Pink for a girl and blue for a boy are the expected nursery colors. The high street is awash with pinks and blues for expectant parents to buy for their future boy or girl. Pink bunting, blue bunting, love hearts, toy trains, dinosaurs, fire engines and flowers seemingly abound in every parent and baby department.

However, an increasing number of parents choose not to find out the gender of their child during pregnancy. Many enjoy the surprise and the anticipation of the birth even more if they do not know whether they will be taking a son or a daughter home with them from the hospital.

One drawback to finding out the baby’s gender ahead of the birth is the fact that sonographers are human and can make mistakes. From an ultrasound alone, results can be a highly educated assessment or guess, but not a guarantee of accuracy. It could well be the case that a parent thrilled to be expecting a girl could leave hospital with a healthy son instead, or vice versa.

Preparations for a baby can be an exciting part of pregnancy. The nursery stands central to these preparations, but how to decorate the room is a common dilemma when you have chosen not to find out the gender of your baby or if you are in any doubt as to which gender your child will be.

It is therefore a good idea to stick to a neutral theme for your nursery, and this can be done very successfully with imagination and planning. Some parents will choose one theme and use that as a starting point. A jungle-themed room would have animal pictures, be painted in greens, whites, yellows or reds and be suitable for a boy or a girl. Animal murals or wall stickers are widely available and furnishings and rugs in bright jungle colors are easy to procure.

Similarly, a color theme on its own could be used. Just as color blocking in fashion is popular, so it is in interiors. Blocks of color used in rugs, curtains, bedding, cushions and paintwork can be hugely effective and timeless. There will be no need to redecorate when your child grows out of it. Musical mobiles, colorful curtains and rugs can complete the picture and make for a stimulating environment for a boy or a girl.

Nature themes can provide a simple and neutral background for a nursery and the possibilities are endless. Using trees, animals, seasons and color, a nature-themed bedroom can look fresh and clean, with tones of green and white, or blue skies and clouds. Simple abstract patterns in natural shades or prints and paintings can make for a room that never goes out of date and is, of course, suitable for either gender. Cot bedding, sleeping bags and cot bumpers are often available in gender-neutral tones of beige, yellow, green or cream.

Murals are often a popular choice for a baby’s room but if parents are not artistically inclined, or are afraid of making mistakes, many shops now sell high quality wall stickers, often removable, that will not damage walls. A professional look can be obtained with the right design, without the designer price tag.

A carefully thought out neutral room can last years longer than a specific boy or girl nursery and the furnishings and storage can often be used for other purposes at a later date.

Using these simple tips and a bit of careful planning, “why has he got a pink nursery?” is a question that wise parents will never have to hear.

This article was written by Barrie Smith, Barrie works and writes for Vertbaudet – an award-winning infant, children’s and maternity wear fashion brand.

Photo: Courtesy of Vertbaudet

Kids can never have enough toys but parents are likely to run out of ideas of how to store these toys. Without proper storage for toys, kids can get very messy. To keep things tidy and organized, you need to provide them with storage solutions and also teach them how to put away their toys after playing with them. It’s vital that your kids learn the importance of keeping things organized early in their lives. Make this a fun activity as opposed to a chore. Here are some ideas to reduce the clutter.

Totes:

Totes are great for storing all sorts of toys. Another advantage of totes is that they are extremely cheap. Totes are available in a variety of colors so they don’t look out of place in a child’s room.
They also come in different sizes and usually have lids. Place it anywhere you want; in the kid’s room, the living room, or the basement; a tote will fit anywhere.

Storage Cabinets:

Many types of storage cabinets are available for toy storage. The best type of toy storage cabinet comes with bins. The bins are made of soft material and are easily removable which makes them great for kids. Kids can easily remove the bin of their choice and put it back easily without having to call an adult for help. Another advantage of these cabinets is that they are of low height which is great from a safety point of view.

Toy Nets:

Children typically have a horde of stuffed animals. Kids may not play very often with stuffed toys but they do feel great attachment to them. Toy nets are great to store soft toys such as stuffed animals. Just hang the net in a corner of your child’s room. It serves the dual purpose of looking attractive and being functional.

