Photo of young doctor hand on the child hand

If you’ve got an anxious child, you’ve come to the right place.

Most of us associate anxiety with adulthood; something that builds over time as a result of things that happen in childhood. However, it’s estimated that up to 1 in 20 American kids suffers from a form of depression or anxiety.

Going through childhood presents its own set of problems, but if your parental advice isn’t getting through to your kids, they might have diagnosable anxiety.

It can be difficult to watch your child deal with anxiety disorder, as hard as it is to watch your child struggle with anything. The immediate desire is to try and make it go away. But anxiety doesn’t work like that. It won’t simply go away.

In this article, we’ll look at some signs of anxiety in children and how to support them in dealing with their anxiety. It won’t be easy, but having the help of their parents will go a long way to coping with this problem.

Let’s dig in.

Signs of an Anxious Child

There are many signs that could mean that your child has anxiety. Anxiety is the most suffered from illness in North America and too many people, children included, go undiagnosed.

How to Tell if Your Child Is Anxious

It can be hard to discern whether your child is anxious based on the symptoms, but typical ones include agitation, restlessness, poor focus, bad tantrums, crying, chronic headaches or stomach pains, and refusing to go to school.

They’re difficult to discern because every child acts like this at certain points. How do you know if it’s a mood or something more serious? The best way to figure this out is by making note of the frequency of these events. If your child is feigning headaches to get out of school once a week, there’s something going on.

These behaviors can be frustrating from the parent’s point of view, but keep in mind that they’re happening for a reason. If you’re concerned about your child’s behavior, then it might be time to research anxiety.

Types of Anxiety in Children

There are dozens of different types of anxiety. The ones most commonly experienced by children are generally limited to about five or six.

Social anxiety often occurs in children and manifests in an intense fear of attending class or hanging out with school mates. You’ll notice tantrums, clinginess, and refusal to speak or go out.

Separation anxiety is a more serious issue when it occurs in older children. They might feel nausea or headaches when you drop them off at school and fear you dying when you’re separated.

Selective mutism occurs when a normally talkative child refuses to speak in certain social situations. Avoiding eye contact and refusing to speak in class are typical of this condition.

Finally, general anxiety disorder is diagnosed in children that worry excessively about grades, school activities, relationships with friends and family, or other activities. It can result in sleep disturbances, fatigue, irritability, and muscle tension.

If your child is noticeably displaying symptoms of any of these types of anxiety, you may want to discuss further action with a professional. However, there are things that you can do at home to help alleviate these feelings.

How to Support an Anxious Child

While professional support is sometimes required to deal with depression and anxiety in children, there are ways to go about handling outbursts that are beneficial and other things you should avoid doing, so as not to make it worse.

Manage, Don’t Eliminate

Your goal, as the parent, shouldn’t be to eliminate your child’s anxiety. It’s not something you can snap your fingers at and make go away. Assume that all you can do is help to manage the illness by managing individual situations.

Sit down with them and talk about what they’re feeling inside. Tell them that it’s completely normal to feel that way and stress that they can talk to you when they’re experiencing an anxiety attack.

Don’t try to stop anxiety from happening, try to mitigate the damage it does to your child’s day when it inevitably does happen.

Practice Relaxation

Often, during the throes of a severe anxiety or panic attack, a child will genuinely believe that they’re dying. This is probably the result of their body tensing up and rising heart rates. To deal with this, you should remain calm and practice relaxation techniques.

Teach them deep breathing exercises and how to de-tense their muscles. Often, kids will tense up during anxiety attacks and panic to the point of not breathing. If you’re with them then you can help them through it, but teaching them how to deal with it when you’re not around will be more beneficial to them.

Don’t Avoid Things

With anxieties related to social situations, a child will try to make an excuse why they can’t do something or go somewhere. When possible, hold your ground on these things.

It can be hard and make you feel as though you’re making things worse, but if you let the child have their way every time, then you actually are making the condition worse. Behaviors will repeat themselves if you allow them.

Writing Feelings Out

A great coping mechanism for anyone dealing with anxiety, but especially a child, is writing out the anxious feelings that they’re having. As a child, it can be hard to verbally communicate what you’re feeling, so writing down thoughts in a journal or on a scrap piece of paper can be helpful.

