Children’s Birthday Party Planning: When and When Not to Have a Big Party

by: Kimberly Hargis ( www.babiesonline )

Age 1: Invite only family members and close friends only because this birthday is more for the parents than for the child. At age 1, a child doesn’t understand the concept of “Birthday Party.” He or she is getting a lot of attention—which is all a 1-year-old wants or understands anyway. You should not go overboard on presents because too much could scare or confuse a child. You should consider getting specialty items such as a plate that says “First Birthday,” a 1-year-old candle, and possible a table cover that everyone could sign with fabric paint to have as keepsakes that can someday be shown (or given to) to your grown child.

Age 2: 2-years-olds should have one or two playmates over for a small Birthday Play Day. Again I suggest you keep a birthday plate and other keepsakes for your 2-year-old.

Age 3: 3-year-olds should have three to four playmates over, and at this age you might have try a birthday game such as “Who can stack the blocks the highest?” I do not recommend having a clown or playing any games that require a blindfold over a child’s eyes such key due to the fact either can scare children at this age. Remember your child has just turned 3, and the playmates are around that age. They are still not able to understand fully structured games very well. They only know if they do something good or better than other children, everyone will give them attention. Again I suggest you collect keepsakes.

Age 4: At 4, children should now be ready for a “real” party. I suggest four or five playmates. 4-year-olds are ready now for party decorations, but I suggest you do less and save your money for the big number “5” birthday (or buy decorations that you can put away and use again). Games such as Musical Chairs, and carrying a hard boiled egg on a spoon to the finish line without dropping it relay race can be appropriate, but remember that games will be played and finished much sooner than you think. Consider having a few of your child’s favorite videos on hand. Even if the kids have seen them 100 times, they will enjoy them. After an hour or so, you will probably need a break and the children might be cranky. A movie they are all spellbound by will be a great way to relax the kids and you. You might want to consider spreading a couple of blankets on the floor and have some pillows handy for sleepyheads!

Age 5: 5-year-olds should have a big party, but remind them that this is because they are the big “5,” and either starting school or just in school, and having a “big” party will not happen every year. Explain to them that big parties are only for special birthdays such as 5 because they have started or are starting school, 10 because that is the first double-digit number, and of course 16 (“Sweet 16” for girls and “Driving Age” for boys). This will save you money in the long run. On the fifth birthday, I suggest you first decide if you want to do it yourself, rent a building or park area but still do it yourself, or call local businesses (like McDonalds) to see what party-planning packages they offer. I personally suggest renting a park area if weather permits because the kids will be just as happy playing on park equipment as they would if you spent a ton of money on a professionally planned party. Have several inexpensive disposable cameras on hand and let your Birthday Boy or Girl take pictures of his or her first “big” party!

Great games for 5-year-olds whether inside or outside are:

Hitting a Piñata that is full of candy.

Relay races, which can be held in a garage, carport, or park.

Water balloon fights if weather permits (and you have advised the parents that the children are likely to get wet).

Dancing to music and “freezing” when the music is stopped to see who looks the silliest (this is a great game and everyone should win a party favor).

Pin the tail on the donkey (consider a game that uses Velcro instead of pins).

You can also do face painting and movie time. As with the 4-year-olds, you need to over plan for games and activities and a movie is a great back up (or a much-needed rest time). Another helpful hint is to take enough large plastic trash bags to cover your kitchen floor and lightly throw all colors of paint on them. Allow for adequate drying time before the party. Then you can use these bags to cover your kitchen floor before cake time to catch cake droppings and milk or soda spills (which WILL happen).

Ages 6-9: Birthdays can be simple overnight parties (“slumber parties” for girls and “all nighters” for boys) filled with popcorn, junk food, movies, and video games. As long as you let the kids stay up all night and sleep in half the next day, this type of party can still be “cool”—what kid doesn’t love the idea of staying up all night (even if they don’t make it all night). If it is summer time, think about letting them sleep outside in a tent or on a screened-in porch (just be sure to let the parents know exactly where their children will be sleeping and you should plan to check in on them a few times during the night).

Age 10: This should be done about the same as age 5 in terms of it being a “special age” (and reminding your child that “big parties” like this will not be done every year. Ten is a good age to consider renting a facility such as:

Pool parties: most local pools offer after-hour times when you can rent the pool for birthday parties.

Roller- or ice-skating parties.

Local arcades or pizza parlors often have special birthday packages.

A day at the Zoo for your child and their friends.

(Hint: To save money, check with the place where you plan to hold the party to see if you can decorate, bring in the cake, and other party favors instead of buying the supplies from them.)

Ages 11-15: Do the same as ages 6-9 with a simple overnight party.

