced and wanting to be swallowed into the ground while their toddler is having a public meltdown.

Here are a few easy ideas for avoiding toddler tantrums:

Don’t Let Them Get Over Tired – Don’t let your toddler become too tired. Set a regular nap routine and try to stick to it, and make sure he goes to bed at a reasonable time and gets enough sleep during the night. Tiredness is often the first reason for a tantrum.

Keep Sugar Levels Stable – Don’t let your toddler’s blood sugar levels dip too low. This will make him irritable and tired, the tantrum will soon follow. Make sure he has plenty of small nutritious snacks throughout the day to provide him with a steady source of energy to avoid blood sugar dips.

Give Them Time – Allow enough time for activities like getting dressed, brushing their hair and getting in and out of the car. Your toddler will want to do a lot of these things on his own and rushing him is a sure way to start a tantrum. Give him a little extra time and let him try to be independent by allowing him to do certain things for himself.

Put it Away - Is there a certain item that always causes your toddler to have a tantrum? A food that’s only for after dinner or an item he shouldn’t have. Then put it where he can’t see it. Out of sight, out of mind, is a great way of avoiding tantrums.

Ignore It – This is easier said than done and of course it depends where your child is having his tantrum. If you’re in the middle of the supermarket you can’t just walk away or ignore your child especially if they’re grabbing or breaking things. In this instance it may be best to gently pick up your child and take him outside or to an area away from people and noise. Give him a few minutes to calm down and a big hug.

If your child is having a tantrum in a safe place like at home, then it’s best to walk away until he calms down. Make sure he can’t hurt himself or anything or anyone else and just walk away. Once he’s finished give him a hug and talk about what he’s feeling.

Give Him a Hug – Many times your child just needs to be held and needs you to help him control his emotions. If he’s in the middle of a tantrum try gently hugging him and just hold him. A lot of the times this will completely diffuse the tantrum. Be sensitive to his reactions and if you see your hug is only making him more upset then give him a little space instead or try a different approach.

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There are a few points about shyness in children which will help you better understand the best approach in dealing with your child. You will need to identify the nature of your child’s shyness. Children are shy in different ways for different reasons. Understanding the nature of your child’s shyness will help you develop a program geared towards your child’s specific needs. Here are some tips to help you get started.

1. First of all, are you sure your child really is shy? Some children like to size up a situation before they jump in. Caution should not be misunderstood as shyness.

2. You’ll need to find out the type of situations that make your child shy. Some children are shy only when they are in a group. Others become shy when asked to make a presentation in front of the class at school. Try to identify the specific skills your child needs to be more at ease in social situations which make them to be shy.

3. Don’t call your child “shy”. Studies have shown that often a child will grow to fit a label. Parental pressure on the shy child can cause anxiety and insecurity, leading to a worse problem with shyness. Don’t push your child to achieve above his or her individual level. If you have to use the word ‘shy’ to describe your child always pair it with something positive, e.g. “John is a little shy around people but he is a brilliant pianist!”

4. Never compare your shy child with other children in a negative way. And never allow anyone else to hurt your child in this way.

5. Take your child’s ideas seriously. By lessening the importance of a child’s concerns you lessen the child.

6. Help your child identify talents and hobbies that make him or her feel special.

7. Seek out activities that offer an opportunity for growth and increased interaction with other children of his or her age. Encourage your child to get involved in activities with others. Don’t allow too many isolating activities, like watching TV.

8. Never push your child to do things he or she would find unbearable. Rather, make suggestions, but realize your child may not be ready. Be patient.

9. You need not handle your shy child with kid gloves, but be aware of how he feels and show that you understand.

10. Seek qualified professional help if necessary.

Being shy doesn’t have to mean that something is wrong with your child. It simply means that your child is uncomfortable in social situations. You can start your search for help by reading books, talking with other parents of shy children, taking classes, searching for information on the web or by speaking with your pastor. But if your child needs immediate help it’s best to consult a qualified child counsellor. You can read some more articles about parenting at: http://www.baby-shop.org.uk/guide/

Copyright © 2005, Bridget Mwape writes for the Baby Shop UK:  which features baby information including articles and discounts on baby products, gifts and advice from other parents.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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The first thing you should know is that your child is experiencing a very normal part of development. Even the most reasonable of children will not want to share their precious things at some point.

