What are the best toys for a 6 month old?

Q. She can sit up really well and she will be crawling within the next month or two. I want something that will really entertain her and maybe encourage her to crawl at the same time.

Answer
Our kids just loved the rollercoasters toys.
First they were able to develop sense of texture of warm wood beads and colder wires. Second they started to recognize different colors of the beads. Then we were practicing counting with our kids when they grew a bit older, using the same coaster, they have played with before. The rollercoaters are great choice for educational toys for babies and toddlers to grow with. We have bought ours from this website:
http://www.1888toys.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=58

Good luck.

6 month old...?

Q. Ok my six month old is starting to drive me batty. He wakes up and wont sleep anywhere but in my bed with me. I have heard conflicting theories on this... Sears says it's fine, actually good for babies others say it's bad and is harmful for baby... I'm looking for peoples experience with this. Did they allow their baby to sleep with them? Did they regret it? He's so independent in other ways... And I LIKE sleeping with him, but i don't wont to if I'm harming him... Respectful input PLEASE!

Answer
Million of babies throughout time slept with mom and dad, and then were moved into a bed with their siblings and they all turned out fine. You do not need to force your baby to do anything, they all develop in their own way, at their own pace and they all get to the same point eventually. No one ever went to college co-sleeping, nursing to sleep or using a bottle or pacifier. There was also a study that said children who co-sleep until I think 5 had far fewer psychological problems than average. (I'll try to find it, but I have to cook dinner first)

Please stop stressing about it. If it feels right for you and your baby it is. Every baby and every family is different. Do what works for you. I have always co-slept with my baby and he is slowly moving into his crib all by himself.

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Edited to add:

Seriously people do you really think kids do not learn independence on their own. Of course they do! Particularly if you do not force it on them too early. North Americans are far to focused on forcing their kids to do things, and you know what IT'S NOT WORKING! for most kids. We have more behavioural problems than ever and even psychiatric problems at a younger and younger age.

If you put food in front of you child (big pieces) every day from the day they are born they would eventually put it in their mouth, and then they would spit it out. Then they would chew it, and probably spit it up. Then eventually, around 6 months they would start to swallow it. Why? Because around 6 months they learn to move food towards the back of their mouths AND they digestive track switches from "open" to "closed". Open is to get all the immunological factors from mom, closed is ready for food, startling how if you leave them alone they figure it out at the right time in their own personal development, no? Of course not! Humans are not dumber than animals. Scientists are of course, just now proving that starting solids around 6 months is optimal for babies, but babies knew it all along.

Monkeys sleep on mom, then with mom until they reach a certain age, then they move out all on their own. So do almost all animals. Certain den animals wait until the pack kicks them out, but they go. Works for kids too.

Kids who are allowed to be attached to mom, and not some "mommy replacement" (I mean thing like a blanket, toy or pacifier, not other family that care for baby or adoptive moms ok. Adoptive parents and families are amazing.) learn to be independent and have FEWER not more separation issues (on average). People are always surprised when they meet toddlers with no fear of strangers, and yet for those of us who do AP or baby-led parenting find most kids don't "make strange"

Now am I saying you have to co-sleep until your kids move out of your bed on their own. No because that can be anywhere up to 8ish years old, and that wouldn't work for most families. But you can co-sleep until it stops working for you. And you can buy larger beds for your kids and encourage them to sleep together if they want company and you don't want them in your bed (assuming you have two or more kids.) Your grandparents probably grew up sharing a bed; some of your parents did too. They turned out just fine didn't they?

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How can my husband and I reintroduce our 3 yr old dog to our family?

best toddler toys 6 months image

Nicolette

Two years ago my husband, my son and myself had a very tight bond with our pitbull named Winter. She was very sweet and well behaved, house trained and playful. She was excellent with our 6 month old son, she allowed him to touch her face (muzzle, eyes and ears). She was not food aggressive or toy possessive or overly protective. Living in NYC made her very energetic, however.

