Having children and caring for them is one of life’s most exciting and fulfilling adventures. The following tips will help you solve many of the mysteries of child-rearing.

After making a clear space on the counter, cover it with a rolled-up towel. Position your child so that his or her head is over the sink, then run water from your faucet onto the scalp and hair. Doing this can help alleviate the anxiety countless toddlers have about being submerged underwater.

If you are going on a trip with a young child, keeping their routines for bedtimes and eating will help them enjoy themselves more. Travel can be extremely stressful for young children and infants. However, if you follow their normal bedtime ritual no matter where you are, they are likely to have no problems sleeping.

It might be hard to get a preschooler to deal with change. An abrupt switch from on activity to the next can induce stress, and it will end in a melt down.

It’s vital that you have some time on your own, without your kids. Get a friend or family member to take care of your kids, even if it’s only for a couple of hours. If you do not take breaks, stress will build up and the tensions will keep you from developing a healthy relationship with your children.

Don’t smoke in a home where your kids are living. Even better, quit smoking. You may not realize it, but secondhand smoke can be as bad, if not worse, than firsthand smoke. Second-hand smoke increases the risks of asthma and various respiratory conditions in children.

You have to take care of yourself if you want to be able to give your best to your family. No matter what kind of crazy day you are having with the kids, take a few moments for personal time where you can relax and re-energize. Your children will benefit from your improved happiness.

Stop often when driving long distances with toddlers or young children to stave off boredom and crankiness. It may be tempting to try to reach your destination as fast as you can, but taking an approach that is more leisurely will help limit the fussiness in the backseat. Stop at parks, restaurants with play areas, or open grassy areas to let your children run off excess energy during the trip.

If you read all the suggestions that are in this article, you’ll have an excellent foundation for building a good raising a child experience. You also need to realize that being a parent isn’t the same for each person or even different children. Raising children is not really an exact science. Use common sense when you aren’t sure which child-rearing tactic you will use. Think about bringing up a child as a unique opportunity to get closer with another human being, and as a very enriching experience.