Following are a few tips to keep in mind while you babyproof the house: <ol><li>Keep the bathrooms locked at all times.</li><li>Lock and hasp on doors in rooms and bathrooms should be shifted up (at the height of an adult’s head).</li><li>Keep the cribs at the lowest height because as children advance developmentally, they tend to launch themselves out of the crib.</li><li>Change the positions of electrical boards, keep them high so that they are out of a child’s reach.</li><li>Check the sharp corners and cover them with soft rubber. Stick rubber cover at the corners of kitchen tables, beds, dining tables and TV units.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>If you are living in a double storied house, fix a small door on the staircase. This will ensure the baby doesn't crawl and climb up.</li><li>If the child is using a walker make sure there is no bump or slope on the floor.</li><li>Keep the heavy objects, sharp objects, glass objects and such hazardous objects out of reach of the child.</li><li>Keep the use of rugs at a minimum as children tend to slip because of them. If you do use rugs, put non-slip pads beneath them.</li><li>Unplug all electrical appliances when not in use.</li><li>Put all the sharp objects of the kitchen in cupboards.</li><li>Remove table cloths if any.</li><li>Install safety guards on windows and doors.</li><li>Make sure there's no water spilt anywhere in the house.</li><li>Do not paint or renovate the house immediately after the baby arrives home. The chemicals are harmful to the baby. Wait a few years and then make the required changes.</li></ol>

Children are curious by nature and they will explore everything you have in the house. So it's better to keep a check on all the things you have in the house before the baby arrives.

How to baby proof your house: 15 baby proofing tips 

Children are curious by nature and they will explore everything you have in the house. So it's better to keep a check on all the things you have in the house before the baby arrives.

15 Tips to baby proof your house

It's trickier to keep babies safe in monsoons, but taking care of a few important things can make it alright: <ul><li>Make sure that your baby’s clothes are dry and warm. Clothes often remain cold and damp after a wash in the monsoon. Clothes that remain damp can result in your baby catching a fever or cold. It is also best to opt for breathable cotton fabrics and avoid synthetics that may cause rashes.</li><li>Monsoons are always accompanied by several insects and germs like flies, fungus mosquitoes, etc. Hence the chances of babies falling ill also increase during monsoons. To keep your baby free of these, ensure that you and everyone else handling your baby should stay clean. Keep an eye out for nappy rash - change diapers regularly and apply a good diaper rash cream.</li><li>Disinfect your home and surroundings too regularly to keep germs away. Unclean surroundings can harbour many disease-causing insects and pests, as well as bacteria.</li><li>Monsoon brings with it malaria and dengue causing mosquitoes. To prevent your baby from catching these diseases, it is best to use bed nets or mesh windows. You can also use mosquito repellent creams for your baby after consulting with a doctor. There are also liquid, card and coil repellents available that are safe and effective against mosquitoes.</li><li>It is best not to take your baby out during monsoons, especially when it is raining. The humidity and the change in temperatures might lead to your baby catching the flu. If you have to take your baby out, make sure that your baby is covered correctly and completely dry throughout your outing. If you go out, avoid dirty areas with puddles and mud. Ensure that you are not taking your baby to crowded places as it’s easier to get infected with people around. When you take your child outdoors, keep wet wipes handy to ensure your baby stays clean all the time.</li><li>Some infants are allergic to specific pollen and allergens. Make sure your baby is kept away from these during the rains. If you notice any rash, redness or other symptoms, consult your doctor immediately and get it checked.</li><li>Check your house for dampness, leakage before the monsoon arrives. Get them fixed if there is a problem. Check for fungus or moulds around the house. Secure the loose electric wiring, if any. Clean the drains and keep bathrooms hygienic</li><li>Always feed freshly prepared food to your baby in monsoon as food tends to spoil quickly in monsoon.</li><li>Since you can’t always find clean water when you’re outside, make sure you carry a small bottle of sanitiser and use it to clean your hands whenever handling the baby.</li><li>Many doctors recommend getting a flu booster shot when the monsoons are around. Make sure your baby gets all his/her shots before the monsoon.</li><li>Since a baby is primary indoors in monsoon (s), he doesn’t need a daily bath. Two to three times a week, and especially around humid times, can give your baby relief from the heat as well. If your child has been outside, definitely give him a nice warm water bath.</li></ul>

Taking the right precautionary steps before the arrival of any season will keep your baby safe and healthy.