Sit with your child at night and have them write down the anxious worries that they had throughout the day, as a kind of exercise. When they’re done, have them rip up the paper and toss it in the bin to symbolically let go of their anxiety.

These are effective methods that you can enact at home to try to help your child. If you don’t notice a positive change, then you may need to talk to a psychologist. Visit this page to learn more about effective therapy for anxiety in children.

Fight Anxiety Over Time

Of course, you want your child to live a happy life right now. But, anxiety is something that can crop up and become worse over time.

The sooner your anxious child can learn how to cope with it, the better they’ll become at combatting attacks on a situational basis. What they need from you is support. Take these tips with you and do some research of your own to begin to help your child deal with their anxiety.

For more articles on healthy living and parenting, visit our page.

Benjamin Franklin once said, “You may delay, but time will not”. Are you procrastinating over what might be the best anniversary present for your husband? While the gift of time might be what he most needs, he may have to settle for a beautiful watch.

A watch makes a wonderful anniversary present but there are so many to choose from. Which one is right for your husband? Here are 7 watches that’ll make nice anniversary gifts.

1. Patek Phillippe

Choosing a watch as a gift really starts with deciding what your budget is. Consider the watches made by Patek Phillippe. They combine the genius of Swiss watchmaking with aesthetics inspired by the planets and the night sky.

Patek Phillippe watches have been known to sell for $24 million. That was a rather special example of a pocket watch, the Supercomplication. If that’s out of your price range there are lots of less expensive astronomical watches available.

2. Rolex

Compared to Patek Phillippe, Rolex is less expensive but it’s still a very respectable watch by a Swiss maker. It’s the most famous Swiss watch and worth the splurge because they rarely lose their value.

It’s bling-appeal is appreciated by business types and hip-hop artists too. If you can spare a few thousand dollars on a gift for your husband consider this iconic brand.

James Bond is the action hero many men would like to be and perhaps many women would like to be with. The Rolex watch worn by James Bond in Dr. No was the Submariner.

The Bond association adds character but what your husband will appreciate about the gift of a Rolex, is it works as a diving watch. Good to know, even if he doesn’t dive.

3. Casio

Ok, so Rolex is still a little out of your reach. It’s time to think about function rather than a reputation for craftsmanship. Casio does watches with so many functions your gadget guy is going to love his anniversary gift.

Consider the Casio GW9400 Rangeman G-Shock Solar Automatic Watch. Even the name sounds awesome to men who love technical gizmos. The list of features is equally inspiring.

It has multiple displays including a compass, altimeter, thermometer, and barometer. It’s atomic timekeeping and solar power are impressive too. Good to know, if your husband does take up scuba diving, it is suitable for that too.

4. Victorinox

The Swiss Army knife has a worldwide reputation for quality and function. It’s an object of desire for many a boy, and if they’re honest many a man too. The Swiss knife maker also makes Swiss watches.

The Swiss Army knife is especially famous for having multiple functions, all build into the one knife. Victorinox has taken this concept and applied it to the challenge of designing a watch. At the same time, they have retained the quality look and feel of the knives.

Choose the Chrono Classic for a gunmetal dial or the strangely named “I.N.O.X” for a striking yellow dial and water resistance to 200 meters.

5. Emporio Armani

For the height of fashion, elegance, and style there are few to excel like Emporio Armani. The clothes are immediately identifiable even without a label. That same elegance has been successfully applied to watches.

Imagine your man, dressed in a smart Armani suit, with you on his arm. You’re crossing a marbled Italian piazza about to dine on exquisite Italian food in an elegant restaurant. He checks if you’re early for your reservation with a glance at the Emporio Armani watch you gave him.

Italian style is legendary and Emporio Armani has managed to include functionality with simple elegance. A white-faced model, with a tan leather strap, works well. It’s modern, even industrial, chic with the organic texture of leather.

6. Invicta

If your husband is a little unconventional, perhaps he will appreciate a watch that doesn’t fit the conventional mold. The Invicta doesn’t have a Swiss movement. It’s Japanese.

The model to go for is the Speedway Professional. It evokes the excitement of the speedway racetrack. All mud and engine oil.