Toy Racks:

Building toy racks early on in kids’ rooms can save you from a great amount of cleaning. It is an effective and practical way for storing toys. You can also place bins or baskets on the racks to store toys more effectively.

Toy chest:

Previously, toy chests were thought to be the best solution to keep toys. But the problem with toy chests is that kids just dump everything into the chest which is counter productive when you are actually trying to help your kid be tidy and organized. There are also some safety issues such as a child may hurt his fingers while closing the lid or the chest may topple over if the child is small. It’s a good place for storing old toys though. If you are considering buying a toy chest, make sure it has a soft lid and is well balanced.

This article was written by Mike Neil. Mike has been working in the toys industry for the last 5 years. Mike specializes in Lego toys.

Photo: flickr.com/photos/wendycopley/2354794207/

Anyone who has ever undertaken a long road trip with one or more toddlers in tow can understand why most parents dread the prospect. Sure, they’re cute and loveable, but children are also easily bored and prone to sudden bouts of unpredictability. Don’t blame the kids! With preparation and patience, traveling with toddlers needn’t be a completely unpleasant experience.

Rather than trying to make your child conform to the “rules of travel”, make your travel conform to the “rules of your child” by taking his changeling nature into account. Take note of when he becomes cranky, hungry, sleepy and playful, and pay special attention to what can trigger specific behaviors. When you understand what catapults him into gleeful bursts of unbridled energy, you have a better chance of circumventing unpleasant incidents. On the flip side, try to figure out the best methods of easing him into a more calm state of mind.

Armed with fresh knowledge about the whims of your child, you’re ready for the preparation and packing stages of traveling with toddlers. Talk with your child about your upcoming trip often and include her in your preparations by allowing her to pack a few favorite items on her own. She will most likely choose toys so be prepared to add your own choices to her travel bag. To help prepare your family for anything and everything, use the following sections as packing and planning guidelines.

Don’t Skimp on Sustenance

Toddlers have tiny tummies and feel hungry more often than adults do. Plan frequent restaurant stops, which will also provide potty breaks for toilet-trained toddlers and give everyone a chance to stretch their legs. Pack a good selection of healthy snacks with low sugar content, but don’t forget to include a few favorite foods for use in an emergency. In hot weather, be sure to keep perishables packed in an ice-filled cooler.

• Favorite fruits
• Cheese sticks or string cheese
• Whole grain crackers
• Yogurt
• Dry cereal
• Juice boxes
• Small cartons of milk
• Gummy Fruit snacks

An Eye on Entertainment

One of the most challenging aspects of traveling with toddlers is keeping them amused. If you have a portable DVD player, your child may be entertained for hours by movies or cartoons, but more energetic children often respond best to hands on activities. Parcel out some of the toys you pack over the duration of the trip to keep your toddler interested. In addition to games and toys, remember that all children love attention from a parent or beloved sibling. Make up interactive games to play with your child if he becomes bored with traditional activities.

• Favorite DVDs
• Creative toys like an Etch-a-Sketch or Fisher Price Magna Doodle
• Vtech or Leap Frog toddler laptops
• Crayons and coloring books
• Age-appropriate puzzles
• Toddler music players
• Picture books
• Avoid items with many small parts if possible

Cultivate a Little Comfort

When children become stressed or anxious, they crave comfort. Since you all have limited mobility due to seat restraints, you can’t always pick her up for cuddling. Offer some loving words and stroke her hair or legs to calm her before an all-out meltdown ensues. Another option is providing your child with some of the comforts she enjoys at home. The sight, smell and feel of home can help your toddler self-soothe and may even have the power to lull her to sleep.

• Favorite blanket
• Comfortable pajamas
• Pillows from home
• Stuffed animals

Always remember that toddlers aren’t accustomed to being stuck in the car for many hours and may act out in protest. A healthy dose of patience can help you deal with potential problems as they arise while also helping your child feel secure. Other ways to avoid unpleasantness when traveling with toddlers include driving at night when your child normally sleeps, having someone share the backseat with him and planning at least one picnic or outdoor excursion for a quick shot of energy-burning exercise.

