Pets are those adorable little souls that make this world a better place to live in. They provide us with comfort and good vibes with their charming presence.

There are many advantages to having a family pet. One of these benefits is that having a pet helps lower stress levels. As a matter of fact, a study conducted in 2002 by the State University of New York at Buffalo concluded that people with a pet near them experience lower levels of stress than when a family member is near.

Another benefit of having pets at home is that they improve the family’s immune system, especially in children. Immunotherapy as experts call it, means that pets usually expose children to many different living organisms that help strengthen their immune system compared to those children who do not have family pets growing up.

1) Choose A Pet That Is Not Harmful For Your Family’s Health

When choosing a pet, consider factors such as allergies. Not everyone can handle furry friends because it can sometimes be harmful to them if they get exposed to these for long hours. Also, if you have younger children and you have reasons to doubt if they can handle pets, consulting your family pediatrician first to get professional advice is a great idea.

If some of your family members have allergies, consider picking a fish for a family pet. If your family is set on a furry friend, check out Pride and Prejudoodles on Pinterest for pets who have been coat tested against shedding.

2) Choose A Pet According To Your Family’s Income Capacity

Choose a pet you can afford. This does not only mean that you have to choose a pet you can buy but also you need to take into account the cost of maintaining and keeping one. For one, a dog which is a larger breed will consume more food than a dog of a smaller breed. Check if your family income can afford pet food, pet vitamins and pet injections.

Moreover, you also need to consider veterinary costs. Some pets, like cats, require regular general check-ups. Vet costs can be pricey especially if you have a lot of pets that need check-ups. Consider this before taking on the responsibility of being a pet owner.

3) Choose A Pet According To Your Home’s Capacity

Another consideration would be your home’s capacity. Can the new family pet have adequate space in your home? Can an additional pet still be accommodated and afforded with a sufficient level of comfort?

If you live in a relatively big house, you may accommodate large breeds of dogs. However, if you live in a small apartment, consider a smaller pet like a fish, rabbit, hamster, or a laid-back cat.

4) Consider Getting To Know The Pet First Before Bringing It Home

Before you decide to bring your potential family pet at home, consider getting to know its quirks and hot buttons first. Not all breeds of cats or dogs have the same personalities. Is the new dog comfortable with children’s touch? Is the cat a scratcher?

Consider these things before exposing your family to the pet. Make sure that you choose a pet that is well-trained and well-behaved. You would not want your dog biting your child or your cat scratching you.

Being a first-time parent is a beautiful thing but it can also be quite daunting. And as soon as people know you are expecting, advice pours in like an avalanche of information.

In fact, I think that if every mom earned a diaper for every tidbit of information or recommendation they received during pregnancy, they’d have enough diapers to last 2 years.

The intentions of those giving advice are good, but it can be overwhelming. So how are first-time parents supposed to know what is essential for their own baby and their individual household?

Read on to learn 5 of the most important parenting tips for first-time parents.

1. Sleep When Your Baby Sleeps

Your baby is tiny and fragile and you want to make sure she’s safe even when she’s asleep. She is OK. Get some sleep.

She’s also the most beautiful creature you’ve ever seen, so you want to take that beauty in, even when she’s sleeping. Don’t. Get some sleep.

You think that while she sleeps you should be doing laundry or cleaning. Don’t. Get some sleep. Sleep deprivation can creep up on you quickly, and before you know it you’re emotionally and physically drained.

The very best thing you can do for you and your family as a first-time parent is getting as much sleep as you can.

2. Stock Your Pantry

First-time parents tend to worry about how to be a good parent, especially when it comes to a new baby.

One thing that is essential to keep an eye on when caring for a newborn is their temperature during a fever. Make sure you have an excellent thermometer so you aren’t waking up at 2 am wondering if you should be calling your doctor.

