Mommy Has to Work

3 Side Effects of Teething: How You Can Help Your Baby

August 2, 2018 By Anne

Teething is the process through which your baby’s teeth break through their gums around the age of anywhere between 6 and 24 months old. It is an exciting process, because it means that your little one is growing up and maturing in new ways, but it can be an incredibly painful or uncomfortable process for them, and can have side effects that you wouldn’t even expect to happen. It is because of this that you should be as knowledgeable as possible about the process of teething so that you can help your infant when the time comes.

The time when your child’s teeth are growing through is uncomfortable for everyone – your little one will be in pain and you will not get a peaceful moment because of it. Instead of having both of you silently endure the process, learn about ways that you can help your baby through it, which in the end will be much better for both you and them.

Here are 3 side effects of teething and what you can do for your baby:

Pain and Discomfort

Pain and discomfort are the most prevalent side effects of teething, and the primary source for all of the other issues that you may find that you have with your little one. When their teeth begin to push through their gums, this will cause them extreme discomfort.

You have experienced the feeling of growing a new tooth before and remember how uncomfortable it is, right? Well, for a baby with a very low pain threshold, this pain is greatly amplified. Plus, they are unable to voice when they are uncomfortable, so it is important for you to look out for the warning signs that your child is in pain, and to step in and help them. There are a lot of great over the counter pain relievers that are designed for children, but make sure that you check with a doctor before administering to your infant.

2. Drooling and Rashes

The process of teething can cause excessive drooling in your child. This may be a surprising revelation for you, as you may have thought that your cute little drool machine couldn’t possibly produce any more drool. However, when babies are in pain due to teething their bodies produce more saliva and thus, more drool. A common side effect of this is that your little one might develop a mild rash on his or her cheeks, chin and lips. This small rash is common and due to irritation to the skin from the drool. Keeping the skin clean, dry, and moisturized with baby-safe products is a great way to prevent or treat these kinds of rashes.

However, one thing to note is that a rash all over the body is not a symptom of teething. This may be a serious problem and should you notice a rash all over your infant’s body then you should take them to their pediatrician immediately.

General Fussiness

During the teething process, your baby is bound to be uncomfortable, and this discomfort will likely make them more fussy and irritable than they have been before. The best thing that you can do for your baby during this time is to be patient and understanding with them as they are going through the discomfort and pain. There are a lot of simple things that you can do for your child to ease the discomfort, such as allowing them to chew on a chilled (NOT frozen) teething ring, and applying child-safe numbing cream to their gums. Massaging your baby’s gums will help ease their pain as well.

Conclusion

As your precious little one grows up, you are going to have to help them through a lot of different kinds of discomfort. Watching your baby be extremely uncomfortable can be hard to do, but just know that teething is normal and that there are some things that you can do to ease their pain. Discuss teething treatments with your family doctor to find out the best method of comforting your baby.

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

How to Best Support a Loved One When Transitioning Into Aged Care

August 2, 2018 By Anne

When a loved one transitions into an aged care facility (even those under 65 years suffering from a disability), it can be an unsettling time for them and their families and friends. For those making the move, it can be an emotional time as it’s a life altering moment and often a harsh reality of life stage change signifying for some – decreased mobility, others a loss of independence and it’s a transfer into an unfamiliar environment that’s not “home”.

However, whilst it can be a confronting change, it shouldn’t be seen as a negative one. To ensure a comfortable transition into aged care, family and friends can gain support from aged care facilities themselves, government organisations, friends or family who have gone through similar experiences and hopefully one or two of the below points and links will also provide insights into a more seamless transition into aged residential care.

Be Compassionate & Understanding

Witnesing and aiding loved ones moving out of their family home brings up fond memories which are hard to let go of encompassing family traditions and happy recollections. These times can also harbour unwanted arguments pertaining to who gets to own or look after important keepsakes, momentos – even pets.

As distressing as the transition can be for family members, it’s important to remember to be a pillar of strength for your loved one going through the transition, as internally they may be suffering emotionally and hiding how they really feel.

Make sure you are available to listen to how your loved one is feeling. If you sense they are keeping their emotions hidden, ask how they are and how you can help them handle the situation as you really want to make the move easier for them. Chat together about the fun times experienced in their home. Importantly – let your loved one talk about the move and offer an understanding and compassionate ear. Enabling the grieving process assists in the overall transition and demonstrates respect and empathy.