Monsoon Precautions for Babies | Tips & Precautions

Taking the right precautionary steps before the arrival of any season will keep your baby safe and healthy.

Monsoon Tips and Precautions for Babies

<h2>Here are the quick tips on How to tell a joke to kids.</h2> <h2>Remember, Jokes aren’t funny unless you tell them in a funny way. Read on to know more quick tips.</h2> <ul><li>Believe in the joke you are telling - If you think it's funny, kids are more likely to agree.</li><li>Relax - If you feel awkward, so will the kids.</li><li>Vary your voice - Monotone speech makes the joke boring.</li><li>Signal the punchline - A little pause adds to the suspense.</li><li>If they don't laugh, give up - Desperation isn't funny.</li><li>Believe in the joke you are telling - If you think it's funny, kids are more likely to agree.</li></ul>

Jokes aren’t funny unless you tell it in a funny way. Read on to know more quick tips

How to tell a joke to children that makes them laugh

Jokes aren’t funny unless you tell it in a funny way. Read on to know more quick tips

If your child is laughing without any specific reason or if (s)he is talking, crying or staying silent way too much without any understandable reason, this might indicate that your child is unable to understand what is going on in a particular situation. When children have insecurity of being judged as someone who cannot gauge what is going around in his/her space, they react in a way in which people around them are not able to catch the fact that the child is not understanding anything happening around him/her. From the child’s perspective, (s)he feels, "Come on! I don’t get it. Why do you want me to understand everything”. They choose not to be vocal about how they feel. So they keep reacting in odd ways. Sometimes children are scared and think "If I go say that I don’t understand this and ask again, my parents will get angry and scold me.” You need to analyse the scenarios in which your child laughs too much. Ask you this question - Is this situation particularly funny and laughable or is my child just acting oddly because of (s)he lacks understanding of the situation? If you feel that your child lacks understanding, talk to them in private and ensure them that you are there to understand them and not mock them or be angry at them. Reassure them that if they don't feel right about anything, they can come to you and talk to you; there will be no judgements. If things are out of control and you cannot help manage your child's behaviour, you should consult a child psychologist who can help you solve this problem by taking steps in the right direction.

Pay attention to the situations in which your child laughs too much; this will help you to understand the problem better.

When a child laughs too much

Pay attention to the situations in which your child laughs too much; this will help you to understand the problem better.