But this isn’t a rough looking watch. It has plenty of dials and functions but it also has a stand out feature. It’s decorated with lashings of rose gold plating.

If your husband already has rose gold jewelry such as rings or chains, a watch that coordinates is hard to find. Here is the perfect solution. It has a rose gold bezel, screw-down crown, pushers and even the dials on the face are rose gold.

7. Citizen Eco-Drive

The Citizen Eco-Drive is distinctively rugged. It’s fueled by light from the sun or even your room light. A great survival tool.

If your husband likes the outdoor life this may be the watch for him. It works well for camping, hiking and even boating. The water resistance is as much as 200 meters which should be OK for most boating needs.

The Eco-Drive comes in a multitude of styles including dressier versions. What they all share is that they never need to have their battery changed. This is because they don’t have a battery.

Citizen is not one of the prestige brands like Rolex or Patek Phillippe but they have their niche. This is a lower cost watch made with an eye on quality and value. Perhaps a realistic anniversary present purchase.

Watches Make Nice Anniversary Gifts

A watch makes a nice anniversary gift for any husband. Whether they are a fashion victim or a practical outdoors type, there’s a watch for them. The real beauty of a watch as an anniversary watch is that it’s something your husband can wear every day and it will remind him of you too.

Think about what your husband likes to do. Imagine him wearing the watch doing his favorite pursuit. Which watch do you see him wearing?

Raise money to buy your husband an anniversary gift using these ideas.

Almost all of Gen Z (that’s people born between the mid-1990s and mid-2000s) use YouTube.

In fact, more than half of kids say they “can’t live without it”.

Many parents are concerned about the harmful effects of screen time and the dangers to the welfare and privacy of our kids on social media.

[Read more…]

Raising a family is expensive. There are so many things that children need and they grow fast, which can put a dent in anyone’s wallet. However, if you establish a budget and are willing to shop around and become resourceful, you can keep the focus on the enjoyment of having a family and avoid the money pitfalls that can follow.

Borrowing Money

When first starting out with young children, many people initially have a tight budget, wherein if anything out of the ordinary comes along like a hospital bill or a car repair; it can upset its delicate balance. Luckily, you can contact your local bank and apply for a personal loan to help you climb over the hurdle. Unfortunately, if you’ve made even a couple of your monthly payments late, a traditional bank may not be a viable option. The good news is that there are many other places you can go with less stringent guidelines for borrowing money such as online personal installment loans, Or better yet, try borrowing money for the short term from a family member and avoid the interest entirely.

Saving Money on Children’s Essentials

Children grow at a very fast rate during the first few years and because of this they go through a lot of clothing, outerwear and shoes. Finding the best deals on children’s clothing and finding high-quality items is important. Lucky for you, the internet provides you with an easy way to shop around for new and gently used items at the best prices. Take the same approach with their furniture. If you have a tight budget, check out a consignment shop or go online to sites like Craigslist where often people just want to unload things they no longer need and are willing to sell them very cheap.

Ways to Save on Your Monthly Bills

With the deregulation of utilities, you now have the option of shopping around for your gas and electric suppliers. Take your bills out and review each one. Then, look up other companies in the area and check their rates.

Cable and cell phone service are two of the most expensive supplements to a household budget. A cable bill on its own can run over a few hundred a month. If you need to trim your bottom line, this is a great place to start. Thankfully, there are other ways to enjoy many programs using other services like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon, for a fraction of the cost of cable. Your cell phone is important and necessary especially in the event of an emergency away from home. The good news is that many companies are now vying for your business, and this is a good thing for you.

Saving for Big Ticket Items

There’s nothing wrong with wanting nice things. However, taking on additional debt to buy them is not something that’s in your best interest. If you want a new television or a new bed, save up for them the old-fashioned way and pay cash. This way you won’t have another obligation each month and you won’t pay any more than the actual cost of the item. It’s a win across the board.

Paying Down Debt

It’s easy to rack up debt when you raise a family. So, it’s also important to keep your debt in check. Avoid putting anything on a credit card or taking out an unnecessary loan for things you don’t need. For example, if you have accumulated debt on credit cards focus on paying off the one with the highest interest rate first. If you have a car loan, consider refinancing to reduce your monthly payment.

