The most common way in which germs are spread is through unclean hands, causing illnesses such as colds, flues and tummy bugs as well as much more scary infections, like MRSA or meningitis. As a parent, it’s hard enough to watch your kids suffering, let alone knowing that they’re missing out on valuable work and play at school.

So many illnesses are preventable, and the single most important thing you can do to protect your family and yourself is proper hand washing with soap and warm water.

Little (and big!) hands should always be washed properly before:

• Eating or touching food

• Visiting a sick person or hospital ward

And after:

• Going to the bathroom

• Playing outside

• Petting or handling animals (this includes Rover and other pets!)

• Blowing your nose/coughing/sneezing

• Visiting a sick person or hospital ward

• Touching anything icky, of course!

Mommy and daddy should also remember to wash up:

• Before and after touching a cut/wound/burn

• After touching raw food, particularly meat or fish

• After changing a diaper

• After taking out the garbage

• After smoking.

Proper hand-washing is an essential activity that is all too often neglected, both by kids and grown-ups. We all know that our kids want to be like mom and dad, so now is the prime time to lead by example, encouraging little people both at home and in school in the pursuit of good hand hygiene.

The best way to teach anything to young children is to make it fun, but it also helps to keep it informative and have correct answers to any questions you are bound to be asked. Visit Wash-Hands.com for useful background info and facts about the importance of hand-washing.

Here are some tips for both kids and parents to get scrubbing:

• Use some fun soaps and scrubbers. If your child has his or her own hand washing kit to use, it will make the process seem more exciting and grown-up.

• Wash your hands while your child watches, demonstrating the correct technique and explaining what you are doing carefully, not overloading the little ones with facts.

• Teach children to sing a song while they wash their hands, so they know they’ve spent enough time to clean their hands thoroughly. The correct hand washing procedure should take at least fifteen seconds. To start you off, this is the amount of time it takes to sing the happy birthday song twice. See what you can make up together!

• Make a hand washing chart, encouraging your child to see how many squares she or he can fill in.

• Visit Wash-Hands.com for free and fun printable posters and activities which teach the proper steps for hand washing and can be used at home and in schools. Featuring Sammy Soap and The Clean Team, the resources feature the necessary fight against nasty germs, encouraging kids to join in too!

Kids might not initially understand why it’s so important to wash their hands, so be sure to talk to them about it. You could maybe tell them a story about touching something dirty and washing your hands afterwards and what might have happened if you hadn’t done so. Try and bring hand washing into conversations to reinforce its importance, and before you know it, they’ll be spreading the message rather than germs!

The Give Soap A Chance campaign seeks to encourage good hand hygiene in kids and grownups alike. For more information, tips and resources about hand washing and its vital importance for preventing infectious illness, visit Wash-Hands.com.

Photo: flickr.com/photos/nicktakespics/3227330677

A reader says:

I have 2 children (ages 4 and 7). They’re very active and we’re always on the go. We’ve never had a problem with them not wanting to get out and play or hang out as a family, but meal times are a real challenge. I work very hard to serve healthy meals for my family, but I just can’t get them to eat the healthy stuff. They’d be totally satisfied with pizza and grilled cheese sandwiches every day, but I think that would be irresponsible. My friends say that as long as they’re eating, I shouldn’t worry. I just don’t see it that way. I’m afraid if I only let them eat those “fun” foods, I’m enabling a poor lifestyle choice that will have a negative effect on them for the rest of their lives. Am I being ridiculous?

Jessi says:

You’re not being ridiculous at all. Wanting the best for your kids is a completely normal part of motherhood.

As for getting them to eat things that are more nourishing for their growing bodies, there are few things you can do.

Dress up the food: Rather than sticking to plain steamed veggies and grilled chicken in neat sections on their plates, try making the food look more fun. Arrange the food so that it appears to be a picture. For example, the grilled chicken could be a “rocket,” the mashed potatoes could be puffs of smoke coming out the bottom of the rocket and the mixed veggies could be starts and planets. With a little creativity, you can make all sorts of delicious food art like animals, people or landscapes.You can even use toothpicks to make 3D sculptures. The added bonus is, your artwork can be a conversation starter, too.