The nose is an essential part of our body. It filters the air you breathe, removing dust, germs, and irritants. It warms and moistens the air to keep your lungs and tubes that lead to them from drying out. Your nose also contains the nerve cells that help your sense of smell. When there is a problem with your nose, your whole body can suffer. For example, the stuffy nose of the common cold can make it hard for you to breathe, sleep, or get comfortable. Let's be nosy and find out standard childhood nose related issues : Bacterial Nasal Infections - Minor infections at the opening of the nose, may result in pimples at the base of nasal hairs and sometimes crusts around the nostrils. The infection may result from nose picking or excessive nose blowing and causes annoying crusts and bleeding when the crusts slough off.Broken Nose - A broken nose, also called a nasal fracture, is a break or crack in a bone in your nose — often the bone over the bridge of your nose. Common causes of a broken nose include contact sports, physical fights, falls, and motor vehicle accidents that result in facial trauma. A broken nose can cause pain, along with swelling and bruising around your nose and under your eyes. Your nose may look crooked, and you may have trouble breathing. Treatment for a broken nose may include procedures that realign your nose. Surgery usually isn't necessary for a broken nose.Deviated Septum - The bone and cartilage that divides the inside of the nose in half is called the nasal septum. The most common symptom from a badly deviated septum is difficulty breathing through the nose, which is usually worse on one side. In some cases, it may cause sinus drainage or repeated sinus infections.Nosebleeds - A nosebleed is blood loss from the tissue that lines your nose. The most common causes of nosebleeds are dryness (often caused by indoor heat in the winter) and nose picking. These two things work together — nose-picking occurs more often when mucus in the nose is dry and crusty. Colds also can cause nosebleeds.Post-Nasal Drip - Post-nasal drip occurs when your nose and throat produce excess mucus, often causing you to feel it dripping down from your nose into your throat. Symptoms include Feeling of mucus drainage into the throat, Frequent swallowing, Throat clearing, Sore, irritated throat &amp; Feeling a lump in the throat.Rhinitis (Hay Fever) -&nbsp;Allergic rhinitis is the most common childhood ailment caused by allergies. Symptoms include a runny and itchy nose, sneezing, post-nasal drip and nasal congestion (blockage). A child with allergies may also have itchy, watery, red eyes and chronic ear problems.Runny Nose - A stuffy or congested nose occurs when the tissues lining the nose become swollen. The swelling is due to inflamed blood vessels. The problem may also include nasal discharge or "runny nose." If excess mucus runs down the back of your throat, it may cause a cough or sore throat. A runny nose may be annoying and uncomfortable, but it usually clears up on its own. Occasionally, it can be a sign of a more severe problem. A runny nose may be severe in infants. Prevention tipsAlthough it may not be possible to prevent all nosebleeds in children, a person can take steps to help reduce their occurrence. These include:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Treating allergies to prevent inflammation in the nose·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Using saline (saltwater) nasal sprays to keep the child's nose moist·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Running a humidifier or vaporizer in the child's bedroom to prevent the air from drying out·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Keeping children's nails trimmed to prevent injuries due to nose picking·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Encouraging children to wear appropriate protective equipment during sports or other activities where injury to the nose is possible RememberIf your child has symptoms of any of the above nose related issues/infections, see your paediatrician. Your paediatrician can properly diagnose and treat the infection and recommend ways to help alleviate the discomfort from some of the symptoms.

The nose is an essential part of our body. It filters the air you breathe & removes dust. When there is a problem with your nose, your whole body can suffer. 

Nose related issues in Children

The nose is an essential part of our body. When there is a problem with your nose, your whole body can suffer.

