When it comes to baby stroller manufacturers, Graco is one of the brands that are favored by parents everywhere. This is a reputable brand with extensive experience in producing high quality baby products, such as car seats and dining chairs, baby swings and play yards, and of course baby strollers. If you are thinking about getting a Graco stroller, you are probably familiar with the popular line of products designed by Graco, and you’re looking for a high quality baby stroller.As you can probably see from browsing Graco products, this brand has a vast catalog with all kinds of baby strollers, in all shapes and sizes. Whether you need a stroller meant for walking, jogging or even running, there are suitable models available. It doesn’t matter if you need an individual baby stroller or one designed for twins or triplets (or even quadruplets!), Graco strollers cover all these possible scenarios, and many others that you may not even have thought about. Graco strollers are durable and comfortable, and they include all kinds of specific features. Some Graco strollers are easily foldable, while others include extremely durable materials; needless to say, there are dozens models to choose from in several different colors. Also, Graco strollers are conceived to suit different budgets, so you can find a perfect stroller for you and your baby whether you’re willing to spend a lot of money or even if you need to watch your expenses. This is why there are so many families that favor this brand and cherish their Graco stroller.If there is a brand that makes a serious commitment to provide the most comfort in their designs, for both parents and babies, that’s Graco. These strollers are also known to be extremely durable: many families actually use the same Graco stroller for carrying all their children through their early years, since these strollers easily withstand the test of time. But before settling in on a particular model and making a purchase, make sure to browse through Stroller Reviews website; it has a section dedicated to Graco stroller reviews from real parents.
Posts Tagged ‘Parent’s’
Selecting The Best Stroller – Read Reviews From Other Parents
Saturday, July 17th, 2010Stressed Parents Can Blame Freud and Spock and Trust Guts
Thursday, June 3rd, 201021st century parents may be the most anxious and guilt-ridden parents of any generation. Prior to the 20th century parents viewed children as resilient and that the stresses of life would strengthen them. Today’s parents view children as fragile and believe that only a very careful, closely supervised act of parenting will imbue children with sufficient confidence and self-esteem to succeed.
The 20th century created huge erosion in parental confidence. This was due to multiple factors, some of the most significant were Freud’s claims that all adult neuroses could be traced to parenting mistakes. The behaviorist Watson aided and abetted this view by stating that parents could cause any child to become any kind of person simply by following his behavioral strategies.
Dr. Spock, who was read by millions and frequently changed his views, also supported the notion that parents were the most significant agents in how children turned out. The notion that parents could significantly damage their children through “incorrect” methods of parenting remains a very popular view despite contradictory professional opinions about what children need.
While parent are hugely important, we now know that children are also strongly affected by siblings, peer group, neighborhood, genetics, and socioeconomic level. Changes in the economy have meant that young adults who graduate from college since the early 1970’s have fewer opportunities to become financially independent than did those during prior decades.
Parents worry that children who don’t get into college or into a good college may be closed out of the decreasing opportunities that are available. The likelihood of divorce also contributed to parental anxiety and insecurity. Parents worry that any conflict with their child or between the parents may damage their children or their long-term relationships with them.
Because of divorce, many believe that their relationship with their child may be the one long-term relationship that they can count on. This, along with fewer children, has meant that parents now more strongly value their children and their relationships with them.
In addition, while parents of prior generations spent time with friends and neighbors, today’s parents spend all of their time with their children at the expense of a social life, and often, the well being of the marriage. Speaking with a parenting coach may reduce worry and guilt and, if so, that can be worthwhile. In addition, some children present behavioral challenges and raise questions that do require expert intervention and guidance.
However, many parents need to learn to trust their own instincts. My experience is that parents, more often than not, know the right action, they just feel too worried about it contradicting something that they read on a website or heard on a talk show. When looking for a parenting coach parents should know that there is no uniformly correct way to parent children. Beware any “expert” who states that there is.