If your kids are older, let them pick what the picture will be and allow them to make it themselves, with the understanding, that whatever they pick, they have to eat. “You want broccoli trees…you eat broccoli trees.”

Serve the fun stuff as a reward: Set up guidelines for what your kids should eat every day (like something from each food group). Make a chart for them. If they eat all the good things for a certain percentage of the time (nobody is perfect), then on Saturday, they can have homemade pizza with natural, healthy ingredients. It’s important to set the bar somewhat high, like (80% of the time), but not to flip out if they don’t meat the goal. Let the reward, or lack thereof, be the driving force behind the program. If one doesn’t meat the goal and misses out while the other is enjoying some delicious pizza, an impression will be made.

Don’t concentrate on the food, go for color: I’m going to be completely honest. I LOATHE peas. The taste of them literally makes me gag. When my dad used to make me eat them, I would cry. I did however like spinach, salads and green beans. If I’d been given some options, things probably would have gone down a whole lot more smooth. Tell your kids they have to eat three different colors. This may sound silly, but it’s amazing how much brown and tan food we eat. If they are having a variety of colors, they are getting a variety of nutrients.

Ask questions: This is a step we have a tendency to forget, myself TOTALLY included. Ask them what exactly they don’t like about the food. When I was little, I hated the consistency of cooked carrots, but LOVED them raw. Their aversion may be as simple as something like that. Maybe they don’t like red meat, but love white meat. Ask them what they don’t like about certain foods and see if you can find a compromise that will make everyone happy and healthy.

Jessi Arias-Cooper is the senior writer and an editor for Advice4Parenting.com. She is a work-from-home mother of 3 boys and has been married for 10 years. If she had time for hobbies and interests outside of parenting and keeping house, they would be jewelry making, baking, watching bad B-movie horror flicks and creative writing . If you have a question for Jessi, click here.

Photo: flickr.com/photos/sanjoselibrary/4383929336

Many parents have faced the awkward question of what to do when your child wets the bed. In most cases this is a short term problem that works itself out by the time the child is 5 years old.

But, if your son or daughter is still wetting the bed after this age, you may need to help them to stay dry. Here are just some of the things that you can do:

• There are some drinks that stimulate the kidneys to produce more urine, like cola and blackcurrant juice, for example. Try cutting these drinks out of your child’s diet (it’s usually best to just cut out one at a time) and see if this helps.

• Even if your daughter or son has trouble with bedwetting they still need to drink a healthy amount of fluid throughout the day. Try to make sure that they drink 6-8 glasses of water-based drinks every day.

• Some people will advise you to cut out drinks before bedtime, but this isn’t always the best approach. If your child’s siblings are given a drink and they aren’t, this can be upsetting, and high emotions and stress can cause bedwetting.

• Make sure that your child isn’t constipated. This can be difficult for older children, so talk to them and ask them to keep a record, if you think this could be a problem. If they empty their bowels less than 3 times a week, talk to a medical professional for advice on how to treat the problem.

• Stay positive and praise your child often. Bedwetting is an upsetting experience for any child and if they feel bad for doing it the stress may actually make the problem worse. Praise them for all small accomplishments such as drinking water instead of juice and remembering to go to the toilet at bedtime.

• If all else fails, seek medical help. Remember that you need to stay positive about any treatment, the expert advice is just to help you to work out the best way to help your child to overcome this challenge.

While bed wetting is distressing at the time, with planning and positivity it can be stopped in time. So don’t despair at your child’s wet sheets, just try the simple tips and know that it can get better.

The author, Katie Saxon, works for Starr Medical, a specialist company that helps parents and their children work through bedwetting problems.

