If you have a few ideas handy, this can be done with no problem.

1. Play age and content appropriate video games (with the parents' permission).

Play games that require two or more players, such as AssaultCube.

2. Arts and crafts

Ask the parents if you can bring a few simple craft supplies, such as paper plates, glue, safety scissors, stickers, yarn, old magazines for cutting out pictures, and other things. This can keep kids entertained for hours.

3. Play indoor games that require movement.

Old favorites like hide-and-seek, "Mother May" and follow-the-leader are always fun. Working parents may often be too tired to do this, so it will be a real treat for the kids.

4. Play age appropriate board or card games

If there is a fairly wide gap in children's ages, play with the younger ones first, then when they are in bed, or engaged in another activity, play with the older ones.

5. For older children, a "Circle story" game may be enjoyable.

In a "Circle story" someone starts with, "Once upon a time...", and then someone else adds to it and so on until the story is complete.

6. For younger children simple games may be fun.

These are such simple matching games as color to color, object to object, etc., and imitation games: touch your nose when I touch mine, make this face, move in this manner, and so on. If you only have one child, he or she will enjoy the one-on-one attention, but two or more will still be able to participate and have fun.

7. Read to them or listen to them read

Select age appropriate books. Parents will really appreciate this, especially if the child seems more eager to read for or with the babysitter.

8. Go on a nature walk, weather and age permitting

Give kids a list of things to look for and collect if they like, such as flowers, pine cones, sticks, leaves for younger children, and unusual rocks or different types of plants for older children. Make sure you are aware of what the poisonous ones (ivy, oak, and sumac) look like, and continually caution younger children not to put things in their mouths.

9. Put on an art show

Pass out crayons, colored pencils, and blank paper. Let the kids get creative, then display them and let them explain what they've drawn.

10. Cook or make a simple snack

Again if children are old enough and parents give permission. Make something simple such as no-bake chocolate/oatmeal cookies or even instant pudding. Even small ones can get in on activities if no-cook ones are chosen.

Thinking up new and interesting things for children to do will not only help them, but will help make the experience more enjoyable for you. You won't be bored, and neither will the kids.

Jessy is a new mom and family writer for Dobovo, the free tool to pick Kiev apartments for a family journey to Ukraine.

Images Credit: Eli Duke.

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• Spouse, Friend or Relative
• Out of Home Day Care
• In Home Day Care

Choosing an Out of Home Day Care Provider

Unless you have a relative or friend who is willing and competent enough to care for the child, it is likely you will depend on a day care service. Parents in this situation should begin by researching the various day care services in the immediate area.

The first consideration should be the needs of the child. If your child likes to be active and socialize, a day care center with a more preschool environment may be better suited than one that encourages quiet activities. It is important to talk with each provider about the type of atmosphere that is promoted and the number of children will be together each day. For example, a large group may not be ideal for a demure child. Inquire about the qualifications of the staff, the turnover rate, and whether they are adequately compensated. An underpaid caretaker may be less motivated to do their job. Confirm that the child care center itself meets the regulations put forth by the state.

Once you have determined what is best for the child, you can then begin to consider your needs as a parent. Location, cost, and available hours can be the difference between choosing one provider over another.

Choosing an In-Home Day Care Provider

For many families, choosing an in-home childcare provider makes the most sense. The one-on-one attention and care your child receives from a nanny or babysitter is important for their development. However, it can be difficult for parents to find someone they can trust with their infant, as some nannies may burn out and place the child in front of the television. They also are the most expensive option with regard to day care.

Given the importance of finding a reliable person that you trust, your search for a nanny should begin during the pregnancy. Most parents are most comfortable leaving children with family members, but they may not always be available. There will times that you need to have a babysitter or nanny on call.

When choosing a nanny, ask them about their qualifications and the path they took to becoming a childcare provider. Often times, the people who have an emotional connection to their job will be better with children than those whose motivations lean toward the financial. Caretakers with a more visceral love for the job will be able to describe their feelings with more depth and recall seminal experiences they had with young infants. They should have an understanding of what children need and more specifically what your child needs. They should be flexible enough to adapt to your child's naps, hunger, and desire to play.

Generally, you will want to hire a more experienced nanny, particularly with young infants. However, as the child gets older, you may feel it is safe to go with a cheaper, teenage babysitter. If this is the case, have the babysitter come over during the weekend and interact with the child until you feel comfortable leaving the two alone. Regardless of who cares for the child, remember to always leave a list of emergency phone numbers to call in case an accident occurs.