Raising a family is a wonderful time for parents with many joyful moments. By living within your means and shopping around for the best deals, you can keep the focus on enjoying the time with your family and not stressing about your finances.

Digstudent.co.uk offer some of the best student accommodation across the UK. Here are just some of the reasons why the DIGS student experience stands out when it comes to both student accommodation and the student experience.

Firstly, the facilities are state of the art across all of the different halls. Most of the halls have their own gyms, which is included in your monthly rent, so there is no need to buy a gym membership. The DIGS accommodation in Huddersfield has its own on-site bar and restaurant, which even comes with its own beer garden. The rooms themselves come in a variety of packages, including options for couples. All rooms come with their own en-suite bathroom and will come with a standard, dining or social kitchen depending on your preference. And each property comes with its own common room, perfect for social activities.

Social events are held throughout the year at the properties too. For example, each property will have its own welcome party giving new students the chance to mingle and meet their new housemates. Study groups are also organised so there are chances for you to work with people on your course, or at least similar courses together in the common room. And throughout the year DIGS will also organise pizza nights for everyone in the property.

Student welfare is of course a top priority. Therefore, there are regular mental health, careers and health workshops throughout the academic calendar, and are free for students to attend. There is also particular focus on the transition placed upon moving from home for the first time, with extra support given during this time. And of course, all properties have CCTV so students can feel safe throughout their stay.

DIGS are committed to being green and the properties replicate this feeling. Each property is well equipped with recycling facilities, as well as tips on how your experience can be a green one. Each property has its own bike storage, making cycling to university that little bit easier. The Storthes Hall Park accommodation in Huddersfield even has its own water borehole system.

Finally, alongside the aforementioned extra support when you first arrive to any of the properties, all students after they have booked a room, will be invited to a private Facebook group where they can make contact with their new housemates and get to know them, making the first time meeting in person a little less daunting.

Are you and your family thinking about welcoming a new pet into your home?

Studies have shown that more than 60 percent of U.S. households have dogs. This makes dogs the most popular pet in the country.

There are many benefits that come along with adding a dog to your home, especially if you have kids. A dog can teach your kids how to be more responsible. A dog can also encourage kids to get outside and play more.

But before families decide to mix dogs and children, they should always take the proper precautions to teach them both how to be gentle with one another. This will help families avoid traumatizing dogs and children and prevent accidents from occurring.

Here are six tips that will help you introduce a dog into your home without encountering any major issues.

1. Talk to Kids About How to Interact With a Dog

Prior to bringing a dog into your home for the first time, sit down with your kids and talk to them about the do’s and don’ts of interacting with a dog. Create a list of safety rules for dogs and children.

The list should include rules like:

• Do: Allow a dog to look at your hand and sniff it before you start petting it
• Don’t: Pull on a dog’s ears, paws, legs, tail, or other body parts
• Do: Respect a dog’s toys and leave them alone
• Don’t: Get near a dog when it’s sleeping or eating

You don’t necessarily want to scare your kids before they even get a chance to meet your new dog. But you do want to make sure they understand that they need to be careful when interacting with a dog, especially a dog that hasn’t warmed up to them just yet.

2. Make Sure a Dog Learns (and Listens to!) Basic Commands

In addition to talking to your kids about how they’re going to interact with your new dog, you should take the time to work with the dog and teach it some basic commands. You can do this yourself when you first get it or hire an obedience teacher to help.

“Sit” and “stay” are two of the simplest commands to teach a dog. But you should also strive to teach it commands like “down,” “off,” and even “don’t touch that.”

In the event that a dog gets to be too rough with kids, you’ll be able to use these commands to let the dog know it needs to stop.

3. Allow Kids to Give Treats to a Dog For Being Obedient

As your dog inches closer to the end of its obedience training, it’s not a bad idea to introduce your kids into the equation. You can have your kids use some of the commands that you’ve taught your dog to show your dog that they need to listen to your kids, too.

You can also attempt to get your dog to warm up to your kids by allowing the kids to give the dog treats when they listen. This will serve as a great introduction for dogs and children and show dogs that kids mean no harm.

For best results, consider using CBD treats during this part of the process. CBD for pets has been shown to reduce the anxiety that dogs feel while making them more calm and relaxed. It’ll create a better environment for your dog and your kids.

