Being a parent is a trip that will take you through many ups and downs. These tips are structured to supply you with the most informative and respected bits of advice in regards to raising children properly while enjoying the experience. As you read the ideas here, consider which ones apply to your situation and can be put to use.

If you are an expecting mother, don’t hurt your checkbook by spending money on expensive nursery equipment. Basic nursery staples like cribs, diapers and blankets are readily available at major retailers, like Walmart, and are far more affordable than their department store counterparts. Also, consider borrowing some nursery products from friends or family members.

Make sure there is a clean spot on your counter, and roll up a towel. Lay your child down with their back on the towel, and run the water over their hair. For many toddlers, this method will take the fear out of having their heads dunked or water poured over them.

Stick with your child’s established eating and sleeping schedule as best you can when you are traveling with him or her. Travel can be stressful for babies and small children. Replicating nightly routines can be a great way to help your children adapt to new surroundings and enable everyone to get a proper amount of sleep.

Never give any type of soda to a baby or toddler. Have them drink either water, milk, or sugar-free juice. All of these drinks lack the harmful acids in soda and contain vitamins and minerals a growing child needs.

Reflective Materials

Regardless of age, any child who walks to his or her school should wear retro-reflective materials as part of an outfit or on a backpack. You can find these items made of velcro strips which can be applied and removed easily. Retro-reflective materials, whether Velcro or tape, make children more visible if they’re walking prior to sunrise or after dark. No matter what time of day it is, wearing reflective materials draws drivers’ attention to your children’s presence and makes road accidents less likely.

Don’t smoke at home when you have kids. You may even want to even consider quitting. The effects of secondhand smoke are as bad as smoking itself. Smoking around your children can be very hazardous and cause many respiratory issues including asthma, bronchitis or pneumonia.

Hopefully, you have determined the above information to be useful. This advice should help you foster a beautiful and loving relationship between you and your child. Remember that the most important thing to do is to enjoy and treasure every minute you spend with your child.