Baby Slings Enable Parents to Recreate the Feeling of Being Carried in the Womb
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010A baby sling is the perfect device for parents who want to maintain closeness with their infant while completing tasks around the house and in the community. Many parents choose to literally wear their babies and they do this by using a sling that is designed to carry a baby’s weight while the parent’s hands are free. This promotes attachment with the baby without the fatigue of carrying the baby’s full weight and without losing the use of the arms.
Research has found that babies who are carried cry less than babies who are left on their own. Doctors attribute this to the baby’s connection to the womb. The slings are made of cloth that fits snugly around the infant, creating a warm, close feeling that babies crave.
Babies who are carried in baby slings are also soothed by their parents’ movements. They can feel their parent’s heartbeat and the baby can feel the rhythm of his parents movements as the parent walks. This helps the baby organize movement and it helps the infant form a sense of balance.
Supporters of the baby sling suggest that babies who are held develop social skills earlier. They are able to read nonverbal social cues through motions and facial expressions. They are also more apt to develop language skills earlier as well. Both nonverbal and verbal language has been shown to be directly linked to social skills and the ability to relate to others.
The stimuli that a baby receives through being held help in brain development. Every time a baby is held and carried, synapses in the brain are formed. This brain activity is the foundation for intellectual development. Using a baby sling to stimulate the baby is beneficial to brain development even when he is sleeping.
A baby sling can be used in place of a bulky detachable car seat. Parents who use the slings take their infants and newborns out of the car seat and place them in the slings. The babies are easier to carry in a sling than in an awkward car seat. Many parents also replace strollers with baby slings for older babies. They find that the slings have a calming effect on the little ones and they find that many babies like having a higher point of view, especially during family outings like the zoo.
Before running out to buy a baby sling, it is important to experiment with different styles and constructions. Some may find baby slings to be awkward and difficult to use. Others have difficulty completing tasks like laundry and dishes while wearing the slings and the devices can cause injury if they are not used properly or if the parent bends or makes a sudden, exaggerated movement. It is also important to use a sling that conforms to the baby’s spine for a very young baby to insure that there is no damage to the baby’s spine.
Busy Parent’s Guide to Smart Babies – Part 2
Thursday, April 8th, 2010The first years of life lay the neurological foundation for intellectual growth into adolescence and adulthood. This time represents a unique window of opportunity for learning. From the moment of conception, the neurons (nerve cells) of the brain multiply faster than any other cells in a baby’s body. The rapid pace of brain development continues into early childhood: at birth, the brain weighs 25 percent of its adult weight; by age one, 50 percent; by age two, 75 percent; and by age three, 90 percent.
The brain has approximately 200 billion neurons. A long-held theory that no new neurons can be created in adulthood was recently overturned – although some scientists dispute the new findings. In any case, the prenatal period is when the vast majority of the brain’s neurons are created.
Each of the brain’s neurons is connected to roughly 5,000 others. In general, the more dendrites (branches between neurons) and synapses (connections between neurons) the brain has, the greater its processing power. More pathways mean information can travel in a number of ways, opening the door to faster and more complex thinking.
This is true in the adult, but not in the infant. Your baby’s brain actually has more neurons and synapses than yours – but only because it hasn’t passed an important developmental stage, known as pruning, in which the brain deletes unneeded neural connections in the interests of organization and efficiency.
What can I do during pregnancy?
Your baby’s sense of hearing finishes developing 20 weeks into pregnancy. So this is the time to begin providing auditory stimulation. At around 28 weeks, you and your partner should be able to feel your baby’s movements through Mom’s tummy. This is the time to begin tactile stimulation. You can also try visual stimulation starting from around 28 weeks.
Auditory Stimulation
*Use Baby Plus if you can afford it.
*Play relaxing music – classical, jazz, chill-out and songs designed for meditation or yoga are all suitable. Avoid hard rock and music with a lot of dissonant chords.
*Read, talk and sing to your baby as often as possible (Dad as well as Mom).