4. Prepare a Dog For What Might Be to Come With Kids

No matter how many times you tell kids not to do it, there will still be times when they try to pull on a dog’s tail or play with its ears. It’s almost unavoidable, especially if you have kids that are on the younger side.

Try to prepare your dog for this by playing with its ears and tail yourself, and watch how it reacts to you doing it. If it doesn’t seem to take issue with you, it shouldn’t be too much of a cause for concern. But if your dog becomes aggressive in these moments, you’re going to have to be vigilant about watching how your kids treat your dog.

5. Tell Kids to Keep Their Toys Away From a Dog

Dogs have a tough time differentiating between their toys and toys belonging to kids. Many times, these two types of toys look similar to dogs, which can cause them to go after kids’ toys.

Tell your kids about this and stress the importance of keeping their toys out of the reach of your dog. You should also talk to them about how they shouldn’t ever try to take one of their toys out of the dog’s mouth if it happens to get to it.

6. Praise a Dog When It Plays Nicely With Kids

When you first welcome a dog into your home, you’re going to find yourself directing the word “don’t” at the dog a lot.

As in:

• “Don’t go to the bathroom in the house!”
• “Don’t chew on that piece of furniture!”
• “Don’t tear up that sock!”

This comes with the territory. But you should also get into the habit of praising your dog early and often.

When your dog goes outside to use the bathroom, tell it how good it is. When your dog chews on a bone instead of a shoe, let it know how proud you are of it. And when it plays nicely with your kids, pet it, give it treats, and shower it with praise.

Your dog will slowly but surely come around to your kids when you take this approach. And your kids will see how being nice to the dog pays off.

Make Sure to Supervise Dogs and Children at All Times

Once you’ve spent time introducing dogs and children, you might be tempted to leave them alone to play. Don’t do this!

While most dogs will be just fine playing with kids on their own, there’s always a chance something could go wrong. You want to be there in case your kids or your dog needs help.

Want some more tips on caring for a new dog? Take a look at our blog for advice on taking care of your new four-legged friend.

House hunting can be tricky when you have kids. Children are usually very excited when they enter a new home knowing they may soon live in it. It’s not unusual for kids to run and play during a home viewing, making it difficult for parents to watch their kids and view a home.

On the other hands, some kids are upset at the prospect of moving. They love their current living situation and parents must be sensitive to their thoughts and feelings.

All of which can make the home buying process a bit overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Continue reading, as we’ve created this home buying checklist, with your kids in mind, to help you get through the process a little easier.

Be Strategic About Taking Your Kids to Home Viewings

Realtors suggest leaving kids age nine and under at home with a babysitter or with family.

Younger children are often more difficult to manage and distract parents from a home viewing. Afterward, many parents have trouble remembering important details about the homes they see. Remember, you want to have productive meetings when you see a house so you can make an informed decision about purchasing it.

Older kids are more mature and are fine to bring to home viewings. They can even be very helpful and point out features and concerns you may miss.

If you must bring your younger children, it’s advised to pick and choose which homes you bring them too. For example, you may not want to bring them to view a home still being lived in.

They may open a door and be surprised to see a large dog on the other side. Conversely, they will generally be safe at an open house, especially if it is empty and the owner has already moved out.

Acknowledge Your Children’s Concerns

Moving is an anxious time for everyone, and your kids are no exception. They often do not want to leave their school, friends and extra-curricular activities among other things.

Give your kids a positive picture of their new community. Make sure your real estate agent is willing to stop at schools, parks, churches, sports facilities — even the mall if needed. Another option is to plan family trips to your new community to let your kids see themselves in their new surroundings.

Involve Your Children in the Process

A great way to make your kids feel like a valued part of the decision-making process is to let them search the internet home listings with you. Reduce their frustration by asking them for their feedback on homes. Get their input about what is important to them in a new home and community.

If you’re taking your kids with you to viewings, give them tasks to keep them focused on what lies ahead. For example, your kids may enjoy taking pictures of the homes you view or keeping a detailed checklist of the best features each home offers.

Older kids may enjoy doing internet research about the town, landmarks, population and their best schools. Strong|Edge Realty is a great resource for real estate information.