Jason Hill writes on behalf of PublicLiabilityInsurance.org an online resource for business owners providing childminders liability insurance.

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There will be a fair amount of things to buy, but perhaps not as much as you might have first thought. There's a great deal you don't even need to think about just yet, for example highchairs or equipment for food other than milk. Just remember that there's a lot you can probably find second-hand, especially clothing.

Things you'll need ready:

Clothing:

Don't go overboard with clothes - your baby will be growing very quickly, so just stick to the following:

Baby Gros - Get a few of these so that while others are in the wash or drying, you can keep baby in a clean one

Cardigans - Buy two of these, for Baby to wear over the top of a Baby Gro if it's cold

Basic vests - They will also need vests under the baby gro if it's very cold

Tops with Poppers - Very useful for quick changes

A small hat

Mittens

Socks

Nappies - Newborn babies need their nappys changed at least 10 times every day (often it will be more), so get yourself a big stash of them

Bedding, Changing & Towels:

This varies depending on your chosen way for baby to sleep. You can keep them in a carrycot at least to start with, and then get a moses basket and a cot.

Mattress - this will be to fit the moses basket and/or cot

Cot sheets

Cellular blankets - provides lightweight warmth by trapping more air with a special weave structure

Blankets

Small, soft towels

Changing mat

Changing station - this saves your back when constantly changing nappies

Large Equipment:

Baby will only need a carrycot from a pram to sleep in, to start with. This makes it easy for you to keep baby with you at all times. Later on, you can buy a cot.

Pram or pushchair which can lie flat. This keeps baby's back protected while it's growing

Rear Facing Car Seat - Absolutely essential if you're taking your baby home from hospital in the car. You can get one to double as a carrycot, or one that fixes to a pushchair frame.

Large washing up bowl for bathing

Sterilising Equipment (if bottle feeding)

Small Equipment:

Bottles

Teats

Bottle brushes

Breast pump (if breastfeeding)

Nursing bras (if breastfeeding)

Breast pads (if breastfeeding)

Mild baby bath liquid

Baby wipes for nappy changing

Listening monitor

Thermometer - essential to check the room temperature is just right

Baby Pages is a retailer of baby equipment and pushchairs such as the mountain buggy, icandy and babystyle models.

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Take their favorite toys.

Depending on the age of your children, they will have their security blanket. Whether it is their favorite plushie or literally a blanket, it will help you calm and soothe their nerves when the length of the trip starts to get to them.

Books are your best friends.

Hopefully, you have introduced your kids to reading and books at an early age. There are numerous advantages to doing so, and education is not the only one. When you are bound to spend hours in the car or the plane (or any mode of transportation for that matter), their favorite books can keep them quiet. You can either read their favorite story to them, or you can have them read on their own.

Bring the tablet computer if you have one.

It is not inconceivable that even children who are below 10 years old already know how to use a tablet computer. In this day and age, some children even start as a toddler! While some parents are averse to the idea, I believe that introducing these gadgets to kids is a good thing. It is a matter of controlling access and what apps you install. If you have a tablet, and your kids use it, then make sure to take it along with you. It will do wonders for your nerves!

Communicate!

This might very well be the most effective thing you can do to keep the kids quiet. You may not be aware of it, but many children get fidgety when they are bored and have no one to interact with. As a parent, you are the first person in their social circle. For some, you may be the only person in their social circle. Take advantage of the travel time to actually talk with the kids. Whatever the topic may be, the important thing is that you pay attention to what the kids are saying. It is also important that you contribute to the conversation and not simply give stock answers or utterances. That long trip is actually a good time to bond with your children! Traveling with kids can be a fun experience. Just make sure that you pack lots of patience with you!

Cheryl Grise was bitten by the travel bug at a very early age, thanks to her globetrotting parents. All her life, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and now shares her expertise with others through her writing. Cheryl’s recommendations to other travel bloggers? Just go out there and hit the road. And don’t forget to promote your blog as much as you can!

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The cost of having a baby can vary from one couple to another, and can vary based on individual circumstances. It is not only about the amount of money that you will have to spend when you have a baby but also about the amount of money that you may lose as a result of having a baby. Then there is the future to consider – the cost of having a baby doesn't stop when your child stops being a baby, in fact it probably increases, which is why financial stability is so important for anyone considering having children.