Alihusen Momin

The truth is - it is common for children to experience times of sadness. Although only about 2-3% of children will experience the type and extent of sadness that requires psychologists to diagnose. Which children experience frequent and persistent sad moods – and when?Children are more likely to experience sad moods when they have to deal with tough life circumstances.&nbsp;For example, children who are managing family separation, grief, physical illness, learning problems, family poverty, family ill health or other tough life situations are more likely to experience frequent sadness. What should parents of sad children do? 1. Remind yourself that your sad child is not feeling sad all the time (even if they feel they are).It’s normal for children (and adults) in the midst of sad moods to genuinely feel like they are sad all the time.&nbsp;They will often say to you, “I’m always sad”, they will express excessively negative opinions about their day, the event they just went to, their school day and their friends and classmates.&nbsp;Their self report may suggest to you that there is nothing positive happening for your child and that they feel bad all the time.&nbsp;However, this self report is not 100% true but simply a function of how the human brain works.&nbsp;When we are in negative moods, our brains are designed to focus on the problems.&nbsp;Children (and adults) will subconsciously “block out” positive memories, interactions, people and events when they are feeling bad.&nbsp;But this doesn’t mean they are not there.It is important for parents – and their children - to know that sadness is not constant.&nbsp;Even children who are frequently sad, have many moments each day of being absorbed in a task, enjoying an activity for a moment or to have some periods of time when they are looking forward to something.&nbsp;It’s important for us as parents, and our child, to remember this, and to help them identify these “shades of grey” in their mood.&nbsp; 2. Over time, your child will gradually feel less sad, less often.Persistent and long lasting depression in childhood is extremely rare.&nbsp;The chances are excellent that your child will feel less sad, less often at some point in the near future.&nbsp;Having worked with hundreds of children, I know that almost all children will have reductions in sadness over time.&nbsp;Be assured:&nbsp;it is very likely that life will change for the better for your child at some point.&nbsp;They will adjust to difficult life events, grief will resolve, they will have a change in peer group, they will find an activity or part of life which feels meaningful and interesting for them, or life will change for them in some other way.&nbsp;Even if the sources of sadness do not change significantly, they are likely to learn to think about life and cope with life in ways which make sadness less frequent.&nbsp; 3. As parents you can help your sad child.Parents often feel helpless when their attempts to help their sad child don’t seem to help.&nbsp;They feel like there is nothing they can do.&nbsp;This is not true.&nbsp; As parents we can coach and support our child to help themselves to feel less sad and to cope with tough life events.&nbsp;No, there is no quick and easy fix,&nbsp;but we can make a difference slowly as time passes. Some practical ideas which parents can use to help their child cope with sad times.1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Be empathic.&nbsp;Be “with them”.&nbsp;Say “I’m sorry you had a hard day” and “I’m sorry you are feeling sad at the moment”.&nbsp;2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Try to be patient with your child.&nbsp;Remember your child can’t “make themselves” be positive or happy.&nbsp;3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ask about specific “sad time triggers”.&nbsp;Although children will sometimes be sad “for no reason”, it is more often that there are at least some situations, thoughts or events which do trigger or cause sadness.&nbsp;Try to help children identify at least some of these – and then think about how these can be managed differently (or avoided).&nbsp;4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Although we need to be on the lookout for and ask about triggers, it’s also important to NOT talk endlessly about the sadness or the problems.&nbsp;Having hour long conversations (especially before bed) may make things worse.&nbsp;Tell your child “we will talk about this again soon, but now let’s read a book/watch TV” etc.5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Try to also limit your frustration with others – don’t blame other people for your child’s sadness.&nbsp;Teachers, doctors, parents and other children aren’t the (sole) source of the problem and they can’t “fix” your child either.6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Gently teach children to notice the ups and downs of their mood – pick your moment but empathically challenge comments like “I’m always sad” – feeling this way is part of sadness, but is not 100% true.&nbsp;Ask them to notice when they felt good or interested or absorbed in something and sadness wasn’t their focus.7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Teach children to notice the positive aspects of their day and positive events in the future.&nbsp;Put in “gratitude” exercises around the tea table occasionally and “my interesting week” exercises.&nbsp;Make some of these “past” focused, and others focused on the future.8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Constantly work on social connection – it is very difficult to reduce sadness in children if they are isolated and have no positive source of friendship.&nbsp;Even if there are other obvious sadness triggers (ie grief, family separation, learning problems, health problems) – increasing social connection will help children feel less sad as they deal with them.9.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Keep working on helping your child finding sources of self esteem and meaning.&nbsp;Children (like adults) need to feel they are good at something, or that there is something interesting and important for them to do.&nbsp;10.&nbsp;&nbsp;Work on physical activity, sleep and nutrition.&nbsp;Sadness eases when children are more physically fit and active, get enough sleep and eat well.&nbsp;Don’t neglect these areas.11.&nbsp;&nbsp;Teach children ways to cope with periods of sadness.&nbsp;Help them make a list of “busy brain” activities so that when they are sad they do not withdraw or ruminate for long.&nbsp;Help them use words to tell people about their sadness rather than get angry or cry.&nbsp;Help them identify a problem which triggers their sadness and see if they can come up with potential steps to manage it. Finally, look after yourself.&nbsp;As said several times in this article, supporting children who get sad is a challenging and stressful experience for parents.&nbsp;If you are to manage any challenging and stressful experience, you need to look after your own physical, mental and emotional health.&nbsp;Take care of yourself, talk to others, get professional support, take breaks from parenting or do whatever else works for you in looking after yourself.

The truth is - it is common for children to experience times of sadness. This articles include some practical ideas which parents can use to help their child cope with sad times.

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