The objective here is to give your children opportunities to focus on the future and feel connected to the process as well.

Recognize Your Child’s Limits

Most kids get excited when they view a new home. But even the most enthusiastic child can have a hard time with a full day of home viewings.

To that end, it’s usually a good idea to limit yourself to a few viewings per day. If you need to see more homes, consider taking a break at some point to let your child eat or play. We don’t recommend giving your children your smartphone or tablet during a viewing unless they are using educational apps to learn new skills.

Children do not have the same attention span as adults. The more mindful you are of their needs, the more likely they will be easy to accommodate while you are viewing homes.

Home Buying Checklist for Viewing Homes with Children: Wrap Up

Your children are unique and you may think of more items for your family’s home buying checklist.

Buying a home and dealing with children may be challenging, but it’s not impossible. Consider their feelings, keep them involved in the process and give them opportunities to see themselves in their new home and community.

If you found this article helpful, please check out more content with helpful housekeeping information.

As a new parent, you shouldn’t have to think about education expenses that will pop up 18 years down the road. However, with the rising cost of college, it’s something you can’t ignore.

During the last ten years, the average cost of university tuition and fees has increased to just under $35,000 a year for a single student. That’s a daunting figure, especially if your family is on a tight budget.

The good news is, saving for college is easier than it seems. You just need to explore your options and plan early.

Let’s go over some ways to kick start your child’s college savings fund.

Set Goals Right Away

The first thing you’ll need to do is come up with an amount you’ll need to put away each month.

This can be hard, as there’s no way to predict exactly how much the cost of college will rise. However, if current trends continue, you can expect to pay at least $50,000 per year once your child turns 18.

You can now calculate how much you want to put away each month. Make sure you don’t stretch yourself too thin and always take into account how much you’ll earn on interest.

Consider a 529 Savings Plan

This is one of the most common college savings plans. A 529 plan provides you with two options – prepaid tuition or an investment savings plan.

A prepaid tuition plan lets you put money away while securing tuition costs and avoiding fees. Or, you can invest in mutual funds that have similar risks and return rates as other stocks and bonds. If you go this route, check out investor mint to help you get started.

Keep in mind that a 529 plan is only for educational purposes. If your child ends up not attending college, there’s a chance you won’t be able to use the money for other things.

A Traditional Savings Account

Many people opt to use a standard savings account to put money away for their children’s education. This offers a level of flexibility you won’t get with a 529 plan or other investment options.

If you go this route, it’s important you stick your monthly plan. Consider setting up automatic transfers each month.

The primary disadvantage of using a traditional savings account is your money won’t earn much interest. There aren’t many tax benefits either.

Keep Your Retirement Savings Separate

At some point, you may feel tempted to tap into your retirement savings to pay for your child’s education. However, this is a mistake you don’t want to make.

You can always borrow money for college expenses if needed. This isn’t the case with retirement funds.

If you have a 401(k) through work, max out of it before contributing to a 529 plan. You should also keep putting money towards an IRA. This money won’t hurt your chances of getting financial aid if you need it down the road.

Start Saving for College Now

There’s little chance the price of a college education in America will drop. Preparing for the future now is the best way to stay financially secure while giving your child the opportunities they deserve.

Consider these tips when saving for college and find out what works best for you and your family.

Check out more articles for financial information and advice geared towards new parents.

You’ve spent nearly nine months preparing for this moment, and now you’re starting to panic. After all, you’re about to have a baby, and the reality of parenthood is starting to settle in.

You probably feel pulled in a million directions with too much to do and too little time, right? But don’t sweat it! We’ve compiled a solid preparing for baby checklist so that you can sit back and enjoy the beautiful (and wild) ride into parenthood.

Rest Up Early and Often

If your circle of friends and family includes lots of mothers, then you’ve probably already heard this piece of advice. But it doesn’t make it any less true or valuable. You need to rest up NOW… before you’ve got a little one to care for.

Babies don’t come with a pre-set schedule. So, you can expect a solid six weeks (or more) of sleeping schedule chaos. Put another way, you’re going to miss out on a lot of shut-eye.

That’s why it’s important to start out ahead of the game when it comes to beauty sleep. Then, once the baby’s born, prepare to catch a nap whenever they do.