I say WAS because a year and a half ago my family moved to South Carolina and because we were not yet established in a home that accepted dogs, Winter has stayed with a family friend as an outside dog. Our son (2 and a half years) seems to have lost the connection with Winter and she herself seems stressed by both the move and the fact that she has been away from my husband.

Is there a safe way (and with minimal stress) to re-introduce our dog to both our toddler, our new house and our family without overbearing both her and the family?

Answer
If I were you I would bring a trainer to your home this situation can be nothing more than putting them together and then it may be alot more. I wouldn't take the chance your family is worth more than a visit from a Pro Trainer and I mean a Pro Trainer someone who trained Police dogs or Military Dogs.

What is your favorite educational toy for babies/toddlers?

plastic

Ages 6 months to 2 years?

Answer
this little electronic book thing, he loves it.

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Best way to clean soft toys with electronic parts?

What is your favorite educational toy for babies/toddlers?

best toddler toys 6 months image

plastic

Ages 6 months to 2 years?

Answer
this little electronic book thing, he loves it.

How can my husband and I reintroduce our 3 yr old dog to our family?

Nicolette

Two years ago my husband, my son and myself had a very tight bond with our pitbull named Winter. She was very sweet and well behaved, house trained and playful. She was excellent with our 6 month old son, she allowed him to touch her face (muzzle, eyes and ears). She was not food aggressive or toy possessive or overly protective. Living in NYC made her very energetic, however.

I say WAS because a year and a half ago my family moved to South Carolina and because we were not yet established in a home that accepted dogs, Winter has stayed with a family friend as an outside dog. Our son (2 and a half years) seems to have lost the connection with Winter and she herself seems stressed by both the move and the fact that she has been away from my husband.

Is there a safe way (and with minimal stress) to re-introduce our dog to both our toddler, our new house and our family without overbearing both her and the family?

Answer
If I were you I would bring a trainer to your home this situation can be nothing more than putting them together and then it may be alot more. I wouldn't take the chance your family is worth more than a visit from a Pro Trainer and I mean a Pro Trainer someone who trained Police dogs or Military Dogs.

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Daughter is 8 months old, should she be using a sippy cup?

best toddler toys 6 months image

tiredbutwi

My pediatrician reccomends introdcuing a cup at 6 months. My daughter is now 8 months and still doesn't seem to understand the sippy cup. All she will do is chew on the spout. I've shown her to tip it up like her bottle, but all she wants to do is chew and shake it and throw it around like a toy. Should I keep trying? Is there a certain cup that works better? My mom keeps telling me that she's too young. It's hard to have all the conflicting ideas.

Answer
If your daughter is breastfeeding there is no compelling reason for her to take a sippy cup, breastfed babies do not need water nor any other fluids under 1 year of age.

Formula fed babies may need water to help prevent constipation, however water can also be given in a bottle. I have seen no evidence that bottles, pacifiers, nor thumb sucking cause any problems for tooth and jaw development under 3-4 years of age. Both bottles and sippy cups deposit the liquid in about the same place in the mouth, and most sippy cups drip in the same ways bottles do.

Even if you were to follow the advice to get rid of bottles at one year, you should have an appointment with a pediatric dentist at 1 year (or 6 months after the eruption of the first tooth whichever is FIRST). Then you could discuss the pros and cons of bottles vs sippy cups regarding proper tooth alignment and decay. There is little point discussing that topic with a pediatrician or family doctor -they really aren't trained in such things. And you should see a pediatric dentist in any case (and it is very important to see a dentist toddlers who do not get flouride sealant every 6 months are 4 times as likely to get cavities. If a toddler has cavities it generally requires general anesthetic to fix). Cavities in toddlers are rare but the prevalence is increasing.

Otherwise if you just want to teach her to use a sippy cup try the ones that aren't leak proof. Or try teaching her to drink through a straw. Some people recommend using the straw to drip liquid into the toddlers mouth a few times so they get the idea.

Best of luck.


http://www.drgreene.org/body.cfm?id=21&action=detail&ref=856
How old is too old?

