All Questions
13
votes
8answers
846 views
Is it okay to let a baby cry at bedtime?
My 4-month-old has a set bedtime routine and will generally go happily to sleep - but occasionally (for no particular reason) he'll work himself up into a fit and cry for long periods of time, ...
13
votes
4answers
419 views
When upgrading our toddler from a cot to a bed, how do we keep him in his bed?
We want to convert our son's cot into a bed this weekend (starting Friday evening). We think it's time to transition because he often tries to climb out (but fails yet), and during daytime playing he ...
13
votes
5answers
444 views
What are some suggestions for helping with potty training?
I have been potty training my daughter over the past few days and its not going to well. How can I figure out if she is just not ready for it or I should try other techniques. We came up with a ...
13
votes
1answer
447 views
Why does my son behave better when he's alone with one parent than with both?
Whenever I'm alone with my son, we play, have fun, and he even plays alone with his toys for a long time; this also happens when my wife is alone with him.
However, when we are both present, he ...
13
votes
3answers
133 views
Should I make a particular effort to present great women of history to my daughter?
I always had my heroes as I grew up. I always liked to read about great people, and of course this more often than not meant read about great men. On my time as a child very rarely important women of ...
13
votes
6answers
289 views
How can I help my child learn to learn better?
I'm looking for strategies to improve my child's learning skills.
I want my child to be a life-long learner -- to pick up new things easily, and to learn even when not being given formal instruction ...
13
votes
2answers
205 views
How do you teach a child to receive gifts graciously?
With the holidays approaching, many children are scouring fliers and dreaming of things they would love to have.
How do you teach a child to receive gifts graciously, especially when they receive ...
13
votes
4answers
1k views
How can we potty-train our pre-schooler outside the home?
We're having problems with our 3.5 year-old boy concerning potty training:
Since his birth it seems, that being cleaned is much more unpleasing to him than running around with brimful diapers for ...
13
votes
2answers
912 views
Does it hurt my baby (developmentally) if she watches while I'm on the computer?
I have a 6 month old who likes to stare at my glowing computer while I code or browse the internet. Most of what I view is text or static web pages, so it's not content I'm worried about her viewing, ...
12
votes
12answers
2k views
When is physical punishment appropriate? [closed]
In what instances do you feel that striking your child is the most appropriate course of action?
12
votes
7answers
3k views
What is the impact on kids of having two working parents?
Having grown up with a stay-at-home mom, I wonder what negative impact not having a SAH parent has on young children and elementary school children (who are in alternative care after school). Let's ...
12
votes
13answers
3k views
How do you explain “Right” and “Left” politics to a child without bias?
I'm curious what the correct way would be to explain the difference between right wing and left wing politics to a child without even a hint of bias and without indoctrinating them. Here's my stab:
...
12
votes
4answers
613 views
3 year old tantrums in public
Yesterday we (wife, 3 year old son, 6 year old daughter, me) were at a mall. After we stepped off the moving pavement my son decided that he wants to go another direction, and pulled his hand out of ...
12
votes
6answers
1k views
Raising a bilingual child when one parent knows both languages while the other doesn't
I am in the USA, originally from India, and my wife is American. My native language is Hindi. My wife knows only a little bit of Hindi. It hasn't been a problem because we usually talk in English ...
12
votes
6answers
7k views
At what age should siblings stop sharing their bedroom?
Currently we have one bedroom for our two daughters. Until what age can they share their room?
12
votes
6answers
300 views
How soon until I can take my newborn to take a walk outside?
I understand that newborn's immune system is still weak and crowds/strangers are to be avoided. Knowing this, how soon can I take my newborn outside, for example to take ~1 hours walk in a non-crowded ...
12
votes
7answers
6k views
Why does my child eat so slowly?
When we have a family meal, the middle daughter will always take her time. I mean up to 2 hours, to finish a meal, especially if its not her kind of food. She'll get very easily distracted, sing to ...
12
votes
11answers
622 views
What are some hacks and gadgets for a soon-to-be dad?
My wife's pregnant, and December I am going to be a father for the first time. Apart of being happy and exited, I am asking myself:
1) Are there any hacks I could apply to this new life situation?
...
12
votes
4answers
625 views
What do we do to minimize negative impact to our child when we (the parents) argue?
My wife and I have 8 month old baby boy. Having a fight, for example debating, is something that we don't want to do.
But sometimes, we can't avoid having a fight in front of our son. When the ...
12
votes
5answers
399 views
How to begin reading to an active toddler?
Occasionally I come across an article describing that parents read to their kids. I like that, but I am not sure how and when to start doing so.
In fact, this question is not really about my son, ...
12
votes
7answers
502 views
Can a toddler spend too much time with books?
Back when we were still expecting our son to be born, we were told all about how important it was to read to our son, even before he was born.
Being avid readers ourselves, my wife and I felt this ...
12
votes
7answers
968 views
Why don't kids like vegetables?
I am sure there are children out there who do like munching on broccolis and feasting on spinach, but most of the children I know don't like veggies. Mine are especially suspicious of anything ...
12
votes
7answers
2k views
How often should I bathe my newborn?
He's starting to get pimples. We had thought that we only needed to bathe him once a week, though I can't remember where we read that.
12
votes
8answers
2k views
When should you start brushing your child's teeth?
My seven-month-old son just cut his first two teeth. When do we start to brush them? Is two teeth enough to brush? Or should I wait until he has more? If so, how many more?
12
votes
8answers
2k views
Can a son share a bed with his girlfriend, at 27?
Your son is 27 and due to financial problems, you've invited him to move home. His 30 year old girlfriend is coming to stay. Should you oppose them sharing his double bed during her visit?
This ...
12
votes
4answers
1k views
What consequences are appropriate for pre-teens?