Cultivate Relationships

Develop positive relationships with the staff members caring for your loved one. This will ensure you are effectively communicating to staff about their needs, but it also helps your loved one build trust and familiarity amongst those taking care of them.

Employees in care facilities are trained to identify, nurture and address the health, safety and emotional needs of residents in their care, and they will always try and instil a personalised approach which is why strong, positive relationships with the caregivers of your loved one, is so important.

Try and encourage your friend or family member to partake in recreational lifestyle programs provided by aged care facilities too, as participation can aid your loved one in establishing new friendships which makes their new home more pleasant and enjoyable, provides companionship and will promote a greater sense of confidence and belonging.

Encourage Independence

Engage your loved one in the decision making processes about their health, care and individual needs as this will provide them with a sense of independence which they may feel is becoming restricted, compromised and limited – particularly if their mobility is cause for concern.

If it is possible to include your loved one in their own care decisions, such as showering, dressing, light exercise, cutting their food up – it may assist in them maintaining a sense of enablement and liberation.

Preserving Personal Identity

Recreational activities in aged care facilities provides your loved one with opportunities for socialisation, creative expression and companionship which helps one maintain their personal identity and individual character or personality. From day trips, volunteer visits, happy hour, concerts, lunches, morning teas and other celebrations and festivities, aged care residences offer a consistent, active lifestyle and recreational program to ensure residents feels included, comfortable and entertained.

Family members can assist in helping their loved one maintain their own identity through the forethought of photographs, personal momentos, favourite music and movies, favourite hobbies, encouraging they continue on with their arts and crafts such as knitting or reading and even indulging in their favourite snacks!

Anne

How the iPhone Modernized Gaming

August 1, 2018 By Anne

Every time a new iPhone is released, Apple stores become jam-packed with long lines of impatient customers waiting to get their hands on the freshest product. This is maybe because, with every new release, the quality of games that you can find here gets even better.

In this day and age, we might come to see miracles brought to life by the newest tech, such as highly developed artificial intelligence. However, what affects the lives of millions most is no sci-fi film material. Instead, what is actually changing your daily routines and shaping the media of today is the onset of small, convenient devices such as the iPhone.

The iPhone has affected gaming in more ways than one might think of at first. Namely, these pocket tech miracles seem to go perfectly hand in hand with the fast-paced modern lifestyle. The iPhone has made many activities, which used to require time and effort, available to you on the go.

Gaming is no exception to that rule. Today, gaming is no longer a hobby exclusive to PC and console fans. Thanks to the iPhone, a new form of gaming culture has arisen. Even though gaming on mobile devices had existed before the iPhone was released in 2008, it was only after that point that it changed the industry. Some names in the field have even come to say that this mobile gaming revolution is one of the most important things to ever happen to them.

The advent of mobile gaming

The beginnings of mobile gaming were rough compared to what is available today. The Apple App store started out as an experiment. However, even in the early days, the signs were clear that a new field was in the making. On the first day, the App Store received 500 app submissions, which was enough to surpass their expectations.

Today, however, people are making real, high-budget console games for the iPhone. Such games are no simple apps or scaled-down versions of older games. Instead, those are complex, fully developed products, cleverly putting the iPhone’s capacities to good use. The same is true when you compare online casinos and bonuses, most if not all online games like this are optimised for mobile use and provide flashy graphics with smooth animations in order to entertain the user for hours.

There is a reason why developers are keen on providing apps for the gaming app field. Namely, the mobile medium provides them with a way to put games in front of people who don’t play games. Mobile gaming is affecting the way the entire field is growing and spreading. Some even blame the gaming apps for the fact that there is less funding for PC and console releases. However, most users seem to prefer the smaller, cheaper, more accessible formats. As always, demand dictates the law of the market.

New mobile products, such as the iPhone X, have come a long way in terms of both hardware and software. With this modern tech, app developers have a lot to work with. The screen is large, the visuals are stunning, and the sound is crystal clear. You can even exploit other features, like the haptic feedback.