Tactile Stimulation
*Massage your baby through Mom’s belly.
*Respond to your baby’s kicks by pressing back gently.
Visual Stimulation
*Try shining a flashlight at your belly, once in a while, to see if it gets a reaction.
Optimize Your Mood
*Mom, try to be as calm and happy as possible. Your mood has a direct effect on the chemicals secreted into your bloodstream. Too much cortisol (the stress hormone) is bad for your baby’s developing nervous system.
*Plan some fun, relaxing couple time – a gentle hike or trip to the beach; a meal at your favorite restaurant or a hotel stay. If you can, go on a babymoon during the second trimester, when moms tend to have the most energy.
Optimize Your Diet
*Eat a healthy, balanced and varied diet.
*Don’t take over-the-counter or prescription drugs without your obstetrician’s approval.
*Don’t drink alcohol, or keep it to one small measure of wine or beer on very special occasions.
*Don’t smoke or take recreational drugs.
*Take folic acid (starting from one month before conception) and DHA supplements.
Teaching Reading And Writing To Your Child – The Benefits To Parents
Thursday, April 8th, 2010Reading and writing with your children can help you to build better relationships with them. Reading involves interacting with your child and allows you to set a time aside that you specifically spend with your child. As you create a relaxed and fun atmosphere reading together, your relationship can become stronger. The more opportunities you get to be with your child alone, the easier it can get for both of you to share, and parents find that other issues affecting their children can be expressed, and once out in the open, are easier to discuss.
Stories in books can be used to explain difficult situations and discuss confusing topics with your children. Whether you’re at home, on the bus, in the shops or at the doctor’s surgery or even hospital, there are countless opportunities to help your child to learn. Teaching your children to read and write gives you the chance to talk with them and read together, plus there are fun ways to develop their writing skills too. As a Parent you will have improved confidence in your ability to provide support for your children. Parents and especially first time parents are buffeted from all directions with information on what they should and should not do. Often parents feel inadequate, and at a loss as to how best to care for and support their children. The simple act of reading and being able to achieve positive results with your child can be a big boost for your confidence and can be a building block for continued support and involvement in the growth and development of your child.
Teaching your child to read and write can provide opportunities to take part in organised activities based in schools or other venues, and form new friendships with other parents through school activities, a neutral place where you can take part in enjoyable, focused activities. This can be particularly useful if you don’t live with your child or your everyday life does not provide opportunities to meet and mix with different people.
Parents with low literacy levels themselves can use this opportunity to learn and develop their own skills. Being able to read and write with your children can provide the motivation and support to join a more formal education class, and create opportunities for voluntary or paid work in schools or the wider community.
So what can you as a parent to help your child read and write better?
As a Parent you need to talk and listen to your children in order to make a good start in teaching them how to read and write. This will give your children an opportunity to hear how language is put together into sentences and prepare them to become readers and writers.
You need to set aside even just 10 minutes a day to read stories with your child as this helps build important skills as well as capturing your child’s interest in books. Books are a rich source of information for your child because they provide certain words which may not be used frequently in everyday conversations. From their earliest days babies enjoy listening to stories and looking at books.
In order to make teaching your child to read and write as easy and enjoyable as possible, choose books that you both enjoy and then spend time reading together and telling stories. You could talk about the pictures and characters in the books and make up your own. You could discuss how your children’s heroes might use books and reading to achieve the things they do.
Teaching your children to read and write does not have to always be formal. You can talk to your children about the world around them and read as you walk down the street and round the shops, pointing out signs and words and talking about them.
Reading together will also help you as a parent to correct your children outside of a disciplining situation which takes the pressure away for both parties. As a parent, you can use examples in the books you are using to teach your child to read and write to help them see things differently. Involve your children in your reading interests, and buy them books as presents. Joining a library and taking them there is another good way of introducing new books.