Photo: flickr.com/photos/jemsweb/5544658

With Valentine’s Day coming up, you might be looking for some easy activities or crafts to do at home that won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

Grab some construction paper, scissors, crayons or markers and any crafty supplies you have leftover from other projects like sequins, glitter, pipe cleaners and puff balls and you’re ready to go.

The base craft for all five of these activities is a simple cut out heart. Simply fold the paper in half, with the crease in the middle, and cut out half a heart.

To see how it’s done, you can watch this quick video:

Now that you have your hearts, you can do five different activities.

1. Make a Valentine: Help your child write a special message on one side of the heart, and then let her decorate the other side however she likes. This is an opportunity for her to express herself, so only offer guidance if she really needs it. The lucky person who receives this heartfelt Valentine will absolutely love it
2. Make a Person: If you cut four thin strips from another paper and fold them accordion-style, you instantly have dangling arms and legs. Help your son glue one end of each arm and leg in the appropriate spot and then attach smaller cut out hearts on the ends for hands and feet. Then, he can draw on a face and dress it up with whatever decorations he likes. He can even make a different heart person to represent each member of the family. Don’t forget the pets
3. Heart to Heart Scavenger Hunt: For an activity for kids around grade school age, you can set up a scavenger hunt using cut out hearts. Write a clue on each heart that sends them to the next hiding spot. At the end of the scavenger hunt, have a special prize…you…and a great big hug of course. For younger kids, you can lay out a trail of hearts for them to follow to find their hidden treasure
4. Butterfly with Heart Wings: Take two hearts and and glue the pointy ends together (overlapping). Then cut out a long oval shape from construction paper for the body. Glue the body on and attach a pipe cleaner or bread tie to the top of it’s head for antennae. Then let her decorate her butterfly with markers and craft supplies.

Cut out hearts are a great Valentine’s Day craft staple for children of all ages. There’s no need to empty your pocketbook on children’s crafts and activities. Just cut out some traditional Valentine’s hearts and let your little one’s imagination run wild.

Jessi Arias-Cooper is the senior writer and an editor for Advice4Parenting.com. She is a work-from-home mother of 3 boys and has been married for 11 years. If she had time for hobbies and interests outside of parenting and keeping house, they would be jewelry making, baking, watching bad B-movie horror flicks and creative writing . If you have a question for Jessi, click here

Photo: flickr.com/photos/photo4jenifer/5166461162

A Reader Asks:

“I love Black Friday shopping, and I really want to go this year. My boyfriend just found out that he has to work, so he won’t be able to watch the baby. She’s only 4 months old, so she would be in her car seat most of the time. Can I take her with me?”

Jessi Says:

Grab some tissues and get ready for some heartbreak. I STRONGLY advise you not to take your baby with you, and by that I mean absolutely not.

It’s no place for a baby, or child in general.  The atmosphere just isn’t safe. Traffic is a nightmare and people are C.R.A.Z.Y. Beyond the obvious dangers, getting a shopping cart to put your little bundle’s car seat in is next to impossible. So, not only will you be fighting your way through crowds, but you’ll be doing it carrying a 25 pound baby seat.

While Black Friday is the kick-off to the merry season of love and generosity, it’s brutal and sometimes extremely dangerous. Every year, as I deck out my Christmas tree and chug some non-alcoholic eggnog, I hear horror stories on the news about someone being severely beaten or trampled to death in the gotta-have-it madness of Black Friday.

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the energy of Black Friday. If you’re into it, which I am, the thrill of a successful grab for a $3 set of footie pajamas parallels reaching the summit of Everest. I’ve even gone as far as to throw in maniacal laughter as I claim my prize. What a rush.

Still, as much as I look forward to the big day, where soccer moms and blue-haired grannies openly wrestle over obnoxious dolls that poo themselves, I’ve still had to stay home a few times to hang with my cherubs. Sometimes these situations are just unavoidable.

Missing the early morning doorbusters may be a drag, but your bambino will be safe.