We know it’s tempting to watch your precious bundle sleep. But trust us, you’ll need every stolen moment of sleep you can get.

Invest in Sensible Furniture

Yes, purchasing a super cute baby crib and creating a sweet nursery for your little one feels rewarding. Heck, it’s part of the whole nesting process.

That said, your baby will want to be close and stay close to you after they’re born. You’re their lifeline in this strange new world, so why would they want to be separated from you by a whole room?

But you still need sleep, and your baby needs to stay safe. We’ve all heard about the dangers of co-sleeping. Fortunately, there are great alternatives.

Invest in sensible furniture that keeps baby safe and happy like a co-sleeper bassinet. You can attach the co-sleeper to the side of your bed so that baby stays close but out of harm’s way. Trust us, you’ll both sleep better day and night!

Change Your Perspective

A good friend of mine actually crawled around her house on her hands and knees to see life from her baby’s perspective. This change in perspective helped her better baby-proof the environment for her little one.

While you may not currently feel like crawling around on the floor, especially if your due date’s right around the corner, you still need to think like a baby. Identify items near or on the floor that could be a hazard to them.

These include things like loose electrical cords and window blind cords. Also, make sure that furniture, such as dressers, and appliances like televisions are properly secured so that they don’t present fall hazards to your little one.

Finally, watch out for furniture that’s not baby-friendly. This includes tables and other pieces with sharp edges as well as glass and metal furnishings. You can wrap them with bubble wrap or purchase plastic guards to neutralize the threat.

You’ll also want to put breakable and fragile items out of baby’s reach.

Invest in Baby-Proofing Accessories

Now’s the time to invest in quality baby-proofing solutions. Make sure that you cover all electrical outlets as these can be a dangerous focus for baby’s curiosity.

Look for choking hazards that babies could come into contact with on or near the floor. Secure kitchen and bathroom cabinets with a safety latch so that your little one can’t get into dangerous items like cleaning solutions and chemicals.

Although it may feel a little rushed to start thinking about baby-proofing now, babies grow by leaps and bounds. They’ll be crawling and then running before you know it. These tips will give you peace of mind and keep them healthy and safe.

Stock Up on Quality Eats

Trust us, the last thing you’re going to feel like doing after coming home from the hospital is whipping up a gourmet meal. Making instant oatmeal will even feel like a chore. Instead, plan ahead by preparing and freezing meals.

When you have home cooked frozen meals ready to go, you can guarantee that you eat nutritiously while still having lots of time to rest and relax. You need to keep your energy up, so make life as streamlined and easy as possible.

Pump Up

If you’re planning on breastfeeding, then preparing for a baby also means getting ready for feedings. You need a quality breast pump. Yes, these can get expensive, but you have options.

In fact, you can rent a hospital-grade breast pump at your nearest hospital or lactation center. There are also a wide variety of products on the market to suit your unique needs and lifestyle.

You’ll want to invest in a nursing pillow so that both you and baby feel comfortable during feedings. Now is also the time to purchase maternity bras and tank tops with flaps for easy accessibility as well as nursing capes for public outings.

Get Monitor-Ready

There’s no way to keep your eyes on the baby at all times. Fortunately, technology has come a long way when it comes to baby monitors. These gadgets let you see what your little one is up to and hear when they’re crying.

Some monitors even come with an intercom option, which allows you to soothe and reassure your infant when you’re not in the room. Or, check out the Owlet Smart Sock Baby Monitor, a truly unique baby monitoring option.

Designate a Rest Area

Set up a comfy, quiet location where you can rock or glide your baby to sleep. This corner is also a great spot to place a swing or balance chair when you need to set the baby down and take a phone call, do a few chores, or go to the bathroom.

Find a quality swing or chair where baby can rest alone and then make sure the area is clear of clutter, choking hazards, cords, and other potential dangers.

Preparing for Baby Checklist

While there are many additional ways to prep for the arrival of your little one, our preparing for baby checklist focuses on the essentials. These items will help ensure your baby feels safe and happy once you bring them home.

Looking for more parenting tips to help you get ready for the amazing adventure of parenting? Check out our baby blog for answers to your most pressing baby questions.