5 Low-Cost Baby Shower Gift Ideas That Parents Will Appreciate
Friday, April 2nd, 2010A baby shower is a way of announcing to your close friends and relatives how grateful you are to have a baby. If you are an invitee to a baby shower, it is always a good idea to bring something as a gift for the baby.And if you find it difficult to think of what to buy out of the wide array of baby essentials in the department store, here are some inexpensive ideas, which most parents would wish to have for their baby.1. Clothing. One of the basic necessities of a baby is clothing. Baby clothes are available in different sizes for 0-3 months old, 3-6 months, 6-9 months, and so on. It is safer to buy baby clothes which he can use later, because chances are the excited parents might have bought tiny clothes for a newborn.2. Teething Toys. All babies will undergo the teething stage. During this stage, their gums are in pain. To help relieve the pain, they need chew toys. Giving the baby a number of these would be helpful, as it needs to be replaced once they get dirty and wear out. Make sure that the toys are safe for the baby and check for small parts that the baby may swallow.3. Stuffed Toys. Everyone loves stuffed toys and this could be a safe gift for your baby. Some stuffed toys have feature like producing sound. Just make sure that the toy you are going to buy will not cause any allergy to the baby.4. Diapers. Newborn would always need diapers up to their toddler stage. Giving diapers as gift is practical and will help parents save from their daily expenses. The baby needs tons of this and as the he grows and his diaper size also changes. It is also a good idea to ask the parents what type of diaper they opt to use for their baby.5. Baby Books. It is a good practice for parents to read stories for their baby. Giving them books will help in their mental development period. Storybooks will be useful for the baby up to his childhood stage.
My Baby Fingers – Offering Classes For Parents To Learn Sign Language For Babies
Tuesday, March 30th, 2010Bunch the fingers of each of your hands together. Then, with palms facing each other, move your hands together so that all your fingers are touching. This is the American Sign Language (ASL) sign for “more”. Now, hold up three fingers on your right hand – the index, middle and third finger – to form a “W” shape. In this formation, tap the index finger to your mouth a few times. This is the ASL sign for “water”. Imagine how helpful it is for parents to be able to receive the message of “more water” from their young child. A child who may not yet be able to verbally communicate, or who may be hearing impaired, can at least have the ability, and the satisfaction, of being able to communicate some basic needs and wants to others. This communication is the reward for parents who learn sign language for babies.Baby Fingers, an organization in New York, offers sign language classes that teach children, teens and adults to communicate non-verbally. Their original and primary focus is to offer classes that teach sign language for babies. The company’s founder and director, Lora Heller, has long studied music therapy and deaf education. Her work has lead her to conclude that babies and young children who are able to interact with others using ASL are sometimes better able to express themselves than if using speech alone. Based on her studies and conclusions, she developed methods for teaching sign language for babies.The benefits of being able to communicate with young children and babies as young as six months old are extraordinary. Dr. Marilyn Daniels, author of “Dancing with Words: Signing for Hearing Children’s Literacy”, proposes that sign language for young children can “activate formative links in the developing brain; teach phonics, vocabulary, word recognition, and comprehension; become a precursor to the recognition of print; provoke positive feedback from others; …engender feelings of self-worth; and ultimately aid reading and spelling and communicative ability in general.” Such remarkable and rewarding results warrant the parental effort to learn sign language for babies.At Baby Fingers, classes that teach sign language for babies are available for parents and children as young as one month. Classes are taught using a combination of American Sign Language, music, stories, games and dramatic play. Based on Mrs. Heller’s research and experience, classes are designed to increase family communication, enhance a child’s motivation to speak, improve a child’s vocabulary, literacy skills and motor coordination.Lora Heller, MS, MT-BC, LCAT is the founder and director of Baby Fingers and is a Board Certified and Licensed Music Therapist with a Master of Science in Special Education/Deaf Education. Mrs. Heller has offered ASL and music therapy programs at St. Mary’s Hospital for Children, St. Luke’s Hospital Division of Child Psychiatry & Roosevelt Hospital Preschool, The New York School for the Deaf, and the 92nd Street Y.For more information, or to view a class schedule, visit MyBabyFingers.