If you still thirst for the thrill of the Black Friday experience, I suggest you:

• Arrange for a babysitter- Maybe they could spend the night at grandma’s house after Thanksgiving or you could go old school and hire someone you trust
• Go to the stores after your fella gets home- You’ll miss the morning sales, but the stores will be less busy and you’ll still get your hands on some hot deals
• Work out a babysitting swap arrangement with another mom- You’ll watch her littles from 4AM to 6AM and she’ll watch yours from 6AM to 8AM
• Shop online- You won’t get the exact same feeling as you would if you had 10 espresso loaded parents breathing down your neck, but there is still skill involved. You have to find the best deals between the stores, and get to them before they sell out (Hint: Check online ads ahead of time, while your Thanksgiving turkey is settling)
• Hit the stores before he heads to work- There are tons of stores that  have sales starting between midnight and 6AM. If he doesn’t have to be to work until 8AM, you’re totally golden
• Ask someone to be your elf- If you can’t make it, make a list of must-haves and have a pal snatch up as many deals as she can. If she only gets one or two things, you’ve still saved a little moola

Don’t let the thrill of Black Friday chaos lure you out with your children. The deals may be mind-blowing, but the risk to your tots isn’t worth it. Bake some cookies, watch A Christmas Story for the thousandth time, cuddle up by your freshly decorated tree and tell your boyfriend that he better take Black Friday off next year.

Jessi Arias-Cooper is the senior writer and an editor for Advice4Parenting.com. She is a work-from-home mother of 3 boys and has been married for 10 years. If she had time for hobbies and interests outside of parenting and keeping house, they would be jewelry making, baking, watching bad B-movie horror flicks and creative writing . If you have a question for Jessi, click here.

If you’re gearing up to take your little monsters out Trick-or-Treating, take a look at these simple tips and tricks to keep everyone safe and happy this Halloween!

Keeping our children safe is always our top priority, and taking a few extra precautions will reduce the risks of any not-so-pleasant surprises from ruining your evening.

• Know exactly when your city’s Trick-or-Treating hours will be held. Only walk around during these scheduled hours
• Make sure costumes fit comfortably without being too baggy. If it will be chilly and you’ll need to layer clothing under your child’s costume, allow for a little extra room
• Dresses and robes shouldn’t fall below shin level. Hem or safety-pin excessively long costumes to keep your child from tripping while he’s walking or climbing steps
• Stick to your neighborhood. These are the folks you trust enough to live near. Familiarity is less stressful for you and more safe for your kids
• Have your child wear a glow necklace or other reflective badge or device so he or she will be easy to see when the sun goes down
• Remind your children before they collect any candy that they can’t eat any until you’ve safety checked it
• Don’t let your children walk through yards. Using the sidewalk is polite and will reduce the risk of bumps, bruises and twisted ankles. Garden gnomes and potholes can be stealthy and bring the night to an early, dramatic and painful close
• Trust your gut. If you aren’t comfortable with a particular house, skip it. Always follow your intuition, it’s a parental superpower
• Carry a flashlight and small first aid kit just in case a minor mishap should occur
• No matter how cold it is or how tired you are, resist the urge to drive slowly alongside your children. This is one of the Jessi’s biggest pet peeves on Halloween night. It may be convenient for you, but it isn’t safe for all of the other families that are hoofin’ it old school style

Besides safety, there are a few tricks I’ve picked up on over the years that ensure the night will be a treat for everyone.

