Top Parenting Questions Googled

They say parenting doesn’t come with a handbook and I am going to disagree. While it isn’t in handbook form, Google has become my go to when I have questions. Now I know you can’t rely on everything you read but other mama’s like myself have shared their experiences and after reading many scenarios I usually take a bit of each. Here are a few key things that I have searched in the past 18 months and have been asked by other parents. Remember none of this is biblical and should always be discussed with your doctor!

Question: When can a baby sleep with a blanket?

Answer: By the time your child is a toddler — defined as aged 18 months to 3 years — she’s no longer at risk for SIDS, and many of the rules for safe baby sleep no longer apply. Once your child reaches 18 months, it’s fine for him to have a thin blanket or lovie in his crib or bed.

Question: When can your child sit front facing in a car seat? 

Answer: The American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation has been to keep a child in a rear-facing seat until she’s at least 1 year and 20 pounds. But a new study has found that it’s five times safer for your 1-year-old to ride facing backward than forward. In light of this new research, experts now recommend that you keep your toddler’s convertible car seat facing backward until she’s at least 2-years-old or has reached the seat’s height and weight limits for the rear position (usually 36 inches and 30 to 35 pounds).

Question: When can you introduce peanut butter?

Answer: The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology recommends introducing peanut butter to your baby only after other solid foods have been fed to them safely, without any symptoms of allergies. This can happen between 6 and 8 months of age.

Question: When can a child wear a jacket in the car? 

Answer: Bulky winter coats and car seats are a dangerous combination. Car seat technicians say to put nothing thicker than a sweatshirt on your child under the harness straps of a car seat.

Here is a simple way to check if your child’s coat is too big to wear under their harness:

Put the coat on your child, sit them in the child seat and fasten the harness. Tighten the harness until you can no longer pinch any of the harness webbing with your thumb and forefinger
Without loosening the harness, remove your child from the child seat,Take the coat off and put your child back in the car seat and buckle the harness straps, which are still adjusted as they were when he was wearing the coat. If you can now pinch the webbing between your thumb and forefinger then the coat is too bulky to be worn under the harness.

Question: When can a baby have cows milk? 

Answer: Wait until your baby is a year old before giving her cow’s milk as a main drink. It’s fine to use a little cow’s milk in your baby’s food once she’s started on solids. Yogurt and mild cheese are also fine to feed your baby from six months.

Question: When can a baby have water? 

Answer: In general, your baby shouldn’t drink water until he’s about 6 months old. Until then, he gets all the hydration he needs from breast milk or formula, even in hot weather. Once your baby is 6 months old, it’s okay to give him sips of water when he’s thirsty.

Question: How do you alleviate constipation in toddler? 

Answer: Boost your child’s fiber intake. Give her plenty of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Offer apricots, plums, peas, beans, broccoli and, of course, prunes. If she doesn’t like the taste of prunes, try adding prune juice to her milk: Just 1 ounce of prune juice in half a cup of milk is very effective. ( I did prune juice in his milk and worked like a charm! )

Question: When should you wean baby off a bottle? 

Answer: Okay I have researched this one till the cow’s come home and here is my answer. When your baby is ready! I have read everything from 12 months to 18 months and there are more opinions on it than Carter has liver pills. I figure he weaned himself from breast feeding and he will do the same with the bottle.

Side note: It is important to teach them to use a sippy cup especially if you are entering them in daycare.

Question: How much milk should a toddler drink? 

Answer: According to my doctor no more than 18 ounces a day after 12 months. Apparently you can cause milk anemia if they are filling up on milk and not enough solid foods.  

Question: How soon does teething start? 

Answer: Teething usually begins around 6 months of age. But it is normal for teething to start at any time between 3 months and 12 months of age. By the time your child is about 3 years old, he or she will have all 20 primary teeth. The lower front teeth usually come in first. 

Side Note: Coops teeth have been extremely sporadic as far as what has come in first. Dentist said to not worry about the order of the teeth. 

Question: When should I start potty training? 

Answer: Children need to be both physically and psychologically ready before starting the toilet training process. Usually this is between 2 and half years and 3 and half years, but it all depends on the child. Starting too early can result in a longer overall process or worse still having to abandon it midway through. The best thing to do is let your child take the lead, offer them your support.

Hope some of these are answers to some questions you may have and always remember “Google It” wisely.