Preemies: The Essential Guide for Parents of Premature Babies
Thursday, March 11th, 2010
Product Description
Preemies: The Essential Guide for Parents of Premature Babies: This book, written by a neonatologist and parents of premature infants, is a reassuring, yet realistic, guide for parents of a preemie. From pregnancy through babyís homecoming, Preemies gives needed information that helps parents to understand and enjoy life with a new baby. The book features a glossary, questions and answers section, and tools that can help track a babyís progress and development. T… More >>
Preemies: The Essential Guide for Parents of Premature Babies
6 Things How Super Parents Raise And Unleash Smart, Healthy, Happy Baby Genius
Saturday, March 6th, 2010Here are six key concepts which can make a substantial impact on how you interact with your child from the earliest moments of life.
Concept #1. Start Early
The infant brain develops rapidly from the earliest moments of life. Learning can and does begin as early as prenatal-while the child is still in the womb.
- If you are pregnant, then start talking to your baby and play classical music and foreign languages for him.
Concept #2. Make Connections
Brain circuitry develops and grows through connecting cells with information links. The more information links, the more learning capacity.
During the first three years, the creative, highly photographic, sensitive brain is wide open to impressions of all kinds. The brain quickly scans, catalogs and links all new information to the stored images where an association can be found. Connections (synapses) are formed at supersonic speed supplying and further fortifying wonder and curiosity in the mind of a child.
- Teach your child through as many senses as possible using flashcards, classical music, world languages, sensorial toys and games.
Concept #3. Use Quality Stimulation Now (Flashcards, Music and Languages)
The rate of brain regeneration and growth decreases after an infant has reached about 12 months of age. Any cells that are not used will gradually, naturally die off. Overall neurological capacity is determined at a very early stage in life.
University of Chicago neurobiologist Peter Huttenlocher discovered critical information about brain growth. His research showed just how fast the early brain grows. A 28-week-old fetal brain tissue sample showed 124 million brain connections. A newborn brain tissue had 253 million connections, and an eight-month-old infant had 572 million.
“But the growth of the number of connections, Huttenlocher soon learned, slowed down by the end of the first year and stabilized at about 354 million per tissue sample. He says, ‘It was strange… The number of connections kept going up and up and then they started to go down.’
“His research proved that the fetal brain overproduces cells and that unless they find a connection or a ‘job’ to do in the body, they die off. He says that under stimulation and lack of interaction with the outside world causes the cell death. The future number of brain cells could vary by as much as 25% depending on the quality and quantity of enrichment offered to the learner.”
- Maximize the precious first three to six years of your child’s life with a high-quality educational program and loving bonding time.
Concept #4. Teach Both Brains
The brain is divided laterally into two hemispheres-and although they are designed to work together, each has a vastly unique personality and abilities.
Drs. Robert Ornstein and Roger Sperry’s “split-brain” research revealed that we have two distinctly different brains: the right and the left. The left side of the brain processes linear, concrete factual information and is key in language and logic. The right side of the brain processes random, creative, intuitive, multi-sensorial images.
Each side of the brain exhibits certain characteristics:
Left Brain Characteristics Right Brain Characteristics
Conscious awareness Subconscious awareness
Logical thought Abstract thought
Short term memory Long term memory
Slow input Fast input
Linear, sequential, reason Creative, imaginative
Relies on physical senses Relies on intuition
sight, sound, taste, touch, smell resonance with frequencies
Subsequent studies have revealed that each hemisphere contains some of the abilities of the “other side.” Modern education addresses left-brain development. Now we know that when the right hemisphere is developed, the entire brain is activated and all areas of mental performance improve.
-Your child needs to effectively utilize and involve both hemispheres in learning with fast, playful input (right brain) and logic (left brain).