Stock up on Pedialyte, Infant’s Motrin, Infant’s Tylenol, nail clippers, Q-tips, a syringe aspirator, vaseline, coconut oil, and diaper rash cream. The last thing you want to do when you have a new baby is google a 24-hour pharmacy at 2 am.

Check out 5 quality baby items here that are worth the investment.

3. Figure out Your Car Seat

Babies can come early, sometimes even 6 weeks early. If there’s anything you should have ready beforehand, it’s the car seat.

Buy a car seat and install it properly. The hospital won’t let you leave without one, and they won’t let you leave if it isn’t properly installed. If you have any doubts about whether you’ve installed it correctly, find a tech or a police station near you who will check it out for free.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed at the thought of buying a carseat, check out our recommendations and how to find the right one for your child.

4. Get Your Diapers Delivered

Nothing is worse than changing a giant poop and realizing you’ve just thrown out the last diaper.

Get them delivered. It’s cheaper, it’s easier, and it’s one less thing you have to worry about.

Loco Direct has wholesale prices, speedy delivery, and plenty of samples.

5. Don’t Stress

Enjoy your time at home with your little one. Enjoy your partner. And relax.

Every worry or question that you have is a worry or question that a thousand other parents have had. Own your questions and ask them. Call your doctor rather than spending all day wondering.

Text a friend or a relative for parenting advice. You won’t bother them. They’ll be thrilled to help.

Let your partner take over and learn too. Even if you’re the type to want to control and do everything yourself, your life and your baby’s life will be better if someone else learns how to do those things too.

Sticking to a Few Simple Parenting Tips Will Make Life Easier

While it may be tempting to be the world’s best first-time parent, don’t try to do it all.

Stick to a short list of parenting tips and make those count. Everything else will fall into place as you learn something new each day.

And if you’d like to learn more, click here for all things baby.

Enjoy your time with your little one and your partner and have fun!

If you’re a mom-to-be, one of the most important baby purchases you can make is a car seat. Car seats have been shown to reduce the risk of death by over 70% when children age one and younger are involved in a car accident.

However, finding the right car seat isn’t so easy. There are so many models to choose from that it can be overwhelming, especially for first-time parents.

But we have a few tips to help make car seat shopping a little less stressful. Here are seven things to keep in mind for buying car seats that can help you narrow down your choices.

1. Match the Seat to Your Vehicle

That’s right; before you actually match the car seat to your child, you’ll want to make sure it will fit your vehicle. Just as it’s important to choose the right car for your family, you need to choose the right car seat for your vehicle.

Consult with your owner’s manual to learn how the car seat is tethered (either the LATCH system or a seat belt) and how much back seat space you have to work with.

Measure the base of the back seat and the distance to the back of the front seat to make sure the car seat you have in mind will fit.

The back seat is the safest place for your child in a collision and the location also keeps them protected from airbag injuries. You’ll want to make sure the car seat you want will fit there and that your vehicle enables LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) in the back.

Also, if you regularly transport other children you’ll need to consider if they have enough room back there riding with a car seat.

2. Buy a New Seat

It’s tempting to want to buy a used car seat or one that was never used and a few years old. But manufacturers are improving car seats constantly, so to ensure you have the most up-to-date safety features, go for a brand new seat.

You also don’t always know the history of a used car seat. It may have been involved in a crash, which means parts are missing or the overall safety may be compromised.

A car seat is a baby accessory that is worth spending the extra money on. Your seat should display the JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association) stamp on the box. This confirms that the seat meets the latest safety standards.

3. Check For Ease of Use

Nothing is more frustrating than buying a new car seat and finding out it’s complicated to install.

Choose a car seat that’s been rated by the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) for ease of use. Car seats with four or five stars have the clearest instructions on how to install it in your vehicle.

4. Consider a Convertible or All-In-One Car Seat

Technically there are four types of car seats depending upon the age and weight of your child. They are infant car seats, convertible car seats, 3-in-1 car seats, and booster seats.