Age 16: At 16, if they even agree to let you have a “party,” then consider yourself lucky. If they do, then you need to let the teenager decide what kind of party it should be. Remember kids at that age are very “into” who is popular and who is not. Don’t push your child into inviting everyone you might think they should (because they might be afraid of being made fun of for having a party at home with their parents.) They know who to they can invite and who they can’t without fear of peer pressure. My best suggestion for this age is either a pizza party at home or at a pizza parlor or a pool party, depending on the teenager’s interest.

Any party that you give should be “Fun” for your child. Expect that your only reward will be the memories you create for yourself. If you happen to get a hug and a kiss from a very happy child at the end of the day, then it will be a bonus to remember!

Benefits of Reading to Your Baby

The single most important way for children to develop the knowledge they need to become successful readers later on is for you to read aloud to them often-beginning when they are babies. When reading books is a regular part of family life, you send your child a message that books are important, enjoyable and full of new things to learn.
From the time your child is born, make reading aloud to your child a part of your daily routine. Pick a quiet time, such as just before you put him to bed. This will give him a chance to rest between play and sleep. If you can, read with him in your lap or snuggled next to you so that he feels close and safe. As he gets older, he may need to move around some as you read to him. If he gets tired or restless, stop reading. Make reading aloud a quiet and comfortable time that your child looks forward to.

Try to Read to Your Child Every Day
At first, read for no more than a few minutes at a time, several times a day. As your child grows older, you should be able to tell if she wants you to read for longer periods. Don’t be discouraged if you have to skip a day or don’t always keep to your schedule. Just get back to your daily routine as soon as you can. Most of all make sure that reading stays fun for both of you!

Pick the Right Books
Give your baby sturdy board books to look at, touch and hold. Allow him to turn the pages, look through the holes or lift the flaps. As your child grows older, have books on shelves or in baskets that are at his level. Encourage him to look through the books and talk about them. He may talk about the pictures and he may “pretend” to read a book that he has heard many times.
For a late toddler or early preschooler, use reading aloud to help him learn about books and print. As you read aloud, stop now and then and point to letters and words; then point to the pictures they stand for. Your child will begin to understand that the letters form words and that words name pictures. He will also start to learn that each letter has its own sound — one of the most important things your child can know when learning to read.

Ask Your Child for Feedback
Encourage her to ask questions and to talk about the story. Ask her to predict what will come next. Point to things in books that she can relate to in her own life: “Look at the picture of the penguin. Do you remember the penguin we saw at the zoo?”

Reread Favorite Books
Your child will probably ask you to read favorite books over and over. Even though you may become tired of the same books, he will enjoy and continue to learn from hearing them read again and again.
The books that you pick to read with your child are very important. If you aren’t sure what books are right for your child, ask a librarian to help you choose titles. Read “predictable” books to your child. Predictable books are books with words or actions that appear over and over. These books help children to predict or tell what happens next.

Encourage Your Child to Listen and Repeat
As you read, encourage your child to listen for and say repeating words and phrases, such as names for colors, numbers, letters, animals, objects and daily life activities. Your child will learn the repeated words or phrase and have fun joining in with you each time they show up in the story. Pretty soon, she will join in before you tell her.

Be Enthusiastic About Reading
Read the story with expression. Make it more interesting by talking as the characters would talk, making sound effects and using facial expressions and gestures.

Buy a Children’s Dictionary
If possible choose a dictionary that has pictures next to the words. Then start the “let’s look it up” habit.

Keep Materials Handy
Make writing materials such as crayons, pencils and paper available.

Go to the Library
Begin making weekly trips to the library when your child is very young. See that your child gets his own library card as soon as possible. Many libraries issue cards to children as soon as they can print their names (you’ll also have to sign for your child).

Show Your Child That You Read
When you take your child to the library, check out a book for yourself. Then set a good example by letting your child see you reading for yourself. Ask your child to get one of her books and sit with you as you read your book, magazine or newspaper. Don’t worry if you feel uncomfortable with your own reading ability. It’s the reading that counts. When your child sees that reading is important to you, she may decide that it is important to her, too.

Reading to Your Baby from Birth

By Eriani Doyel [ babiesonlune]

If you are expecting your first child, or if you care for a young child, you should know that reading to them is one of the best gifts that you can give to them. Reading is the key that will open the door to knowledge and education for them for the rest of their lives. How early should you start to read to your baby? Although some try to read to their baby before they are born, if you start right after they are born, they will be given a head start on reading success and life.

What do you read to a baby? Although babies cannot see or focus very well for a few months after birth, they can see basic outlines, shapes and bright colors. There are many books designed specifically for reading to babies that have these features. The book does not even have to have any words. You can supply those as you look at the pictures and point to objects.

Where should you read to a baby? Reading should be a comforting, bonding moment for you and your baby. Put them right in your lap. This is not only good because you can both see the pictures, but the baby will feel close and secure.