Concept #5. : Maximize the Right Brain Window
The outer cortex of the brain develops from right to left, providing a window of time where an infant is primarily functioning with the right hemisphere.
The brain, like every other organ in the human body, develops and grows at an astounding rate from the moment of conception. The brain develops up from the stem to midbrain to the outer cortex, or cerebrum. As the neocortex develops, the midbrain links to the right hemisphere first and does not begin to link to left brain conscious thought until the child is about age two. This period of development is what we refer to as the “Right Brain Window”-there is no left brain interference or filter of incoming information. This means that the right brain is WIDE OPEN for learning input.
After age three, children begin to actively shift to the logical left hemisphere of the brain. At this point, if the right hemisphere is left unchallenged or unused-or if a child is in a predominately left-brain learning environment-then the left hemisphere will dominate.
- Give your child as many flashcards and other types of high-quality input as possible during the 0-3 year period. Afterwards, keep the right brain open with playful right brain games.
Concept #6. : Be Happy!
The brain is sensitive to subtle frequencies: light waves, sound, thought and emotion.
The left brain works with tangible facts taken in through the outer senses-sight, sound, taste, touch and smell. The right brain recognizes the subtle wave frequencies of light, sound, thought, emotion and magnetism that is not always apparent to the outer senses. The abilities of the right brain are fully explainable when understood within the context of frequency. Light, sound, emotion and thought all travel in waves. These frequencies are utilized in right brain education.
- Teach to all of your child’s senses, including through emotion and thought. Learn how to center your emotional states to reflect peace, calm and love toward the children in your care.
Right Brain education potentially unlock your child potential to have photographic memory, speed reading, multiple language acquisition, computer like math calculation, perfect pitch music, intuition, creativity, invention and advance 3D visualization. Every child born with genius
Busy Parent’s Guide to Smart Babies – Part 1
Friday, February 26th, 2010Are you juggling career and family? Do you find your free time stretched between your baby and older children? If you think you’re too busy to learn about early education, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to pick up the basics in less than 10 minutes.
Why is early learning important?
The first years of life lay the neurological foundation for intellectual growth into adolescence and adulthood. This time represents a unique window of opportunity for learning.
Each of the brain’s neurons is connected to roughly 5,000 others. In general, the more dendrites (branches between neurons) and synapses (connections between neurons) the brain has, the greater its processing power. More pathways mean information can travel in a number of ways, opening the door to faster and more complex thinking.
This is true in the adult, but not in the infant. Your baby’s brain actually has more neurons and synapses than yours – but only because it hasn’t passed an important developmental stage, known as pruning, in which the brain deletes unneeded neural connections in the interests of organization and efficiency.
“Use it or lose it”
The process of pruning is illustrative of the high plasticity (adaptability) of young brains, which are literally sculpted by the environments in which they are raised. Scientific testing of how exactly experience shapes the brain has led to the theory of “critical periods” – specific time periods in which stimulation must occur, or the chance to develop normal functioning will be lost.
The same principle holds true in humans. Scientists have discovered, for instance, that certain areas of the brain are larger and more developed in children who play musical instruments than in those who do not. These include the cerebellum, which processes rhythm and timing, and the corpus callosum, which acts as the conduit for communication between the brain’s left and right hemispheres – vital for musicians coordinating their right and left hands.
Sowing the seeds of intelligence
Early learning programs such as Head Start in the US are producing measurable cognitive and emotional benefits in children – benefits that can last into middle and even high school. In general, the younger intervention is staged, the more significant and long-lived the effects. Full-day educational programs for infants have been shown to produce IQ gains lasting into adolescence.
The question is: why only provide such positive stimulation to children from disadvantaged backgrounds?
Many leading childhood development experts believe that we all have far greater potential in our early years than society gives us credit for. Waiting until school to begin providing consistent intellectual stimulation to a child is no disaster. But in doing so, we miss a unique window of opportunity for learning.