Typically, most parents buy a rear-facing infant car seat and use it until their child turns two. Then they switch to a seat made for toddlers that faces front. Children later progress to an all-in-one car seat and eventually a booster seat until they’re old enough to wear a seat belt.

A convertible car seat offers the best of both worlds as your child grows. Once your child becomes a toddler, a convertible car seat can be turned around so it faces forward. This can save you time and money later on instead of having to buy a second car seat made for toddlers.

An all-in-one seat will extend the need for a car seat until your child no longer requires a booster seat. However, these seats can be cumbersome and don’t replace the convenience that lightweight infant car seats offer.

Infant car seats are smaller and easier to install and remove from your vehicle.

5. Choose a Seat With the Right Features

A top-of-the-line car seat isn’t worth all that much if it won’t protect your child in an accident.

At a minimum, your car seat’s should come equipped with a five-point harness and padding to help insulate your child’s head and neck in a collision. It should also be compatible with your vehicle’s LATCH system is that is how you prefer to secure it in your car.

An anti-rebound bar is another common feature being added to the latest car seats to help minimize movement during an accident. Look for these basic safety features when choosing the right car seat.

Convenience is also an important factor. Many manufacturers are offering car seats that rotate and swivel to make it easier to place your child in your vehicle and get them out.

Check out this guide for more information on 360 rotating and swivel car seats.

6. Consider Easy Care Fabric

Another car seat feature to consider is easy care fabric. Babies, toddlers, and kids can be messy, and certain materials clean up quicker than others.

If the ability to clean the seat is important, look for seats made of smooth fabric like nylon versus textured ones like corduroy which can trap food and beverages.

7. Consider Portability

Some parents are OK with leaving a car seat permanently installed in their vehicle until their child outgrows it. But sometimes it’s nice to have a car seat that can be easily removed and placed in another vehicle.

There are also car seats designed to be placed in strollers.

If this quality is important to you, you’ll want to look for a seat that is on the lighter and smaller side and built for versatility. Some car seats can weigh up to 20 or 30 pounds by themselves which certainly doesn’t make them convenient for toting around.

Buying Car Seats Doesn’t Have to be Confusing

Buying car seats doesn’t have to be confusing and stressful for parents.

By focusing on what’s most important to you, you can weed out the models that don’t fit your criteria and find the right car seat. Above all, the one you choose should be designed to protect your child in case of an accident.

Here at Kids Ain’t Cheap we love helping parents make the best purchasing decisions for them and their kids.

For more posts on choosing baby products, check out our baby stuff section.

We all know that the earlier we plan for retirement, the better off we will be when we get there. If you are a parent, you also know how difficult it can be when we consistently put our children first. Which is more important, the college fund or the retirement fund?

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Writing a resume isn’t easy. Whether your child is writing their first resume or updating their resume for a career search, it never gets easier. Learning how to write one can encourage your child to explore multiple career options. Here are some tips for helping your children find the right career that’s suitable for them. 

Be Supportive 

You want to be a supportive parent, not a helicopter parent. Think of yourself as someone who’s uplifting your children and supporting them in whatever path they choose. While helping them with their resume give them a boost, they’re the ones who are using this resume to explore new possibilities. 

Helicopter parents hover over their children’s career path and goals. Some of them even accompany their children to their job interviews. You don’t want to become that kind of parent. Make sure you’re a supportive parent, not someone who’s watching their every move. Their future is at stake, so it’s up to them to work on their resume. 

Don’t Write it For Them

Just like you shouldn’t do their homework for them, you shouldn’t write their resume for them. Writing a resume takes a lot of trial and error. There are 30-something adults who are still learning how to perfect their resumes to this day. Teach your kids how to fill out a job application, resume, cover letter, etc. but don’t offer to do it for them. They have to learn from their own mistakes. 

It might be easier to write their resume yourself than to teach them how to do it, but you should resist this though. It’s a growing experience that they need. Give your children advice such as writing a thank-you note shortly after a job interview. They can practice by writing you a thank-you note so they can also perfect this key step to landing a job. 