According to the American Dental Association, thumb sucking does not cause permanent problems with the teeth or jaw line unless it is continued beyond 4 to 5 years of age. As it turns out, somewhere between 85% and 99% of children have finished thumb sucking spontaneously before this period.

Which children keep sucking their thumbs?

Many parents are concerned that thumb sucking at a late age is a sign of emotional immaturity or lack of self-confidence. When investigators have looked at late thumb suckers for common traits, they found only one thing in common that distinguished them from other children -- a prolonged history of a strong battle with thumb sucking at an earlier age. It is striking that many well-meaning parents have actually encouraged thumb sucking by trying to forcibly take the thumb out of their children's mouths.

http://www.colgate.com/app/Colgate/US/OC/Information/OralHealthAtAnyAge/InfantsAndChildren/Infants/CanPacifiersBabyBottlesRuinMyBabysTeeth.cvsp
Are Pacifiers a Problem?
During a child's first few years, sucking habits are unlikely to cause significant damage to a child's mouth. But persistent and long-term sucking, especially after the permanent teeth begin to come into the mouth around age 6, can cause:

* The top front teeth to slant out.
* The bottom front teeth to tilt in.
* The upper and lower jaws to be misaligned.
* The roof of the mouth to be narrowed.


http://www.colgate.com/app/Colgate/US/OC/Information/OralHealthAtAnyAge/InfantsAndChildren/Infants/CanPacifiersBabyBottlesRuinMyBabysTeeth.cvsp
Many children satisy their desire to suck by continuing to use a bottle or sippy cup as a pacifier or by breastfeeding long after these habits are no longer needed for nutrition. If the bottle or cup contains anything other than plain water, the frequent sucking or sipping may put the child at very high risk of developing early and extensive tooth decay.

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/thumbsucking-pacifier
Can problems result from prolonged thumbsucking and finger sucking?

Yes, but not until the permanent front teeth come in (beginning about age six). After that, sucking may cause problems with the proper growth of the mouth and alignment of the teeth. It also can cause changes in the roof of the mouth.

The intensity of the sucking is a factor that determines whether or not dental problems may result. Children who rest their thumbs passively in their mouths are less likely to have difficulty than those who vigorously suck their thumbs. When the thumb is removed from the mouths of active thumbsuckers, a "popping" sound often is heard. Some aggressive thumbsuckers may cause problems with their baby (primary) teeth. If you notice changes in your child's primary teeth, consult your dentist.

Can my rats still learn to use the litter box?

Chicken Ro

My rats are about 6 months old. Are they too old to learn how to use the litter box? Also what kind of toys do you give our rats, and what do they sleep in?
I use yesterday's news but I was talking about the bed type thing. They don't like hammocks. Mine prefer a hanging tunnel that they recently chewed and ruined. They seem quite lost without it.

My dad doesn't think the rats are capable of learning to use the litter box.

Answer
Most of my male rats love their hammocks. My girls want no part of it other than to climb thru it on occasion. All my ratties love boxes with an opening and some shredded newspaper to fill it with. None of my ratties are litter box trained. I gave up and they all use the litter box as a place to sleep with some shredded newspaper in it. I also have plastic igloos (large ones) for the ratties in their cage too, as well as plastic baskets that are a bit open so they can get airflow in them. I make my own hammocks from fleece. But they get peed on, pooped on and chewed up, and that's to be expected. They also need to be washed on a regular basis, so perhaps you'd want to get 2 more tubes for your rats since they liked theirs so much and you'll have a spare for when you wash one. I give my ratties some ferret and cat toys that are safe, like balls. I've found puppy type tug toys for them too, and some bird toys. Toddler toys are fun - they're sturdy enough and big enough for the ratties to climb on and in depending on what it is. They like things they can chew the best - like empty toilet paper and paper towel rolls, and shredded newspaper with their boxes for decorating.

It's never too late to litter box train a rat - it just requires persistence and patience and I lack that with how many ratties I have, so they can do their thing and be happy.

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