• If you aren’t crazy about taking a toddler door-to-door, check out the local supermarkets, malls or other retail plazas. Often business offer a safe indoor alternative for trick-or-treating
• Join in the fun. Doing a little something special like donning a witch hat or devil horns will add to the fun. Halloween is a night to be silly and enjoy the world of magic and fantasy. Enjoy it
• Bring along a larger sack for your tykes to poor their loot into. Their arms will get tired from carrying heavy buckets and if, heaven forbid, a handle should break and candy hits the pavement, you better brace yourself for some tears. Having a catchall bag will save you a whole mess of trouble
• Make sure everyone is wearing sneakers. Dress shoes that sparkle may be adorable, but blisters are not
• Don’t go nuts with greasy face paint on really young children. Cranky children hate having their faces scrubbed.
• If you do use face paints, removal is much easier if you use a tear-free baby shampoo to take it off
• When your little clown says he’s tired and has had enough, trust his instincts. Pushing him to finish a block will only end in a meltdown. Screaming does not a happy Halloween make
• When you’re safety checking the sweets, separate fruity candies from chocolate. They’ll store better without tainting each other’s flavor

From the witches and warlocks at Advice For Parenting, have a happy, safe and spooky Halloween!

Jessi Arias-Cooper is the senior writer and an editor for Advice4Parenting.com. She is a work-from-home mother of 3 boys and has been married for 11 years. If she had time for hobbies and interests outside of parenting and keeping house, they would be jewelry making, baking, watching bad B-movie horror flicks and creative writing . If you have a question for Jessi, click here.

Photo: flickr.com/photos/11167512@N04/4078803109

There’s no “right” time to teach kids to cook. Even toddlers can help in the kitchen to some extent. Obviously, you’re not going to want them doing potentially hazardous jobs like stirring a boiling potful of soup, but there are ways that they can pitch in, learn and have fun without ever going near knives or dangerous appliances.

One thing I’ve learned from my own children is, as soon as you walk into the kitchen, they’re drawn to you like moths to a flame. It doesn’t matter what they’re doing or where they are, they have a “mommy’s in the kitchen” radar. Moving back and forth amongst the stove, refrigerator and counters becomes frustrating and dangerous when you’ve got a couple uninvited sous chefs literally hanging from your apron strings.

It became abundantly clear that if I took the time to teach my kids to cook, rather than constantly tripping over them or trying to come up with crazy ways to switch their focus, we’d all be better for it.

If you brainstorm a bit, you’ll be able to find plenty of ways your littles can help you out, though I’ll admit here and now, the extra help won’t save you any time. BUT, they’ll love it, and they’ll be so proud of themselves, the extra time, effort and  mess will be well worth it in the end.

Little Ways to Teach Kids to Cook

Ingredient Helper- Having your kids help you gather up items you’ll need from the fridge or a cabinet is beneficial for a few reasons. They will learn the proper names for common foods, how to follow directions and to take turns.

Measuring Helper- Older children can actually help you fill cups and spoons to the proper measurements, but the wee tykes can also help by pouring the ingredients into the mixing bowl. They’ll feel just as important.

Counting Helper- Practicing counting, even with a one-year-old is time well spent. “Mommy needs three tomatoes. One tomato, two tomatoes, three tomatoes. Yay! That’s what we need. Thank you for your help.” Clapping gets the tiny people super excited and they’ll associate counting with praise. Great lesson, minimal effort. That’s a double win, folks.

Produce Rinser- Get a tub of water and let your little peanut play, uhh, I mean, rinse the veggies and fruits. It’s an important step in produce preparation, and it’s a healthy habit to stress when you teach kids to cook.

Napkin Folder- Most toddlers can follow simple steps like folding a square napkin diagonally into a triangle. Demonstrate how to fold the first napkin, then let her do the next. If she needs some hand-over-hand assistance with her first attempt, help her out and then let her have at it. You may end up with 15 oddly-folded napkins for a family of four, but what harm is it really doing? She’s learning shapes and how to follow simple directions.

If you use your imagination, there are plenty of ways to creatively involve your children in meal preparation, even the littlest ones.

Leave a comment below with any suggestions you have for other parents who want to teach their kids to cook.

Jessi Arias-Cooper is the senior writer and an editor for Advice4Parenting.com. She is a work-from-home mother of 3 boys and has been married for 10 years. If she had time for hobbies and interests outside of parenting and keeping house, they would be jewelry making, baking, watching bad B-movie horror flicks and creative writing . If you have a question for Jessi, click here.