This article was written by Olivia Nicholas. Olivia is a writer and mommy to twin boys. She is always happy to share her passion for life and experiences through her work, and in her spare time works as a freelance writer for Storkie.

Photo: flickr.com/photos/freeformkatia/5333101665/

A new parent is full of worries. What if a baby won’t latch on for breastfeeding? Or what if formula makes him sick? How do you properly change a diaper? Are cloth diapers better than disposables? Is it normal for babies to cry all night? And should you let them fall back asleep on their own or cuddle them until they drop off to dreamland? These are the questions that plague all new parents, and the list of concerns will only grow until they become accustomed to the many demands and responsibilities of their new role. However, most parents are unprepared for the occurrence of vision problems in children, and as a result they may not recognize the signs until too late.

So here are a few tips to help you spot optical issues before they become a real problem.

It is important to realize that it could take up to eight months for your baby’s vision to reach the same strength as an adult. This is because a baby is born without a fully formed sense of vision; it continues to develop throughout their infancy. So if your baby seems to lack the ability to focus or see clearly in the first few months, it may not be cause for alarm. However, if you’re worried you should certainly contact your doctor for assurance or to schedule testing.

There are certain signs, though, that should not be ignored. For example, it is not uncommon for babies to be born with cataracts or develop them in the first few months or years of life. And luckily, they are easy to spot. If you notice any clouding in your child’s eye you need to see an ophthalmologist immediately. These growths will not simply go away and there are no pharmaceutical treatments. If they are not surgically removed they can damage your child’s vision permanently (by halting normal visual development). Luckily, the surgery is considered safe even for very young children, although they will likely have to be anesthetized to undergo the procedure.

Another warning sign can come in the way of eyes that do not seem to align properly. When one eye is weaker than another (due to eye muscles that aren’t functioning properly or a pathway to the brain that is underdeveloped, for example) you will begin to see the signs. Amblyopia, or lazy eye, can usually be identified by one eye turning inward or outward, strabismus may cause crossed eyes, and nystagmus will result in one or both eyes appearing to tremble or shake. All of these symptoms tend to indicate weakness or vision loss, but all may be correctable with early treatment so that your child’s vision develops normally.

Of course, your child may simply suffer from common vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism. While it may be a bit more difficult to identify these problems on your own, a visit to an eye doctor can either confirm or rule out the possibility. And if your child does have these problems, they’re often easy to correct with glasses or contact lenses (even small children may be good candidates for the latter). Whether you notice problems or not, it’s not a bad idea to have your child examined annually, so look for an eye health center in your area and make an appointment, especially if you think there are potential issues with your child’s vision.

This post was written by Evan Fischer. Evan is a freelance writer and part-time student at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California. Evan is a contributing writer for EZ Contacts USA where you can find contact lenses and locate an eye health center close to your home.

If you’re a parent, you have already experienced different forms of guilt. Sometimes it feels like it comes with the job description. When I gave birth to my second child, Jessica, just 16 months after having my son, Robbie, my guilt went into overdrive. When you bring home a new baby to her sibling, sometimes that means double the guilt. You feel guilty about your older child…What are you doing to your little best friend? Are you taking away his mummy time? Is he simply going to feel like a helper to you with the new baby?

If that’s not enough, you will inevitably feel guilty about the new baby. Your latest addition will have to be toted all around, regardless of her nap schedule. You can’t devote 24/7 to reading every book on sleep, poop and early admissions to college like you did for your first.

Some things I try to remember to help ease the guilt:

This is an opportunity for your older child. Your first born will get the chance to share her toys, your attention and the family’s space. This is not such a bad thing. These are valuable lessons for her to take into school and beyond.

There are perks for the baby too. Your newborn will grow up in a world where people share and take turns. Many parents say that the second child is naturally more easy going than the first. And you won’t have to read a book on how to make that happen! Your youngest child will have special time with you once your older child starts school. And he may even be more appreciative of the time you can give him because he instinctively knows that mum has lots of jobs.