Some of the costs that you need to consider when it comes to having a baby include:

• The cost of one of you having to give up work, potentially for a number of years in order to bring up the baby. Whilst you may get benefits when you have your baby this may come nowhere near the amount you were earning when working, so make sure that you can manage without that income

• The cost of baby supplies. The cost of living has soared over recent years and when you consider even the most basic baby supplies that you will need, from nappies and creams to baby food and milk, you will see that you could end up paying out a small fortune each week. On top of this you have other one off expenses such as a pram, a cot, and other baby equipment for the home

• Buying baby clothes. These can be quite costly but more worryingly you will have to replace them on a regular basis because of the rate at which babies grow. You can get around this by relying on the generosity of friends and family who may have had babies in the past and may have some hand me downs that you can use

• The cost of childcare: Whether you are angling for a night out or whether you are looking to return to work, you may end up having to get childcare and this can prove very costly. Nursery costs are also high and can be a real drain on the finances. You may have family members who can help out with childcare but unless they are available on demand you may find that you have to spend a fair amount on babysitters, nannies, or nurseries

• The future: You will also need to make sure that you are thinking about the baby's future, such as saving up towards their further education. Whilst this may seem like a long way off when you first have your baby, time flies and as a responsible parent you will soon realize that you need to start saving sooner rather than later

• Gifts: Whilst this is not an essential expense such as food and clothing you will most likely end up spending a fair amount of money each year on gifts for your child for birthdays, Christmas and the like

Esther writes regularly on the subject of personal and consumer finances and covers subjects such as credit cards and mortgages, taxes and peer to peer lending as well as how to make money from investing in solar panels.

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No toddler is going to sit down and study hard – they learn through play. The key is not to apply any pressure. It’s a known fact that most kids do the opposite of what their parents want, so be subtle and he’ll be reading in no time. Here are some tricks.

-        Read to him.

• This is the most important thing you can do. Start early and continue often. Babies learn what is fun from you, so show him that you enjoy reading, and he will, too.

-        Make it interesting.

• Pick books with lots of pictures and interesting concepts. Read him about things that are already exciting to him. Use different funny voices for each character.

-        Be interactive.

• Encourage him to get involved in the book by pointing to pictures and words and asking questions. Use books with big print.

-        Play with letters.

• Use letter magnets on the fridge to help him learn his letters and form and recognize words. He’ll enjoy playing with them and will learn from them. Use letters toys made for the bathtub during bath time, too.

-        Take every opportunity.

• Point out words in the world around you. When you are out shopping, show him the sign with the store’s name. Direct his attention to words anywhere you see them, and he will start to look for and recognize opportunities to read everywhere. Label common household items with words.

-        Use flash cards.

• As your toddler begins to start showing word and letter recognition, make some flash cards for letters and simple, common words. Make it fun, by showing enthusiasm and offering encouragement. Introduce new words every so often.

-        Be consistent.

• Practice every day. This will reinforce what he has already learned and keep it fresh.

-        Start early.

• It is never too early to start, just don’t have high expectations. The sooner he is exposed to reading, the sooner he will begin to grasp the idea that he can do it himself.

-        Offer praise.

• Don’t forget to positively reinforce his progress by telling him you are proud of him. Tell him how good he is doing and he will feel encouraged to do more.

-        Repeat, repeat, repeat.

• Don’t try to introduce many different books, cards, or toys. Stick to a few essential ones and use them over and over again. Repetition is the key.

-        Don’t spend money on education systems.

• Educational systems that promise to teach your child to read are no better than the techniques listed above. There is no substitute for a parent’s attention and active encouragement.

These tips will help your toddler to read and, most importantly, get him to enjoy doing it. Kids want to do what is fun, and an enthusiasm for reading will last a lifetime.

Reading sets the foundation for excellence in writing and communications. If you want to polish up your writing and grammar skills visit English Grammar Rules a resource provided by Grammarly the most powerful grammar checker on the web.

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Image: Chesi - Fotos CC's

Being in charge of baby bathroom safety is a lot responsibility, and even as small as the little one is, it’s a job over which you must spend a great deal of care and attention! But at least whilst they’re unable to walk about, you can easily manage their safety. In the long run, the Bathroom is one of the most dangerous places in the house for a child to be in. And as your child grows up, it’s essential that they have a safe environment in which to learn all those toilet basics!