Photo: flickr.com/photos/11921146@N03/4139990136

Packing a diaper bag for a long trip can be a daunting task. What do I need besides diapers, wipes and bottles? Am I missing something?

There is no easy answer. It’s been my experience that each trip throws me a new curveball. Drama can pop up at any turn.

The number one rule of parenting is “Love your child.”

The second rule is “Be prepared for anything!”

I have 2 diaper bags.

The first is for short trips. It is compact and carries the basics: diapers, wipes, formula and a toy or two. Generally, you won’t need much more than these items if you’re just heading to the grocery store. Who wants to carry around a boulder along with her groceries and baby? Survey says…no one.

The second bag is for longer trips. I call this bag “The Monster”. This is the giant diaper bag every expectant mother receives at her baby shower, uses for a week and then realizes she may not need to carry it everywhere. It’s okay to put this big boy in the closet, but don’t discard him completely.

The Monster is your friend! If you’re planning on being gone for an entire day or even a weekend, you need to be prepared. I know first-hand…anything can happen.

There are 10 things, beyond the basics, that I strongly recommend you carry in The Monster:

1. A Waterproof Disposable Camera: So you’re burning to use your fancy $200 digital camera? Me, too. BUT…don’t carry it in your diaper bag unless it’s safely stored in a waterproof carrying case.
Diaper bags often have containers filled with liquid in them. If one springs a leak (and sooner or later, it will), you’ll be in the market for a new camera. A waterproof disposable camera is great for trips to the beach and everyday use.

2. A spare shirt for you: Parents get messy. Any number of yucky disasters can happen. Use your imagination.

My oldest son wasn’t a “spitter” so I didn’t carry a shirt for myself, despite my family’s advice. One day, in the middle of a long shopping trip at the mall, I learned my lesson. A spare shirt can quickly become the deciding factor between a walk of shame to the nearest restroom or out the door and on your way home.

Unless you’re looking to save money through “natural consequences,” pack a shirt.

3. Sunscreen (minimum SPF 30): This is a good idea all year, not just in the summer. You always want your baby to be safe from the sun’s powerful rays. If you are outside, protect your little one.

4. Zipper Bags: I recommend 1-2 gallon size bags plus 1 sandwich sized bag per child. The possibilities are endless. They just plain come in handy.

I use the gallon bags for soiled clothes, dirty diaper disposal and carrying back “treasures” that my boys find wherever we are. They always “have” to keep something.

Sandwich bags are awesome for dirty tissues, parade candy (when they throw it, you’re not stuffing it in your pockets) and snacks.

I have 3 boys, which means 3 bags of everything. If we’re out and about and someone’s feeling peckish, I buy 1 large snack and split it into 3 bags for each kid to munch at his discretion. Stop whining and save cash at the same time. Excellent.

5. Small first aid kit: Always keep a supply of adhesive bandages, alcohol wipes and triple-antibiotic ointment in your bag. Last summer, I had to patch up my dad and my son within 5 minutes of each other. Dr. Mom to the rescue.

6. Bulb Syringe (The Nose Sucker) and Tissues: Mucus happens…and you’re ready to conquer it.

7. Fever Reducer: If your baby spikes a temperature when you’re at Grandma’s house, you won’t be in a panic to find a drugstore.

8. Quarters: Having quarters for a vending machine can be the difference between a total meltdown and sweet serenity. Save your sanity, pack some change.

9. Hand sanitizer: Germs are everywhere. Diapers need to be changed. Sanitizing your family’s hands can save you all a lot of grief down the line.

10. Snacks: I always have a couple packs of age appropriate snacks for each of my kids. Long car rides are a lot quieter and less expensive if you have a little something hidden in your bag. Small baggies of cereal are great pacifiers while you’re waiting for your meal at a sit-down restaurant, too.

This may seem like a lot, but every single thing on this list has saved my husband or me at least twice. If you have these simple items with you, then life’s little surprises will remain little. An extra touch of preparation can make or break a trip with your family. Properly pack The Monster and he will keep your day out drama-free.