You can be more flexible to make your life easier. What does it matter if the baby naps in the car as you drive your eldest to football practice? Isn’t it a good thing that you put less pressure on yourself about a perfectly clean house and pat yourself on the back for making it through the day?!

Walk away from the guilt gremlin. If guilty feelings start creeping in, remember that these negative thoughts don’t help you find an extra hour in the day. Mothers are notoriously hard on themselves and all the angst still doesn’t get the laundry done.

Feel it and move on. Every parent feels guilty at some point. Just because you feel guilty doesn’t mean you are guilty. Your children are lucky to have a parent who cares enough to want the best for her children.

This post was writen by April Paine. April is an American living in England and the co-author of The ABCs of Baby #2: Tips, Hints & Real Mum Advice for Celebrating the Arrival of Your Second Child, now available on Kindle, itunes and Sony Reader.

Photo: flickr.com/photos/stephenr/1317897186/

There are a number of things you can do for your kids right now, to help them with their student finances later on. Besides the obvious college fund, you can begin teaching your kids about money management and budgeting from a really early age. We’ll suggest some ways to do this here.

Early years

Counting coins can help children develop a concept of money. They don’t need to know the value of the coins at this stage – that can come later, but they can role-play buying things with pretend coins and notes.

As they get towards the age of between, say, 7 and 11, they can learn about how many coins it takes to buy candy bars, apples and things they like. Putting into practice their counting, addition and subtraction at home will help them to apply it in the classroom.

High-school

Teenage children love to be treated like adults, so allow them a little responsibility with a cash incentive. Depending on the ability and willingness of your child, they could do chores around the house, cook a meal or get a part-time job around their classes.

Earning your own money is an important part of growing up. Learning to make that money last without extra hand-outs (or putting it into savings) develops a better understanding of what money management is like in the adult world.

This may be a good point at which to help them open their first bank account. Watching their savings grow can be a real confidence boost and it’s good practice for when they’re grown-ups.

College / leaving home

This is a risky period financially for your child. As they reach the age they can get credit cards, overdrafts and store cards of their own, they could get into debt problems further down the line if they haven’t learnt the money management lessons of the past.

Budgeting for expenses that they never had before – like rent and bills – can be difficult at first. A ‘managed’ bank account that puts part of their income (for bills) into a separate account can be a helpful stepping-stone to budgeting for their bills themselves. Some types of basic bank account provide this service which could be especially useful for a student. A basic bank account doesn’t have an overdraft, therefore they shouldn’t be tempted to overspend. You can see the features of this type of basic bank account here.

You could also help them to draw up their own budget. Include their income (grants, scholarships, loans, money from you, money from employment) and their essential living costs (rent, bills), as well as money they put into savings. As long as they stick to their budget, there’s no reason for them to get into trouble with debt.

Finally, not all debt is bad and for many people going to college, it’s necessary to borrow money to pay your way. However, encouraging your kids to earn their own money, live within their means and spend wisely should help them avoid getting into the kind of debt that can cause problems later on.

The post was kindly provided by Ian Williams and thinkbanking.co.uk who provide banking services and basic bank accounts.

There is a car accident and Mom is unconscious. What’s a kid supposed to do? It sounds like a worse-case scenario, but many children wouldn’t know what to do. Don’t wait for an emergency to come up, inform your children now.

Scenario One: Auto accident, unconscious parent.

Tell your child that if you are ever in an accidentand they can’t wake you up, to stay calm. Tell them to not move and wait for firemen or policemen to tell them what to do. If there is no one close by, or you live in an unpopulated area, tell them to use your cell phone and call for help if they can.

For older children who ride in the front seat, make sure they know about airbag safety. An airbag can injure or suffocate even a small adult. Tell them to push the seat back if they have difficulty with the airbag.

Scenario Two: Driver passes out.

This is especially important information for those parents or grandparents who have health issues. Children should be told to turn on the emergency lights (if they can reach them) and shift the car into neutral (also if they can reach). If that is not possible, they can turn the key and turn the car off. Eventually it will roll to a stop. Make sure they know to try and steer towards the right shoulder and get off the road.

