Child-rearing is very challenging, and having the skills and knowledge required is extremely important in being the best parent you can be. Educating yourself about your child’s growth, behavior and development will help you become a better parent.

You can clear an area on the counter in the kitchen, roll up a soft towel, lay the child back on the towel with their head over the sink, then gently run the water over their hair and scalp. This can minimize the anxiety many young children have when their heads are doused with water.

If you’re traveling with your little one, maintain the mealtime and bedtime routines that you do at home. Travel can be stressful for babies and small children. Observing the same routine you had at home should make your young child feel comfortable in this new environment.

Never give any type of soda to a baby or toddler. Stick with drinks which provide your child nutrients like water, juice or milk.

Keep kids safe on their way to school by using reflective tape on their backpacks or coats. You can also purchase reflective fabric strips that you can attach with Velcro to other garments. Doing so will help to keep your child safe, by making them far more visible to people driving than they would be without reflectors.

If your child is not having an easy time cutting teeth, try putting cucumbers, carrots, or sour pickles in their mesh teether. There are many methods that work for relief, but if the item the child is chewing on contains a taste then he will more than likely keep chewing on it. The longer your child chews, the better they will feel throughout the day.

If you want to avoid getting your children too cranky and bored, then periodically make travel stops. The longer distance that you travel, the more stops you should make. Your natural temptation might be to hustle through the journey as fast as you can, but a relaxed pace, with plenty of pauses, will cut down on backseat squabbling. Let your children play and discover new adventures along the way in parks, restaurants and tourist attractions.

The goal of this article was to provide every parent with a little commonsense thinking that can help them to become a little more in tune with their child. You may not always have all the answers, but you will be able to find the resources you need to help you get those answers.