There comes a time when time-outs don't cut it anymore.
Normally, when my kids exercise poor judgement, I let them experience natural consequences. However, sometimes their actions go against what we ...
12
votes
7answers
984 views
How much of an effect does parenting style have on a child?
I'm not a parent and I haven't done as much research as anyone on this website.
This question is motivated by looking at many of my friends. Sometimes, I find that one sibling is a high achiever, ...
12
votes
3answers
693 views
How can we discipline our toddler?
TL;DR version: Toddler doesn't understand disciplining. Help needed.
At 22 months, our toddler is incredibly active and always has been. He's also mostly very well-behaved, especially when being ...
12
votes
5answers
6k views
How do I teach my child to speak in sentences?
My son is 2.3yrs. Right now we keep reading books for him. He pays attention only for some time. We also keep teaching letters and numbers during his bed time or during his bath. When asked he repeats ...
12
votes
6answers
335 views
Why is my baby crying?
What's a good sorted list of potential causes to check when my baby cries and I don't know why? I need something I can print out in advance because I can't think very clearly once the crying starts.
12
votes
5answers
1k views
When should kids be allowed to walk/bike to school alone?
My 9-year-old is asking to bike to school without adults. He is generally responsible. So far I have said he needs to find a friend to go with him.
What can children do to convince their parents ...
12
votes
7answers
897 views
How do I put my child in time-out when we're in public?
What is the recommended thing to do when my kids are misbehaving in public?
For instance, I have had situations where they are yelling and throwing stuff in a restaurant, or the other day they one ...
12
votes
4answers
394 views
My son witnessed a friend receiving corporal punishment; how do I prevent this from sending the wrong message?
As I was picking my son up from daycare the other day, another boy's "Nanny" (grandmother, I presume) was picking him up at the same time. The boy was playing, and grabbing on to other children's ...
12
votes
9answers
786 views
What are the basic items we should buy to receive our new baby?
We've being looking online for a to buy list of basic items we should buy before having a baby. We are planning to move so we want to buy just the basic needs.
12
votes
4answers
338 views
Is the child obesity epidemic biasing growth charts?
The prevalence of obesity in children is increasing. Is this biasing the growth charts that physicians use to assess normal growth? In other words are children that would have been in the 50th ...
12
votes
5answers
431 views
Would it be bad to only speak to a child in a language in which you are not completely fluent?
My husband and I can speak daily conversational Mandarin, probably at the fluency and vocabulary of a native 3rd grade speaker. So decent, but not great. We speak 99% of the time in Mandarin to our ...
12
votes
2answers
890 views
Are trace amounts of caffeine through breastmilk safe for babies?
I am a student parent and find that coffee helps me study. I drank coffee while pregnant and kept it well under the daily allowed amount. I am unsure what I can have while breastfeeding though. How ...
12
votes
6answers
924 views
How can we improve a trilingual toddler's basic language development?
Bilingual and trilingual kids have a slower language development than others, so this is probably quite normal, but our 14 month old daughter talks a lot but doesn't use any words, not even for mum ...
12
votes
4answers
789 views
How does having a second child change your life?
Most parents would probably agree that having a child will deeply change your life. But how does having a second child change your life?
Second-time parents won't be much surprised about the smell ...
12
votes
5answers
385 views
How does one address Christianity with their children in a mixed faith marriage?
I am Christian (though admittedly, liberally so) while my husband is Agnostic. He agrees that it is appropriate for our child to receive some education in my faith, but we have been unable to find a ...
12
votes
2answers
314 views
How do I explain to a 4 year old that our family pet is sick and needs to be put down?
My son loves our 9 year old cat very much. The cat was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer a couple of months ago, and has reached the point where we will soon need to make arrangements to put the ...
12
votes
4answers
182 views
How can we prepare a pre-schooler to manage his asthma?
Given: a 5 year old kid with what is believed to be false spasmodic croup. Once in several months he experiences a sudden asthmatic fit in the middle of the night - specifically he has a mild spasm in ...
12
votes
2answers
345 views
Cleaning bathtub toys that squirt water
What is the best way to clean out bath toys that store water?
Specifically, we have quite a few toys that have a hole in the bottom and can suck in water and squirt it out when squeezed. A few of ...
12
votes
3answers
481 views
Are there any reputable studies on spanking?
Is there any scientific evidence that non-harmful spanking does or does not exist? Furthermore, is it ever effective (whether or not it is harmful)?
11
votes
4answers
3k views
My son Is 5 years Old and sexually active
I am a 20 years old female student and I have a 5 years old son who is really sexually active. For instance, he kisses girls by force, he forces them to lick his penis, he "fingers" them, he speaks ...
11
votes
11answers
3k views
Do parents of teens need a locked liquor cabinet?
I had this debate with some friends who have older children. We keep our liquor in the cupboard above the fridge. When they get a bit older (still just 8 and 10) and could potentially be tempted ...
11
votes
11answers
1k views
What to buy to prepare for the arrival of a new baby?
Our baby is going to be born in a few months, what should we make sure we have before she gets here?
11
votes
9answers
2k views
How can we make our newborn breastfeed less frequently?
We have a new baby (almost two weeks old). For the past 8-9 days she's had a habit of Breastfeeding every hour during the afternoons. She can spend 30mins feeding, then 30mins active and gurgling, ...
11
votes
10answers
948 views
How can I get my 4 year old to clean up toys without a battle?
Multiple times during the day, we have our 4 year old take a break from playing to clean up her toys. It's a huge battle every time. Usually, she ends up on the ground saying that there are too many ...
11
votes
6answers
760 views
Can we afford to have a baby?
I'm not a parent (yet!), but the wife and I are seriously thinking about starting a family. We both really want kids, but I'm just worried about the financial strain a baby could have on us.
Am I ...