Those are just two of the issues that could occur. If there are other issues that your child needs to be made aware of, make sure to let them know what to do ahead of time. Do not wait until a disaster occurs. Train them early and it will be instinctive. Above all, stress that they remain calm. It won’t help anyone to become hysterical and they need to be able to follow instructions that could save their lives.

Author Bio

Nancy Parker was a professional nanny and she loves to write about wide range of subjects like health, Parenting, Child Care, and Babysitting, find a nanny tips etc. You can reach her @ nancy.parker015@gmail.com.

Introducing your child to the concept of doing chores can sometimes be a little tricky. At what age should you start asking your kids to help out around the house and how do you deal with the “I don’t want to” tantrums?

In my experience the earlier you can encourage your children to be helpful the easier it will be in the future.

For example asking a child to put a yogurt pot in the trash after they have eaten it will help them to understand what the trash can is there for and what they do with rubbish. You will find that at the age of about 1 ½ to 2 years old they actually enjoy doing tasks like this.

Another example would be encouraging them to put their toys back into the toy box when they have finished playing with them. You can try and make the packing away process fun by telling them that they need to put their toys to bed and encouraging them to say goodnight. It may take your child some time to put away each toy and as parents it is much quicker for us to do it, but getting them to do it themselves will pay dividends in the future.

Your child will watch you complete everyday tasks and you will probably find that they want to help. This should be encouraged and you could even buy them some ‘house’ themed toys such as a dustpan and brush which they can use to ‘help’ you.

It can be a bit more difficult with children who are around the ages 3 to 4 as they have probably learned to say no and be a little more independent. One of the key things that you should do is make the chores as fun as possible and adopt some kind of reward system. Get them to help brush down the table or dry the (plastic) pots with a children’s themed tea towel that will be fun for them to use. Stick a brightly colored star chart on the fridge and give them shiny stars every time they complete a chore. A reward could be a special desert, something exciting that they wouldn’t normally have.

If you can instil the principles of helpfulness into a child when they are young then they will carry through to adult hood. Even the best of children will have days where they are over tired and the simplest of requests can turn into a huge headache. It’s all part of parenting!

This article was written by Vicky Dean. Vicky works with the site http://www.stuartmorris.co.uk She enjoys writing about all things parenting related especially school and school fundraising ideas.

 Photo: flickr.com/photos/theloushe/4908427309/

Whilst a new addition to the family is a happy and exciting time, it can also prove extremely stressful for prospective parents. As well as money issues playing on the mind of any family expecting a new-born baby, there are also a number of other issues to iron out before you welcome your child into the world. As well as buying enough clothes, food and toys, you also have to consider providing them with the perfect sleeping space.

Not only do you need to think about sorting them out with a nice, pretty room full of toys and other things to keep the baby occupied, but also ensuring the baby’s safety is of paramount importance. It is vital to assess any sort of material hazards that may pose a threat to the child and eliminate these. One thing that can contribute towards a safer environment is the addition of roller blinds.

A healthy sleeping pattern is a key component in the early stages of any child’s life and new parents may find it a struggle to ensure that this is established. The choice of window treatments can help aid this, and roller blinds are a useful way to ensure that the lighting in a room is always at a good level. This can ensure that your new-born baby gets a good night’s sleep, even during those light summer nights.

In addition to this, these blinds are an effective way to regulate the temperature in a room, ensuring a comfortable environment for the child. The amount of insulation means that there are no worries about the temperature in a room – no matter how bad or good the weather is outside.

Put a baby in any new environment and they are always going to want to explore, especially when they feel the need to entertain themselves whilst on their own. In an ideal world, you’d be able to keep an eye on the children 24 hours a day, seven days a week, however – this isn’t an ideal world. As you will inevitably let them out of your sight on occasion, it’s important to ensure that the surrounding items pose as little threat as possible. Curtains, whilst attractive, have a lot of loose material which children may be tempted to play with and get tangled up in. Roller blinds tend to come with cordless operational devices, eliminating any sort of health hazard. They can also be very easily custom-measured to fit any window, meaning that they are less likely to hang low enough for children to get caught up in.