Identify Their Strengths 

It’s important for your children to identify their strengths on their resume. This is known as strength spotting and your children can help you with this step. Note the times where your child performed their best, whether it was individually or within a group. All of these skills can be highlighted on their resume. 

It’s also recommended that your child take a strength-identifying exercise such as the Myers-Briggs test or the Strong Interest Inventory. If your child is good at collecting their thoughts before they speak, you make suggest that they should become a lawyer. But this skill can apply to a wide variety of careers, so why suggest they should follow a certain career path? Identify strengths that help them find their perfect career. 

Use Your Own Network 

The Occupational Outlook Handbook by the Bureau of Labor Statistics has over 25 career categories and hundreds of jobs descriptions under each one. It even lists the salaries for each of these careers. While you’re not aware of all of most of these careers, it’s a good idea to refrain from suggesting certain careers. Allow your child to find their dream career so they can carve their own path. 

Once your child has found a few careers they’re interested in, you can use your network to help them out. This isn’t considered cheating since you’re teaching them how to network. You can connect them with professionals who can interview them or shadow them. Maybe one of these networking opportunities could end up as an internship or mentorship. 

Don’t pressure your kids to follow in your footsteps. If they do want to pursue the same career, they’d rather figure out how to get there on their own. It’s part of growing up and becoming an adult.

Mental Health Disorders Depression Bipolar Newspaper Headlines 3d Illustration

Do you suspect that your child has a behavior disorder? If they are acting out more than usual or if their grades at school are suffering, there might be an underlying problem.

While this information is not a substitute for a medical diagnosis, it might help you determine if you need to take the next step. There are treatments for childhood disorders and early intervention often leads to more positive outcomes.

There are many types of behavioral disorders in children. We outline the most common below, along with common symptoms and treatments for each.

1. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is a neurobehavioral disorder that results in high levels of impulsive behaviors. Common traits of ADHD include inattention and hyperactivity. The symptoms of ADHD appear between the ages of 3-6 years old.

Symptoms include an inability to sit in place, difficulty concentrating or focusing, and interrupting others.

ADHD is one of the most common childhood disorders. Like most behavior disorders in children, it can be treated. According to Healthline, over 6 percent of children in the United States are being treated for ADHD with medication.

Besides medication, psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, or talk therapy are effective treatments for ADHD.

2. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

According to the CDC, autism affects roughly 1 in 59 children. Autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning each child diagnosed faces different challenges. There are also many subtypes of autism.

The rate of learning varies from child to child. The way one child with autism learns and solves problems may be different than another.

Symptoms of autism appear around the age of two or three.

Some children without autism may share some symptoms. That’s why it’s important to rely on a medical professional to make a diagnosis. BlueSprig Autism is dedicated to helping children with autism and specializes in ABA therapy.

3. Depression

Major depression may impact your child’s mood, behavior, sleep patterns, and focus. Depression affects children as well as adults. However, symptoms may be different in children.

Children with major depression may have mood swings and cry more often. They might get into trouble at school or lose touch with their friends and playmates. A decline in cognitive function may also result in poor grades.

Childhood depression is different from feeling blue. Depression is persistent and may be recurring. A doctor will be able to diagnose your child if they have symptoms of depression.

4. Anxiety Disorder

Like depression, children may also have an anxiety disorder. While anxiety is a natural response to stress, high levels of anxiety that interfere with daily life may indicate a bigger problem.

Both adults and kids feel anxious. Children may get nervous before a test, or on the first day of school, for example. But if their feelings of stress are impacting life at school and home they may have an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety is so common that it affects one in eight children. Your son or daughter may experience nervousness in class or be unusually shy around other children.

Also like depression, a doctor will diagnose anxiety and recommend treatment. Methods for treatment may vary. It depends on the type of anxiety your child has but often include therapy and medication.

If your child has anxiety, it’s important to support them and learn more about the disorder.