From the developers’ angle, there is more room for creativity than there has ever been before. That is how iPhone games have started modernizing every aspect of game design.

Merging with other industries

Somewhere during its ongoing growth, the gaming industry reached a point where it started to merge with other fields. The most notable example of that is the synergy between the field of mobile gaming and the up-and-coming online casino industry.

At first, online casinos were supplying a small, niche audience of users. With the advent of gaming apps, however, developers have come to realize that online casino games are games, too. Soon, more and more online casinos were becoming available on mobile devices. Under the wing of gaming app firms, it didn’t take long for online gambling to become a thriving industry.

Some of the most celebrated mobile casino makers come from Scandinavia. On pages such as the Norwegian Spilleautomater, you can find carefully compiled lists of the highest rated online slots providers, both local and global.

Thanks to mobile casinos, virtual gambling is becoming yet another facet of modern iPhone gaming. This field is growing at such speed that the web is becoming flooded with detailed studies and reviews. For example, take a look at this website listing casino reviews.

Not all parts of the world are equally excited about the thriving virtual casino industry. British casino players, for instance, have become famous for their love of this field. You can thank the reliable British safety regulations for the popularity of the UK casinos. The online casino Wild Wins is a serious contender for the status of the best UK casino online.

What next?

What could be the next big thing the iPhone gaming craze brings? Anyone able to make a good guess could turn it into a great business opportunity. The rest of us will just have to wait and see for ourselves.

Anne

Five Things Stay-at-Home Dads Can Do to Earn Money

July 24, 2018 By Anne

The traditional role of fathers as the sole breadwinner of the family has since changed with modern families now relying more and more on both parents as sources of income. It is not rare to find moms having a career of their own and helping in the financial aspects. At the same time, it is quite common to find dads staying at home with the kids. This role reversal is a welcome change in this ever-changing world.

Of course, while being a stay-at-home father requires your attention in taking care of the kids, and frankly, they can get your hands full, there is also an added opportunity to help out with the finances. With rising prices, it proves more difficult to provide for the family’s needs while also being able to set aside enough savings for the rainy days, especially if you are relying on a single source of income.

Finding other avenues to earn money and supplement your family budget without leaving the house is a necessity. Here are just some of the things you can do to earn as a stay-at-home dad.

Online Seller

There are many opportunities in online selling. Most people these days do not have enough time to make purchases in person. Jobs can be demanding, and the only way some people can save time, energy, and effort is to buy online.

You will be surprised to find the range of things you can actually sell online. If you’re the trendy kind of dad, you can try selling clothes online. Just make sure you choose quality products, establish a secure payment system, and find a good shipping method.

Virtual Assistant

Many small-business companies are short of hand, and the best way for them to run the business without acquiring mounting costs is hiring virtual assistants. The kinds of roles vary, from customer service to bookkeeping. If you have a background in web design and programming or graphic design, you can actually earn a lot while not having to leave your home.

Paid Blogger

If you can write and create interesting content, then this is for you. There are many ways you can earn from this. You can set up your own blog, build your traffic, and establish yourself in a certain authority.

The success of your own website can earn you money through paid advertisement. You can also send your articles to big websites that can syndicate them and link back to your page. The traffic can convert to cash.

This is not only limited to websites either. You can incorporate this across your social media accounts for further audience reach.

Freelance Writer

The easiest thing to do when you are a dad who must stay at home and take care of the kids is to take up writing. When the children sleep and you get a quiet time for yourself, you can write articles for freelance companies online. All you need is the ability to do research and write well.

There are many opportunities now for online freelance writers since many businesses realize the importance of producing content when it comes to online marketing.

Online Tutorials

Online tutorials are a trend nowadays. People can learn a language, cook, and develop other skills just by subscribing to a website or video channels. You can grab this opportunity as a stay-at-home dad by making tutorial videos people can subscribe to. These are usually free, but if you gain a lot of followers, applications like YouTube can give you royalties.

Choose something you have an expertise in, whether it is arts and crafts, cooking, or even special skills like lockpicking. Your video can take viewers, for example, through a step-by-step procedure in using a set of lockpicking tools and even a lockpick gun.

Make your online course interesting and relevant. Viewers will flock to your channel if you produce quality content that they find valuable.