How should you read to a baby? Reading should be much like speaking to a baby. Research has shown that babies respond best to “baby talk”-that high, sing-song voice that many people just use naturally when they are talking to a baby. Be animated and do not use a harsh, loud or monotone voice.

As you read, point to objects in the book and name them. You will find that soon the baby will also be able to point and name objects. Reading begins just like this. Let the baby turn the pages and handle the book. This is one reason that the books you buy or check out from the library for your baby are sturdy board books or cloth books.

To really encourage your baby to read you should make sure that you have books in a place where the baby can easily reach them and use them. It may frustrate you to see them pounding on them and eating them, but really this is the beginning of a love of books. Keep the “nice” books out of reach, but make sure there are selections that are never off limits. Your baby will thank you.

Teething Guide

Teething is a routine part of child development which can be uncomfortable for both your baby and you. Here are a few pointers to help guide you through the process:

What to Expect
Most infants sprout their first tooth at six to eight months, with the the last of the molars appearing between 20 to 30 months. Due to the discomfort and swelling, your infant may experience increased drooling, sleep disturbance, and crankiness. Teething is often blamed for an onslaught of other problems -- coughing, diarrhea, rashes, fever -- but a recent study found those maladies are unrelated much of the time. "Teething symptoms should only happen during the few days surrounding the eruption of each tooth," says New York City pediatrician Paula Ebirt, M.D. So if they don't pass that quickly, your child may be sick with something else.

Pain Relief
To help soothe pain, try teething rings. Stiff plastic or silver ones may exacerbate the pain if clamped down on too aggressively. Some soft plastic or liquid-filled rings may be frozen for extra comfort, but avoid the kind with small objects floating inside. Even gnawing on a wet washcloth provides relief. You may also consider a child-specific teething gel, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen.

Tooth Care
Once your child's teeth break through the surface, wipe the gums off after feeding with a warm, wet washcloth -- particularly if your child is eating solid food. A swallow of water after a meal also helps prevent dental disease.

Possible Problems
If your baby hasn't cut a tooth on the usual timetable, don't be alarmed. Like other milestones such as walking and talking, every child has his own pace. It may be as late as 14 months before a tooth will poke through. A family history of cleft palate or ectodermal dysplasia, a hair and nail growth disorder, may prevent the growth of some or all of the primary teeth. In rare cases, delayed eruption may be the result of rickets, a vitamin D deficiency that has been linked to exclusive breastfeeding. If your child hasn't begun teething by 18 months, see your pediatrician to rule out these possibilities

How Long Should My Baby Be Sleeping?

Your baby’s sleep patters definitely don’t match up with yours. Because of this, many new parents wonder exactly how much sleep their baby should be getting.

In the early weeks after birth, your baby will seem to sleep any time that you’re not sleeping, waking up just as you drift off to sleep. Fortunately, that doesn’t last forever. As your baby grows and changes, she needs less and less sleep. For many children, by the time they are 6 or 7 weeks old, they will be sleeping through the night. For other babies, they may not sleep through the night until they are 3 or 4 months old. Here is how their sleep needs generally progress:

- birth to 6 or 7 weeks. Newborns sleep between 16 and 20 hours a day.

- 1 month to 3 months. Babies at this stage will need to sleep around 8 hours at night, and another 8 hours during the day, for a total of around 16 hours.

- 3 months to 6 months. During this stage, nighttime sleep increases and daytime sleep decreases. Your baby will probably sleep for about 10 hours at night, and need between 3 and 5 hours during the day.

- 6 months to 9 months. Babies at this age will sleep even more at night. Nighttime sleep will be around 11 hours. Daytime sleep will drop down to between 2 and 3 1/2 hours.

- 9 months to 1 year. Nighttime sleep stays steady at 11 hours. Daytime sleep may drop off slightly, from 2 to 3 hours.

- 1 year to 18 months. Here, they may add a little time sleeping at night, around 11 1/2 hours total. Daytime sleep drops to between 1 and 2 hours, where it will stay until after they are around 4 years old (or whenever they stop taking naps).

- 18 months to 3 years. Nighttime sleep will drop around half an hour every six months, so that at 3 years your baby will be sleeping around 10 1/2 hours a night. Daytime sleep will stay around the same.

If your baby seems to be getting too much sleep (more than an hour or more beyond the guide above) it could be indicative of another problem. If your baby refuses to sleep, this too can be indicative of a problem. If you have any concerns, you should speak with your pediatric health care provider.

Preparing Baby for a Full-Time Sitter

By Rebecca Geiger for Your Baby Today

Like it or not, it's time. You've used up nearly every hour of precious maternity leave, and are now poised to return to work. You've even hired a full-time sitter to come to your home. All that remains is to break the news to the baby. Sure. Right.