Jessi Arias-Cooper is a work from home mother of 3 boys and has been married for 10 years. She co-owns a freelance writing business, Profitable Prose, with her husband, Brock. If she had time for hobbies and interests outside of parenting and keeping house, they would be jewelry making, baking, watching bad B-movie horror flicks and creative writing.

Humans, I’ve decided, are born with the ability to worry. Worry isn’t a behavior that needs to be learned. Worry is an innate ability of human beings. In a sense, worry is a self-preservation factor; if we didn’t worry about being run over by a car, we wouldn’t look both ways before crossing a street. There is, however, a big difference between prudent caution and unreasonable fear.

As parents, it’s our responsibility to help soothe the fears of our children. We want them to be prudently cautious and aware that dangers exist, but we don’t want them to be paralyzed with fear. Hitting that happy medium between teaching our children to be careful without being fearful requires patient consistency and it starts at birth.

With infants, we can comfort them easily by holding and feeding them. As those infants become toddlers, we can comfort them by touching them, talking to them, and reading to them. As that toddler gets to the preschool age, he is able to begin to express his fears and worries in words. When a child voices his worry, the parent needs to address that worry without laughing at or ridiculing the child. The worry is real, and he’s looking to you to relieve that worry.

Several books can help you deal with the fears and worries of your preschool-age child. Here are two of the very best:

1. “The Little House,” by Virginia Lee Burton: A little house in the country is taken over by a growing city. Eventually though, the little house is able to return to where it belongs. The underlying theme is that changes can be scary, but eventually life returns to normal.

2. “Outside over There,” by Maurice Sendak: This book explores children’s inner fears and worries. A brave girl saves her younger brother from goblins. This is a story of a strong, resourceful child using her creativity to confront and overcome evil.

With so many styles to choose from, knowing how to buy toddler shoes can be a real challenge. The problem that many parents encounter is choosing between function versus style, practicality versus fun. After all, who wouldn’t want their little one to be most stylish toddler on the block? But sometimes fun styles can actually hurt your child’s feet and be more of a hindrance than a help as he takes his baby steps.

So what should you look for when buying your child a new pair of shoes? Here are some tips you might want to keep in mind:

- If you’re planning to bring your child to the store to try out several pairs of shoes, make sure that he is in a good mood. It’s probably a good idea to schedule this particular adventure just after a meal and a nap, and to make it the first thing you do when you hit the mall.

- Take advantage of the expertise of the salespeople in the shoe store. They can help you narrow down the best kinds of footwear that suits your child’s feet.

- The first step in knowing how to buy toddler shoes is to get your child’s feet measured. Be sure to take note of the length and width. You can have this done regularly at stores that specialize in shoes for kids.

- Kids grow at a rapid rate at this stage in their lives. That means that they can quickly outgrow their clothes and shoes, so keep track of your child’s sizes on a monthly basis.

- Have your toddler try on each pair of shoes, and allow him to walk around the store to get a feel for them. Typically, a space of about half an inch from the toes ensures proper fit and easy movement.

- Inspect your child’s feet regularly for signs of improperly fitted shoes, such as blisters on the feet, chafing, and crowded toes. Not only are these uncomfortable for your child, but wearing improperly fitted shoes can also be a cause of foot problems later on.

- Opt for velcro fasteners for easy wear and removal. As much as you want your little one to learn to tie shoelaces, sometimes your sanity is more important. It’s one more thing to do without your toddler throwing a tantrum every morning, so weigh it carefully whether you want to risk it.

Overall, keep it simple. Think of Cinderella and her glass slippers—the fit had to be just right. Don’t try to save money by buying shoes that are too big at the risk of making your toddler trip on them. Nor should you try to force his feet into an old pair he has already outgrown in order to save a few dollars. So learning how to buy toddler shoes is actually a very simple matter: you must always put comfort over style, or pay the price later.