Safety for Babies

Whenever you have a new arrival, it’s time to start thinking about getting rid of some of your household clutter. This isn’t just a bathroom problem: you’ve doubtlessly gone through your living room, bedroom and kitchen looking for places where little hands may be in danger. It’s time to change habits in the bathroom: remember that razors and medicines need to be locked away in bathroom cabinets, out of reach of a child every time you use them! You should have an unreachable lock on the outside of your bathroom door so that you can keep your child out of the bathroom unless you want them to go in!

• Preparing for baby’s bath, you need to remember that their skin is far more sensitive than your own. Run the bath before putting them inside.
• Run only about 13cm (5 inches) of water.
• Use a non-slip mat in the bath. Adhesive non-slip decals are also useful.
• 37 degrees is the ideal temperature for infant bathing, and you can buy a thermometer to check this precisely. You should always check how the water feels to your touch before placing your baby in it.
• Never leave your child whilst bathing them, not even for second. Bring a phone (preferably one that can be put on speaker phone) if you’re expecting a call. Never leave a child in charge either.
• Wrap baby in a towel and dry immediately after the bath. You don’t want them getting cold!
• During their early days, babies only need a full bath once or twice a week. On other days, cleaning their face, neck, ears, bottom and genitals will do. After two months or so, you need to start establishing bath-time into a bed-time routine.

Safety for Toddlers

Toddlers will essentially require many of the same precautions as above: in fact, anti-slip surfaces, and basic routine are probably even more important! With your child now moving around and becoming ever more curious (and fidgety!) bathtime can be a little more challenging, but it needn’t be a chore!

• A lock for the toilet seat cover keeps from taking a trip round the U-Bend.
• Water level can go up a little more now: teach your child to sit up in the bath, and run the water to waist height.
• Rubber ducks, boats and other fun toys can keep kids cooperative and occupied, just make sure that play doesn’t get in the way of cleaning!
• Empty the bathtub of water immediately after you have finished.
• With toddlers splashing around, water tends to go everywhere. Make sure that the floor is dry before letting them out, to avoid slipping.

Steph Wood has a young niece and nephew and has been the occasional bathroom backup. They currently work for Splash Bathrooms, who provide Bathroom Suites and accessories.

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Child passenger fatalities have fallen fast since the invention and implication of safety belts in vehicles in the mid-1970’s. Still, today there are reports that as many as 13% of children are being transported without the use of a safety belt or proper child-safety seat. Child restraint laws are currently in place in all of the states, as well as the District of Columbia. The age at which a child can use an adult safety belt without a car seat or booster seat differs from state to state; ranging from very young ages such as three and four years old in Florida and Arizona, to height restrictions and an age closer to seven in many states including Georgia, Delaware, Kentucky and Maine. Make sure to follow the laws in your state and, more importantly, if you live in a state where the age is young, consider using a car seat or booster seat well past the required age.

Placing a child in the back seat of a car has been shown to decrease their likelihood of being hurt in an accident by well over 50% before the age of eight. Many states suggest that children under the age of fifteen should not travel in the front seat of a car due to the design and impact of a front seat airbag, which can cause serious injury to a young person, but keep in mind that a lot of states require children travel in the back seat regardless of whether the vehicle has an airbag or not. You should always be aware of your home state’s own laws and rules regarding child safety while traveling, and in any case, make sure that children sit in the back seat until they are adult-sized.

Lastly, always be sure that you have researched and purchased the correct insurance to keep your children safe in case an accident ever does occur. Many insurance policies directly dictate how you should be using safety restraints for children at what age, and your insurance broker would gladly review these laws and safety measures in your state.

This guest post is from CarInsuranceQuotes.net, where you can go to learn more about this type of insurance and compare rates from several companies.

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Most parents can probably relate to the problem of their child continually waking up during the night and not being able to get back to sleep. There are generally three very distinct reasons that cause children to wake up during the night and these tend to vary by age. They key to conquering the problems is being calm and understanding what is causing your child to wake.

• Nightmares
• Restless Sleep
• Medical Issues

Generally speaking children don’t wake in the middle of the night just to get your attention. However they may need your help and reassurance to get back to sleep. If you understand what the issue is you should be able to get them off to sleep quickly.

Bad Dreams

Everyone has bad dreams, whereas adults generally can get over it and get back to sleep again without too much difficulty, children find it a lot harder and they need to learn how to understand and cope with it. Really little children may not really understand what woke them up, and children who are older will understand but will be scared and want to sleep in their parents bed.