5. Bipolar Disorder

A symptom of bipolar disorder is extreme mood swings. Someone with bipolar disorder shifts from an extreme high (mania) to a severe low (depression). This diagnosis is more common in adults, but children may have bipolar disorder as well.

Children may show different depressive symptoms, such as irritability instead of outright depression. It may be difficult for them to put on weight. They also might display periods of extreme silliness even when it is not appropriate.

Again, only a doctor can diagnose bipolar disorder. Medication and therapy are common treatments for this disorder.

6. Expressive Language Disorders

Young children may have an Expressive Language Disorder or a communication disorder. A language disorder affects roughly 10-15 percent of children under three years old.

Children experiencing a language disorder may have difficulties talking or understanding others. Errors in tense and comprehension are common symptoms.

Your child may say words in the wrong order, struggle to think of the right word or mix up past tense and present tense.

Some of these issues are a normal part of language development and your child may not have a disorder at all. Other causes of language learning issues may relate to hearing problems or autism. That’s why it’s important to seek a medical opinion.

Your child’s doctor may recommend seeing a speech-language therapist. Speech therapy may be one-on-one or performed in a group.

7. Conduct Disorder or Oppositional Defiant Disorder

A child with ODD may have difficulty listening to authority such as a parent or a teacher.

Other signs include an inability to follow rules or behave in public. Behaviors may include loud or destructive behavior. All children have tantrums, but a child with ODD may be defiant, resistant, and angry.

Children with this disorder might be argumentative for no reason and lash out. A child with ODD might have trouble making or keeping friends and struggle in school.

ODD may turn into a conduct disorder if left untreated. If diagnosed, behavioral therapy helps young children learn to control their emotions. ODD requires long-term therapy to be the most successful.

Parents of ODD children may feel exhausted and frustrated at times. If you are a parent of a child with ODD, you might want to seek advice from a therapist. A therapist can help you learn to deal with your feelings and help support your child.

Diagnosing the Different Types of Behavioral Disorders

If you suspect one of these common child disorders, seek professional medical advice. Only a medical professional can diagnose your child with any of these types of behavioral disorders.

If diagnosed, there are many treatment options available to you and your child. Behavioral therapy is an effective treatment. Doctors may also prescribe medication depending on the situation.

Therapy can be expensive, but there are financial options out there. Check out our toolkit section for helpful resources and links.

Does your child suffer from anxiety?

There are more than 2.6 million children and adolescents in the United States with anxiety/and or depression. This means that 1 in 20 children and adolescents are living with these conditions.

Anxiety can cause a wide range of physical symptoms but can also have a severe impact on an individual’s quality of life. Despite the severity of these symptoms, the good news is that your child may be able to live more comfortably with this condition.

Read on to learn about the benefits of Kratom for anxiety!

What Is Kratom?

Kratom is a tropical tree that is grown in South Asia but has made its way around the world. The benefits of kratom are found in its leaves, which are an ingredient in supplements sold over the counter.

Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not given its stamp of approval, people across the country use it to self-treat anxiety and depression.

Since Kratom has not been approved by the FDA, it is sold as a dietary supplement in the United States.

How Kratom Works

Kratom for pain and anxiety may sound surprising at first but don’t be taken aback.

Kratom is a type of opioid in the same class as morphine and codeine but has a unique but important ingredient called mitragynine.

This ingredient is active in your brain where it reduces pain by connecting to opioid receptors. By latching on to these receptors, users can experience positive effects on their mood, including decreased anxiety and an improved mood.

This will help you and your child enjoy each day together to the fullest!

The Most Common Ways to Use It

The Kratom dosage required to give potential health benefits to someone varies from person to person.

So too does the way that Kratom is ingested by an individual. For children, you may find that the best way to administer Kratom is through capsules or tablets.

But if your child has a hard time swallowing pills, Kratom leaves can be crushed up into powder and put into apple sauce or other foods.