Manage Your Time

Being a stay-at-home dad does not mean you won’t be able to help in contributing to the family income anymore. By being resourceful, diligent, and wise when it comes to managing your time, you will be able to find a way to earn money even while you juggle your home job with your responsibilities as a father.

The value of your time can be maximized if you know how to use it well. Be sure to create a plan on how you should go about your home-based job. You can succeed in this through hard work and effort and earn the title of a superman dad.

Photo URL: https://unsplash.com/photos/EQlTyDZRx7U

Anne

Dental Dread – Fighting Tooth & Nail To Overcome A Dentist Phobia

July 24, 2018 By Anne

Image via thinkstockphotos.com

A dislike for the dentist’s chair is not uncommon. For many people, the sights, smells and sounds of a dental surgery are not something to be enjoyed or cherished. For those suffering a dental phobia, the act of visiting a dentist for a routine check-up or filling becomes the source of crippling anxiety, and can significantly impact upon their quality of life.

The following paragraphs are directed at the latter cohort – in the hope that there is a better way to alleviate this anxiety, and cure the associated phobia.

Do Your Homework

Successfully finding a dentist to entrust with your ongoing dental health and hygiene is the same as any other costly undertaking – results are at their best when you do your homework. A small time investment to research any dental professional or office you’re considering will reward you in the long term — especially if you need complex, or specialised work completed.

Dentists (such as this Bentleigh dental practice) are also opting to invest in technology which promises less painful injections – one of the more common reasons that many of us experience trepidation about the prospect of an upcoming dental appointment. It’s worth doing some research to find out if your chosen dentist uses any technology or techniques with no adverse side effects which will enhance your comfort and lead to decreased anxiety for any future or follow-up visits.

Don’t Catastrophize – Strategize!

Phobias and anxieties can often lead to destructive and pervasive thought patterns, including the tendency towards catastrophizing. In its most basic form, catastrophizing consists of visualising the most negative outcomes possible in a given situation, even when they’re uncommon, unlikely or unwarranted.

A better way to deal with any deep-seated (or lingering) dental anxiety is through strategising the entire process. Instead of focusing on the emotional repercussions of a negative outcome, strategizing uses rational thinking to put in place practical work-arounds which can help guide you through any unlikely turmoil.

For example; if you’re anxious about pain, research pain management strategies. Your dentist might offer topical anaesthetic on top of local anaesthetic, or they might offer ‘laughing gas’ (nitrous oxide) or oral sedation (medications such as Diazepam). If this is an option you’re hoping to select, discuss it in with your dentist before your appointment to make sure that it will proceed as smoothly as possible on the day of your appointment. You could also look into pain relief that you can source yourself, including natural pain relievers that have no adverse side effects as well.

Communication Is King (And Queen)

Some frequently-touted advice is that ‘communication is the key’ to overcoming a dental phobia – and there’s a good reason for this. Having open, direct communication with your dentist will allow both you and them to make any necessary adjustments to your treatments in order to create the most anxiety-free (and even pleasant) experience possible.

Be honest with your dentist. If you’ve had a bad experience in the past, outline what happened, and try to explain why it made you feel anxious or upset. A good dentist will be able to walk you through how they would approach a similar situation, and can help you to feel more at ease with their experience and expertise. Alternately, they can also let you know of any misconceptions or misunderstandings that you may have experienced.

Establishing good communication habits with your dentist will help to ensure an honest, open and trusting relationship can develop, and can ultimately be the difference between a nightmare experience and a dream dental date.

Find The Source

For those with truly hardy phobias and anxieties, it may be necessary to spend some time working through these fears with a professional counsellor. Professional counsellors can offer new ways of thinking and tips for managing any blossoming anxiety before it affects your quality of life.

Counsellors can help you to identify the source of your dental anxieties (for example; it could be related to expected pain, expense, or perceived shame) and will work together with you to create strategies to overcome the source of the anxiety. Depending on your location and individual circumstance, this service may even be free or heavily subsidised.

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Dental phobias can seem impossible to manage, and often go untreated due to factors of cost or anxiety. By addressing some of the root causes of your phobia, and creating manageable workarounds for potential problems, you can bite back – and hopefully be on the path towards a healthier, less anxious future.