Actually, leaving your baby with a sitter doesn't have to be an overwhelming adaption for you or her. Consider the following tactics for making a smooth transition:

• Before the sitter even walks through your door, experts recommend getting your child used to your being away. Start with relatively short periods of time -- 15 minutes or so -- and slowly work up to longer intervals. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), for a child seven months or younger, it may be particularly difficult for him to adjust since he's dealing with issues of separation anxiety. That's why it's best to let your child get to know the new person while you're there. Initially, if possible, you should be present the entire day, gradually reducing your presence over one to two weeks.
• Make the first encounter with the sitter a positive one. When you're ready for the first meeting between baby and caregiver, the AAP recommends holding your child in your lap while talking with the sitter. This gives the sitter a chance to make eye contact with him. The sitter can start talking with your little one while you're still holding him, but she shouldn't try to touch him yet. If he seems at ease, put him down in front of you (along with a favorite toy), and let the sitter come closer and start playing with the toy. As your baby gets more and more comfortable, you can start backing away. Try leaving the room, and if he continues to play happily, then it's going well.
• Once you're ready to head back to the office, consider starting on a Wednesday, rather than a Monday, so that your first week apart won't seem so long.
• Try not to let your child pick up any apprehension that you may be feeling about being separated from her since that might make her anxious, too. For instance, don't make a big deal about the time you'll be away by drawing out a long good-bye. Act naturally to help your baby relax, and she'll soon figure out that there's no need to worry since you'll be back.
• It's not uncommon for your baby to be clingy or withdrawn for the first few days of your returning to work. This stage typically doesn't last beyond two weeks. Babies and young kids often adapt to new situations much better than adults, and the AAP notes that infants usually adjust well with a consistent child care worker in almost any setting.
• If your work situation allows for it, call home a few times a day, and let the nanny hold the phone to your baby's ear. You can also record your voice reading a story or singing a song. And if you work fairly close to home, have the sitter bring the baby by for weekly lunch dates so you can enjoy her company.

http://www.babyant.com

Help For Your Baby's Crying And Sleeping Problems

Childhood sleep disorders are the cause of anxiety for both the child and for the parents, who may be unaware that their child is suffering from a sleeping disorder. Sleeping disorders can be caused by numerous problems, some of which are more obvious than others. It is even possible for a child with a sleep problem to go undiagnosed simply because new parents may think that certain behavioural patterns are normal.

One clear sign of a child with a sleeping disorder is that the parent is suffering from disturbed sleep as well. If you are concerned that your child may have problems sleeping, here are some signs and symptoms to look out for and some of the simple cures that can help ensure everyone has a good night's sleep.


There are some obvious thing that will cause baby crying and sleep problems, all of which are fairly common and easily curable. Bed-wetting is often responsible for waking a sleeping child. Another common problem is nightmares, or night terrors, which for a child can be a terrifying experience. A less common problem is sleepwalking, where the child gets up and wanders the house whilst still in a sleeping state.

All of the symptoms mentioned are easy to identify but unfortunately there are other more unusual causes of sleep disorder that can be stressful for the parent and the child alike. These symptoms may even go unnoticed entirely, but little indicators can point to sleep problems as the root cause. If your child becomes extremely irritable during the day then this may be a sign that you need to monitor your child's sleep patterns more closely. For a child less than two years of age, eight hours sleep may seem like a lot. However, eight hours may not be enough for some children, leaving them prone to irritability when awake.

Children who have difficulties falling asleep at night may also have a sleep problem even if they then sleep solidly throughout. Similarly children who awaken too early or too late may also be having problems settling into an adequate sleeping pattern. Again, a sure sign that a child may have difficulty actually getting to sleep is irritable or lethargic behaviour during the next day. Another sign that a child is having difficulties is if they are snoring loudly. This can be a sign that the child is having difficulties breathing. Loud snoring will also prevent the child from falling into a deep, refreshing sleep.

There are some products on the market that can help. Firstly you should buy yourself a good book on sleep problems that affect children. Often a sleep problem can be overcome by simply changing routine or through various other techniques. Another good idea may be to purchase an audio CD of relaxing music specifically created for children. There are also various herbal remedies that can be purchased and hung in the child's room.

If your child experiences sleep problems, the first thing that you should do is to try not to worry and remember that it is actually quite a common occurrence. Unfortunately a child's sleep problem can affect your own mood during the day and you can become increasingly irritable yourself. Try to remember that there are cures for sleep disorders and that with children it is usually just a matter of changing the child's bedtime routine.

A great invention on the market that promises to help your baby sleep is the automatic baby rocker device that can be placed under the child's mattress to help rock the child to sleep.

If you are still concerned then a visit to your GP will be able to set your mind at ease. Your family doctor will be able to recommend other solutions.


By: Mark Moon
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