That can be a good way to expose your child to Kratom in a less stressful way.

If you are looking for other ways to give your kids Kratom, check out The Kratom Connection!

Wrapping Up: The Benefits of Kratom For Anxiety

The benefits of Kratom for anxiety have been experienced by people of all ages across the world. But you mind find that your children also respond positively to the use of this natural leaf.

Your child’s day-to-day life can be improved through the use of Kratom as part of their diet. That’s because it may help them avoid the feelings and physical manifestations that come from anxiety.

It’s important to remember that like most other prescription drugs or supplements, you should speak to a trusted medical professional to find out what is best for your child’s situation.

Are you looking to learn other ways to improve your child’s health?

Check out our blog post on ‘Last Minute Health Care Tips For Parents’!

Zambia can lay claim to being one of Southern Africa’s most alluring and unusual locations, with this landlocked province home to a number of naturally beautiful landmarks and sights.

Unfortunately, Zambia us to be one of the region’s most underrated and overlooked tourist destinations, particularly among those looking to book and immersive safari experience.

That’s all changed now over recent years; wherever you live on the planet, the safari has seen an explosion in popularity with people booking everything from Tanzania safari holidays and tours to Zimbabwe getaways-and that’s in large part thanks to leading experts who know what it takes to make an safari experience truly unforgettable.

For those of you lucky enough to be heading on a Zambia safari for your holidays, or if you’re thinking of booking a trip anytime soon, here’s our guide to some of the nation’s leading sites.

Victoria Falls

The famous explorer David Livingstone has uncovered many natural wonders, but it’s rumoured that he was completely besotted when he encountered Zambia’s Victoria Falls.

Apparently he uttered the words “scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight”, and we reckon that this represents an accurate description of Zambia’s most incredible landmarks.

More than one hundred years on, this stunning waterfall is still as breath-taking as ever, whether you gaze upon the rainbow from the Knife Edge Bridge or enjoy a panoramic view from aboard a helicopter.

You may even choose to take your place at the foot of this meaningful and visually impressive site, but either way we’d recommend that you make a trip to Victoria Falls a leading priority when visiting Zambia.

Shiwa Ng’andu Manor

Beyond the granite hills that form the tail end of the Great Rift Valley, there’s a quaint and iconic manor house known as Shiwa Ng’andu. 

The jewel in the crown that is the Muchinga Province, this stunning structure was built by an English soldier called Sir Stewart Gore Browne more than one hundred years ago, and it enjoy incredible views of Lake Shiwa Ng’andu.

If you enjoy active holidays, we’d recommend hiking up the Nachipala Bareback Hill to enjoy the very best views, while the house is also within a stone’s throw of a natural hot spring in Kapishya.

During your hike, you may even come across the Chusa waterfalls, which sit just 10 kilometres from the hot spring. You can even enjoy water rafting here, although this activity is probably best reserved for those who are experienced rafters and boast a relatively comprehensive skill-set.

Lake Kariba

For those who reside in Zambia’s capital city Lusaka, Lake Kariba has emerged as an increasingly popular getaway.

There’s good reason for this too; with approximately 2,000 kilometres of golden and idyllic shoreline offering tranquillity and relaxation in equal measure.

One of the best ways to soak up the sun here and make the most of this location is to take out the houseboat at dusk or daybreak, as this offers you access to spectacular views and fascinating species of wildlife.

This can be hired at different times and on various terms, and there’s no doubt that this type of excursion represents genuine value for money. It also offers an insight into the unique beauty and sense of adventure that underpins Zambia’s appeal as a tourist destination, which is apparent despite its relative obscurity among international travellers.

Keep Hackers Out of Your Account

Americans are using their smartphones for banking at an increasing rate. According to the consulting firm AlixPartners, in the last quarter of 2013, approximately 82% of 18-25-year-olds owned smartphones and 61% of that group used mobile banking apps. The numbers are likely rising in 2014.
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