As embarrassing or difficult as this can be don’t get too discouraged by their behavior and certainly don’t blame yourself or your parenting skills. Take comfort in knowing that this is simply part of your child’s development and is helping her prepare for her next stage of life.

The good news is you can gently deter this situation even before it starts. Here are a few tips:

Distraction Technique – Distract your child with another toy or ask her to come and join you to play on the swings, etc. without making a big deal about sharing. This will often work as toddlers get bored quickly and she’ll probably appreciate the distraction.

Nip it in the Bud – Anytime two toddlers are playing together it’s best to keep a close eye on things. As soon as you see a potential situation about to erupt, dive in there and break it up. Tempt your child with a more interesting toy or show them a fun new game.

If your child is playing nicely and another child is trying to take her things then distract that child. Find something similar or a close replacement to what your child has and offer it to them. Tell them how great it is, of course, don’t overdo it or then you’ll have two toddlers fighting over this new and wonderful toy you’re talking about.

Walk Away – If things get really bad and your child refuses to give back a toy to their crying owner then it’s time to take action. Gently pick up your child and walk away. They may kick and scream but remember YOU are in charge. Take him to a quite corner or space and wait for him to calm down. Then give him a hug and explain that you know he really wanted that toy but that it belongs to someone else.

Chances are your child isn’t going to understand or accept the meaning of this but you’ve now diffused the situation and can continue to play happily.

The Aftermath – After the fact it’s great to talk things over with your child and explain why it’s important to share, but be realistic. Most toddlers won’t understand the concept of sharing or why they should do it and all the talking in the world isn’t going to change things.

As your child starts to mature that’s the time when it’s more appropriate to try and reason with them since they will start to have an understanding of actions and consequences. During the toddler years that understanding isn’t there.

The best way is often to avoid and / or distract your toddler. This will help diffuse
a lot of incidents before they even start.
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Child separation anxiety can have an effect on the child as well as the adult but in very different ways. Children sometimes feel as though they may never see their mother again; while at the same time the mother feels a terrible feeling of guilt. Since pre-school is becoming more and more popular; it is no doubt becoming more common for this type of issue between mother and child. Let’s have a deeper look into child separation anxiety and get some ideas on how moms can deal with the fact that they will need to leave the baby at different points in their infancy.

It’s important that you, as the mom, make sure to keep your feelings of insecurities and guilt to yourself. The best way to help keep your child calm and reassured is to stay calm yourself. Ask your sister to come to your home to care for your infant frequently; this allows your baby to become familiar with another caretaker and feel safe. Use this same technique as your child grows older as well. You will see that your child quickly becomes accustomed to having your sister visit and baby-sit, and this will allow you time to get out and do your errands and the things you haven’t had the time to do.

You should also feel very comfortable with who’s watching your child because it’s a family member.

Something to remember is that no matter how many times it happens your child may never be happy to see you leave your home. It is important that your child knows that you are returning, and that you don’t just sneak out. Don’t give a specific time; children tend to focus too much on the clock and worry. Be sure to call your child often so that they can be assured of where you are. Some people may consider this too much, or going to far with coddling; but if it makes you more comfortable because your child is then that’s all you need to listen to. The conversation you have with the child is primarily for you. It is a way of acknowledging your feelings; a reassurance that everything is fine.

How did you feel when you were a child, try to remember back. What did your mom do or say for you that helped to ease the pain of child separation anxiety. Although times were different back; there may have been one or two occasions when she didn’t have a choice; having another baby, for example. Recognizing the symptoms of your own anxiety can help you to avoid imprinting it onto your child.