Hands to mouth- part of being a baby

Giving the baby a pacifier is good idea if Mom doesn't like her to suck on her hands. Baby is too little to understand that Mom doesn't want her to do this.  Most babies got through a phase where they put their hands in their mouth. It is part of the brain learning about the hands and the mouth.
 

Newborn burps

This family shows one way to burp a newborn. The baby looks relaxed. Mom and Dad seem relaxed. They are supporting the baby's head and chest so the head doesn't shake too hard while they pat the baby. Tilting the baby back and forward seems to let the bubble come up.

Run around or be carried- that is the question

One toddler issue- run or be carried.  This little guy is very happy running around "chasing" his Mom, until he is done and ready to be carried. Soon, he will want to get down and run again. This can be very frustrating for parents who are trying to get some place or who want the kid to get some exercise.  Often, everybody is happy if you can switch between running and carrying- real often. 

"Feed the baby"= learning to pretend

Mom is helping her little girl learn to play "pretend".  It is important for kids to learn to do this kind of play.  Parents help by coaching their kids to act out everyday activities with their toys.  It can be feeding the baby, driving the truck to Grandma's, or whatever is going on in your daily life.
 

Mama says "no" but what does it really mean?

This little guy clearly understands the word NO, but Mama wants two things.  She wants him not to put the doorstop in his mouth and she wants him to hand it to her, which he can't quite do.  He gets confused and scared . I think that Mom stopped the camera and took the time to show him what she really wanted. Next time she will move to solve the problem before he gets scared.
iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/_zWx8isUoZ0?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>

Under the gate. What is a parent to do?

This family thought they made the house safer by using a baby gate.  The baby seems to be a smart one who doesn't like limits. By the tone in her voice, Mom seems prepared to deal with the fact that now she must be hyper-alert to where the baby is.  Might be best to take the gate down before he gets bigger and starts to get stuck? Or are there other ways to solve the problem?

Toddler water play

Playing in the water makes summer fun for toddlers.  This little guy is at the age where he could spend the whole time happily playing in this one fountain, then have a big tantrum when it is time to go because he didn't get to do  the other stuff.

Whats a parent to do with a naughty toddler?

What to do when your toddler does something that is cute, but not something that you really want to happen all the time?  This is a question that almost all parents have to deal with. It is tough because after you laugh at how cute they are, you can't really get mad at them.  I think that after she stops the camera, this Mom has the little girl help pick all the toilet paper while talking with her about the problems it makes and why she shouldn't do it again.  Then maybe fixes the bathroom door with a child safety latch just to be sure it doesn't happen again.

Give her a little time

Some kids take a while to figure out how to deal with a new situation.  This little girl seems a bit on the cautious side.  Her Mom cheers her on, but lets her take her time and find her own way. After a little while she will probably be running around.

Down the slide

A lot of kids want to climb up the slide.  This can be fine when your child is the only child at the playground.  This Mom is doing great coaching for learning to slide down the "right way" so that it is safe when lots of kids are around.

I am not sleepy, I am not crabby

As many of us learned during the holiday, family road trips can be tough for little kids. Often it seems that if we plan on them napping in the car,  they don't.  This Mom very patiently explains the situation to her daughter, but her overtired daughter is in no mood to understand what her mom is saying. Mom and the family then try humor, but that doesn't really go well for the little girl either.  Maybe with a little music or just quiet time, she will relax and go back to sleep?
 

Easy backyard water play

Hanging the hose on the fence makes for quick, easy fun.  Mom is nearby to make sure things stay safe.  The water will probably make mud.  If you let the kids play in the mud, you can move the hose to a new spot to clean them up.

Toddler water play

Playing in the water makes summer fun for toddlers.  This little guy is at the age where he could spend the whole time happily playing in this one fountain, then have a big tantrum when it is time to go because he didn't get to the other stuff.  It is a tough age. You can feel like a bad parent when you have carry a screaming kid to the car.

"On my foot there is a flea" fun

The kids are having fun, learning some of their body parts, and learning to wait for the fun at the end of the song. Play has a purpose!

What language is he speaking?

This 2 year old is telling a story.  Unless you knew him, you would think he is talking in his own language. Mom does a good job of helping him keep his story going.  You can see that it is hard work for him, but getting practice telling stories will make him easier to understand as each day goes by.  Being able to understand him will make every day easier for everybody.  Not having people understand what they are saying is a major cause of 2 year old tantrums.
 

Shots are no fun

Shots are no fun, but this Mom is helping her little guy by staying calm, holding him gently and letting him know that she cares.  Getting shots hurts, but not for very long.  If parents can stay calm and relaxed, it helps the little ones do better.

What to do with a jealous big brother?

Big brother is really jealous of the attention that baby is getting.  Instead of getting mad at him, the family finds a simple way to let him be part of the action. 

When they don't want to show off

Mom knows her little guy can sing the Itsy Bitsy Spider song.  Getting it on camera would be great, but.... he doesn't want to.  This can be very frustrating,  but Mom is very respectful.  When she shows him respect she is helping him learn how to be respectful of her and others.  This makes family life much happier for everyone!

Helping a toddler get through a family gathering

Mom and Dad are helping themselves and their toddler by getting him out of the crowded, noisy room and giving him some space to move.  Parents don't always want to have to leave a fun time,  but giving the kid some space before the toddler melt down is a great plan.

I only like you when you give me cookies.

This Mom handles this so well.  She doesn't get upset when her son tells her he doesn't like her. She know that none of us like each of our family members ALL the time.  Mom just keeps her cool and tells him that she loves him.  Her calm way of handling this will probably help him be honest in the future as well as keep him from saying he doesn't like her just to get a big reaction out of her.