As well as being a good safety feature, these window treatments are visually appealing too. Roller blinds have a simplistic design and can be easily inserted into any colour scheme due to the wide variety of styles on the market. You won’t have to make too many adjustments to fit them in with any existing décor, no matter how much the child’s style and taste changes as they grow up.

It’s extremely important to stay on top of a number of things during this period of your life, and none more-so than cost. Roller blinds are a particularly good way to control a wide variety of important factors without breaking the bank in the process.

About the author

Jack Oldham is a recent BA (Hons) journalism graduate who regularly blogs about window treatments including shutters, curtains and roller blinds.

 Photo: flickr.com/photos/justinliew/4145611385/

I have a very active five-year old daughter named Isabel who has recently started playschool. Whereas before, she would bring home flowers, weeds, colorful pebbles, and discarded catalogs she thought were “too pretty to throw away”, lately she’s been presenting me with scrapes, cuts, and dirt she got from her school playground.

I realize that a playground is expected to have its share of rough and tumble scenarios, but you can’t blame me for being over-anxious about Isabel getting hurt, especially with alarming playground-related accident statistics of nearly 70 percent yearly. This has led my husband John and me to do a checklist on how to keep her safe while in the playground, whether it is in school, at the park, or anywhere outdoors:

1. No playground equipment is broken or requires maintenance

Thankfully, Isabel’s preschool has a plastic and rubber playground set-up with no rough edges and surfaces where clothes can get snagged on or metal surfaces that could get too hot in the sun. However, we did notice that the red plastic slide has a section that is no longer smooth and can collapse any day; perhaps owing to years of kids playing on it. We have alerted the school staff about it and they have promised to replace the slide soon.

The playground at our community park is an altogether different matter; it is an old-fashioned one with metal swings and slides that have peeling paint, and a lopsided carousel that nevertheless fascinates Isabel and her little playmates to no end. Our neighbors have already started a fund raising campaign to provide a makeover for the park playground so our kids can safely enjoy it at any time.

2. All playground surfaces are safe to sit, walk, jump, or fall on

Interlocking rubber mats ensure that Isabel and her schoolmates are adequately cushioned when they fall or romp around, and for this we are grateful. In an outdoor playground set-up, all surfaces should be safe to sit on (with nothing protruding or sharp that can injure; no peeling paint or wood splinters), walk, jump, or run around (no roots, stones, or soft spots in the ground to stumble over), and definitely proper provisions in case kids fall down. Rubber mats are a good idea, although surrounding each playground equipment with a loose fill of sand, wood chips, or mulch does the trick as well.

3. The weather is just right for playing outdoors

Metal playground equipment can smolder under a scorching sun, and heavy rains and snowfall can make them slippery or frozen. Spring and fall are definitely the best seasons for outdoor playgrounds. On summer days that aren’t too hot (not the kind that converts metal swing seats and slide surfaces into barbecue grills, at any rate!), we first check if the surfaces don’t burn before allowing Isabel to play on them.

4. Clothes and hairstyle are appropriate for outdoor playing

Our daughter has reached that stage where she won’t allow a pair of scissors anywhere near her hair (I blame Rapunzel). She also likes wearing her pink Barbie tutu everywhere! We had to gently but firmly explain to her that she needs to tie her hair back and wear pants and a shirt before she can go to the playground. Getting her hair or frilly clothes caught on a spinning carousel or a swing is not something we’d like to happen. Thankfully, she now has a separate store of clothes just to play in, and they’re mostly made of stretchy comfortable fabric with no ornamentation.

5. Adult supervision: a must at all times

This is hands-down the most important playground safety tip for us. Leaving a child, especially one at near-toddler age, unsupervised in a playground is a big no-no! Accidents can happen, even in playgrounds that meet the strictest safety standards. At Isabel’s school, there is always a teacher or qualified custodian to watch over them when parents are not available. This ensures that our kids are safe not only from possible playground-related accidents, but also from predators and unsavory characters lurking near the area.

About the Author

Kristen Swope is a proud WAHM who does freelance writing about everything from swimming pools to home lighting. Her husband and their five-year old daughter fondly refer to her as the Playground Police.

 Photo: flickr.com/photos/epsos/3534172926/