It's not perfect. It's parenting.
Sometimes you need answers to the little everyday things that parents encounter. And sometimes, you just need someone to encourage you through all of the craziness and challenges of parenthood. Welcome to Parent-ish.
Category: Toddler
Hitting and biting: what parents need to know
Imagine it: You’re at the store with your toddler, loading up on applesauce pouches and toilet paper when your sweet angel sinks their teeth into you without any warning *cue Jaws music*. You’re shocked, maybe angry, then panicked that your kid is headed for a life of troublemaking.
The Great Cover-Up
There are a lot of parents in the world. I don’t know the exact number or percentage but it’s a lot. We can all agree there are a lot of parents. And with parents come opinions. You’ll receive parenting advice whether you seek it out or not. Some of it is solid advice, some unsolicited. There are no right or wrong answers. Even the “parenting experts” don’t always get everything right.
Cold weather car seat safety
Statistics show that motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among children in the United States. Most of these deaths, due to children either being unrestrained or improperly restrained, are preventable. As a rule, bulky clothing - like winter coats or buntings - should not be worn underneath the harness of a car seat. In a crash, fluffy padding immediately flattens out from the force, leaving extra space under the harness. This leaves the straps too loose to properly restrain the child, increasing the risk of injury. The same is true for adult passengers in a vehicle.
5 simple steps to keep your kids germ-free
Now that back to school time is in full swing, so are the germs! It might sound simple, but handwashing is truly like a “do-it-yourself” vaccine that stops the spread of germs. In fact, regular handwashing, is one of the best ways to keep from getting sick.
The word on potty words and other toddler talk
If there is a toddler in your life you can count on a few things–love for princesses and superheroes, new-found independence, sticky fingers and some amazing conversation.
Is potty training your #1 (and #2) priority? Here's what you need to know.
As a pediatric psychologist, I work with a lot of parents who are struggling with potty training. So many, in fact, that several of them have taken to calling me their “Poopcologist.” I should probably just go ahead and put it on my business card.
Morning success: Tips to make it out the door on time
There is nothing worse than starting off the day on the wrong foot. Whether its missing shoes or arguing over the importance of brushing teeth, it can be challenging to get yourself and your kids out the door so that everyone gets to their relative location on time. As the saying goes: it takes a village. So we asked the employees at Children’s Mercy to share their best tips for morning success.
Kids and springtime allergies: 6 mistakes you might be making
After a long and cold winter, spring is finally here. And now that the temperatures are warming up, it’s also time for that other season—the one that’s just a little less exciting: allergy season.
When your kid misbehaves and what to do
At some point, all kids misbehave and they do it because they want attention. To help keep them from acting out, fill up their “attention tank” with praise and play.
How to get toddlers to follow directions
When your child is a toddler, they start to explore their independence and test boundaries – testing your patience along the way. They don’t always listen, and they want to do things on their own timeline. But teaching your child how to follow directions is an important lesson.