Restless Sleep

This can be caused by not having a good bedtime routine or by being in unfamiliar surroundings, for example on holiday. A good routine is vital to solving this problem. A good bedtime routine will help our kids switch off from the day and relax for sleep. So, music and books can play a key role in this. Reading them a short bedtime story in a relaxing voice will help. Using a night light or dim lamp instead of the main light, and avoiding caffeine or sugar near bedtime should also help.

Medical Issues

It is also possible that your child is waking because of a medical issue. Children can suffer from insomnia and sleep apnea just like adults. If your child is complaining of aches or pains or their sleep problems have been going on for a while you should visit your doctor.

Tips to help your children get a better night’s sleep

1. Don't feel like you have to go and check on your child every time you hear a noise, and when you do go and check on them be quiet and don't turn all the lights on. In fact you might find a flashlight helpful so you can find your way about the house without risking walking them.
2. If your child is afraid of the dark then help them learn that nighttime is not scary. Why not go out in your garden and count the stars.
3. If your child is afraid of the things that go bump in the night then why not take them on a monster hunt. Switch on all the lights before you read them a story and hunt for monsters to make sure their room is clear.
4. If your child takes a lot of naps during the day, some experts believe this can reduce the amount of hours they can sleep at night. So you could try cutting down the length of time they nap during the day.

Carol writes for Anara Toys where you can find information about a wide range of educational and pretend play toys from cheap Sylvanian Families houses to toy kitchens for children.

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Taking your baby on their first holiday can be very exciting but you will be faced with numerous challenges on the way. While we'd all love a baby that would just peacefully sleep throughout the entire flight – few of us are that lucky. Follow our top five tips for travelling with babies.

Flying Free with Babies

Holidays can be expensive, with a large proportion of the cost going to flights. Most airlines allow children under the age of two to travel for free with an adult – so make the most of this when they are young. However, they won't get their own seat – you'll need to have them on your lap.

When booking your flights ask your travel agent which airlines will let your baby travel for free and you'll find yourself getting incredibly cheap flights. This gives you more money to spend on spoiling yourself!

Where You Sit Matters

Airline seats are uncomfortable enough, so don't make things worse for yourself if you can help it. If you book your flights far enough ahead you should be able to reserve a baby bassinette – a much more convenient place for them to sleep during the flight. The seats with bassinettes also give you more leg room and space to move than standard seats. Parents of children under the age of 12 months are usually given priority for the bulk head seats and it's here that the bassinettes are attached to the wall.

If you don't manage to get a front row seat you should still take into consideration where you are sitting. Always try to get an aisle seat so that you have easy access to the toilet and baby changing facilities.

Request Baby Meals

Airlines don't automatically assume you want a baby meal, so it is important that you request one before you fly. If it is not given as an option when you book, simply call the airline and make sure they take note of your request.

If your baby has any special dietary needs or allergies you can also make these requests. Most airlines will provide jar food for babies that are weaning. They will also usually serve up baby meals before everyone else's, which means you're not trying to deal with feeding the two of you at once.

What to Pack

It can seem like your baby needs a bigger bag than you when you're going on holidays – but it is important that you have everything you need for a safe and comfortable flight. Whether you scored cheap flights or are on the most luxurious airline – they only have limited amenities so never assume you'll be able to get what you need on board.

Always pack extra nappies in case of flight delays, cancellations or other situations that are outside of your control. Depending on where you are travelling to, you may also find that the brand of nappies and other baby supplies are different to what you are used to and you may also struggle to get hold of the things you need. Don't be afraid to pack extras – you can always leave them behind if you don't use them.

Keeping Baby Happy

Travelling can be hard work – even for the parents – so don't make it any harder on yourself by having an upset baby. Babies tend not to deal well with sudden change, so it's important to try and stick to their normal schedule as much as possible and minimise disruptions to their sleep or food schedule.

Bring along plenty of their favourite toys and other items that will remind them of home and make them feel safe. Try to include as many baby-friendly activities into your holidays as well as the things that you want to see and do.

Richard Greenwood from Flight Centre is a passionate traveler and enjoys sharing his travel tips and experiences with others. Flight Centre is a leading travel agent in a range of countries including Australia, UK, Canada and offers cheap flights across the world with a lowest airfare guarantee.

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