219
votes
What age limit is appropriate for using tools (such as screwdrivers, hacksaw, drill, etc.)?
Using tools is not based on age, but instead on maturity and training.
My 9-year-old has his own toolkit. There is a screwdriver, hammer, saw, and a couple other things that are his.
He needs to ask ...
- 22.6k
150
votes
Accepted
Should I be concerned about my 1-year-old and her mother moving in with a man I've never met?
I suggest you invite the guy out for a beer to get to know him. Make it clear that you are not jealous, that you wish them well, and that the only thing you care about his how he treats your daughter ...
- 6,290
140
votes
Seventeen year old daughter wants to take an international trip to meet someone she met online
Either you go with her, or she doesn't go.
I'm not really sure what the correct answer is, but I can tell you that letting her go alone is the wrong answer. She might not even make it to her "friend"...
- 1,269
130
votes
My girlfriend has mentioned disowning her 14 y/o transgender daughter
You are clearly very loving and supportive of your step-child. This is a great gift you are giving to her.
However, it doesn't sound like you have that kind of a relationship with your girlfriend. ...
- 69k
129
votes
Accepted
18-month-old kicked out of church nursery
Since you're talking about church, I take it religious beliefs should be on topic here.
There are two commandments that supersede (and contain) all the others. One of them is
You shall love your ...
- 69k
128
votes
Should a parent delete a teen's social media account if it was handled badly?
Ok, deleting wouldn't do anything. Keeping her activities in secret, is a clear sign to me, that she thinks that you will just be unreasonably forbidding her to do anything in that direction. If you ...
- 2,505
108
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Seventeen year old daughter wants to take an international trip to meet someone she met online
The previous replies do not address the worry about the identity of the girl in CA. One suggestion is to tell your daughter that you and your wife need to talk to the girl in CA via Skype. You can ...
- 841
98
votes
Accepted
Should I be restrictive in my son's interest in electricity?
I'm no parent, but an electrical engineer. So I will focus mainly on the safety aspects, and on how to push him towards safer branches of electronics.
I think encouraging his interest in electronics ...
- 666
90
votes
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Seventeen year old daughter wants to take an international trip to meet someone she met online
The way I see it there are two possibilities, either the story is true or it is not true. And in both cases your daughter needs your help.
If you manage to prevent your daughter from going to see ...
- 1,108
85
votes
Accepted
Is it safer to install a back seat car seat behind the driver or behind the passenger?
The center position is the safest for a car seat. Not only is that somewhat logical (regardless of what side the car is impacted, there's distance between impact and child), but it is supported by ...
- 22.6k
79
votes
Accepted
Can taking my 1-week-old on a 6-7 hours journey in the car lead to medical complications?
Zero distance in someone’s lap. In an accident baby will become a missile and escape the grip...
If the baby is in a properly installed, rated car seat then fine, otherwise how would many parents get ...
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76
votes
What age limit is appropriate for using tools (such as screwdrivers, hacksaw, drill, etc.)?
I would say that 15 is plenty old enough to use a screwdriver or drill or hacksaw. For reference, in my boy scout troop, nearly every boy earned a Whittling Chip (even if they had already earned in ...
- 1,095
74
votes
Accepted
What is the evidence on the danger of feeding whole blueberries and grapes to infants and toddlers?
Summary
Grapes are round and larger than a child's airway and may lead to occlusion.
Food with a smooth, deformable surface can form a tight seal.
Grapes are "the third most common cause of food-...
65
votes
Accepted
My girlfriend has mentioned disowning her 14 y/o transgender daughter
How do I best protect Emily ... from the bullying she's experiencing from [her mother]?
You are in a tricky situation. It's very likely that you will lose your girlfriend and Emily over this issue ...
- 6,563
63
votes
Seventeen year old daughter wants to take an international trip to meet someone she met online
Frist, it's helpful to be clear about what your goals as a parent are. For us, it's always been "help our kids to turn into independent, happy and responsible adults". Don't get stuck on "need to ...
- 7,194
55
votes
Accepted
Precautions against sleepwalking danger
I'm not going to address the "should you have a gate" or not, because it's not relevant here.
When you're a grandparent, one of the hardest things you will do is to recognize that your ...
- 61.6k
52
votes
Does toddler keep hands around private parts?
Although it is always wise to be cautious about the safety of your young child, in general it is developmentally normal and natural (and not at all sexual in the adult sense) for a three year old to ...
- 7,594
47
votes
Should a parent delete a teen's social media account if it was handled badly?
Just find a way to block the internet in the wee hours in the morning.
The taking to strangers, sharing personal info etc. is not so egregious and at 15 especially your daughter is not at risk. As ...
- 627
47
votes
How can I baby-proof my 75" TV?
I'd be more concerned with a 75" TV falling on my infant and hurting him! A 75" television can weigh up to 100 pounds - that's a lot of weight to be falling on a 24 pound infant.
There are ...
- 61.6k
44
votes
Accepted
What can we do about our 9-month-old putting fingers down his throat?
This weird stage is really common, and mostly developmental-- something that most babies will naturally outgrow. It's upsetting and gross, but not harmful. The baby won't actually choke or cause ...
- 7,594
43
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My girlfriend has mentioned disowning her 14 y/o transgender daughter
This is a fantastic question. You are wonderful for your level of consideration given a perplexing situation here.
The Problem: I used to be Emily. It's over 25 years later, and this thing just ...
- 447
41
votes
Should I be restrictive in my son's interest in electricity?
Your son needs a mentor who is experienced in electricity and especially electrical safety. The components he is experimenting with can easily kill a person.
To compound the danger, the ability to ...
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40
votes
Should a parent delete a teen's social media account if it was handled badly?
This is a very subjective question; a lot depends on your daughter's understanding of the world and her ability to police herself. This will most likely be an unpopular answer, but I'm going to give ...
- 69k
39
votes
Can taking my 1-week-old on a 6-7 hours journey in the car lead to medical complications?
As mentioned, a baby should never travel in the car by anything but a child seat that is properly installed (preferably rear-facing). Do not take them out of the seat for any reason while driving: Not ...
- 499
37
votes
Can/should I ask a sitter to take first aid classes?
If it is of that much concern to you then the simple answer is:
Yes - you should have it as a requirement of the job, either that they already hold a CPR training certificate, or that they will be ...
- 26.6k
35
votes
Accepted
If a pregnant woman's tummy is pressed hard, can the baby in her womb get hurt?
It's fine to 'poke' the outside of the baby bump. In fact it's the first 'game' you can play with your little one. :)
Is it okay to poke my pregnant belly?
Sure… if that’s what you want to do. It ...
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35
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Should I be restrictive in my son's interest in electricity?
Let me give an answer from the perspective of an electronics hobbyist who was once a precocious child myself.
The other answers here give very reasonable sets of rules of a kid playing with ...
- 451
34
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I just learned my 15 year old daughter has come out to her friends - should I say anything to her...OR to my wife?
I think Warren Dew offers a good answer there, but if I were in your position I'd want to let my kid immediately that I know about it, that I accept it and that it will never change my love for them (...
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