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	<title>Optimal Parenting &#187; Parenting</title>
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		<title>The importance of Cabinet Locks</title>
		<link>http://www.optimalparenting.com/the-importance-of-cabinet-locks/</link>
		<comments>http://www.optimalparenting.com/the-importance-of-cabinet-locks/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Jan 2010 02:28:07 +0000</pubDate>
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				<category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.optimalparenting.com/?p=12</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[An important part of baby proofing that parents and guardians do not want to over look is securing cabinets.  Not only do parents want to make sure the kitchen cabinets are safely locked, but cabinets found in bathrooms, tool rooms, home office rooms, exercise areas, laundry rooms, and play rooms need to be kept [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>An important part of baby proofing that parents and guardians do not want to over look is securing cabinets.  Not only do parents want to make sure the kitchen cabinets are safely locked, but cabinets found in bathrooms, tool rooms, home office rooms, exercise areas, laundry rooms, and play rooms need to be kept locked.  Products such as cleaning supplies, dangerous and heavy appliances, weighty pots and pans, art crafts and paints, cosmetics, office equipment, and any firearms are just a few of the things that can be dangerous for an infant or small child to have access to.  Even products with <a href="http://www.optimalparenting.com">child-resistant packaging</a> should be locked away and kept out of reach.  This type of packaging is not childproof, only child-resistant.</p>
<p>      To secure the cabinets in the home, consumers have a couple of options when it comes to <a href="http://www.chickabeez.com/child-safety-cabinet-locks/">child safety cabinet locks</a>.  Some that will be discussed in this article are the interior cabinet lock, the exterior cabinet lock, and a newer lock to the market: the magnetic cabinet lock.  The lock is secured to the cabinet by applying screws to the inside of the cabinet door.  The lock has a hook-type end that catches the base of the cabinet when the door is opened.  This lock has a one handed operation.  An adult simply has to push down on the lock as they are opening the cabinet door. </p>
<p>      The exterior cabinet lock is used on cabinets with knobs or handles and by people who do not want damage from screw hole in their cabinets.  This lock is applied by opening the lock, usually by pressing a button, enough to fit over the knobs or opening it all the way and sliding one end thru the cabinet door handles.  Then a person tightens the lock enough so the door cannot be opened and that is it.  The downside to these types of locks is that a person has to remember to reattach the lock every time they take it off to open the cabinet door.</p>
<p>      Last, a person has the option of a magnetic safety latch.  Most latches work by having the lock secured to the inside of the cabinet door.  When the cabinet door is closed, the lock automatically locks in place.  To open the door, a person uses the magnetic key by placing it on the outside of the cabinet door over the magnet on the inside.  You can leave the key on the door to keep the lock unlocked, and when you are ready just simply remove the key and the <a href="http://www.chickabeez.com/">cabinet locks</a> again when the door is shut.</p>
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		<title>Choosing a Good Baby Bottle</title>
		<link>http://www.optimalparenting.com/choosing-a-good-baby-bottle/</link>
		<comments>http://www.optimalparenting.com/choosing-a-good-baby-bottle/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Jan 2010 01:48:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.optimalparenting.com/?p=10</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Many people choose to bottle feed their infants because of convenience, work schedules, or even medical issues.  But before a person chooses which infant bottle whether it is the use of plastic or glass baby bottles and nipple is right for them and their baby there are some things they will want to consider. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Many people choose to bottle feed their infants because of convenience, work schedules, or even medical issues.  But before a person chooses which infant bottle whether it is the use of plastic or <a href="http://www.chickabeez.com/glass-baby-bottles/">glass baby bottles</a> and nipple is right for them and their baby there are some things they will want to consider.  This article is designed to help answer some questions parents may have regarding different bottle and nipple types as well as safety concerning the bottle and nipple material.</p>
<p>      As a person looks through the baby bottle aisle at any store they may feel overwhelmed by the amount of different baby bottles and bottle nipples.  Some bottles are angular, curved, or straight.  Some bottles have tubes inside.  Some <a href="http://www.optimalparenting.com">baby bottle nipples</a> are round, some square.  Some have light or slow liquid flow and others have fast liquid flow.  Even though a person needs to have some bottles on hand when they bring baby home, it might be wiser to buy a few different brands and kinds of bottles and nipples.  This way a person can try out different ones and decide which ones work the best for their baby.  Even after a baby may seem to prefer one type of bottle, the bottle nipple preference may change.  Most infants will start out with a slow flowing nipple and progress to a faster one as the infant grows.  If an infant is choking or having difficulty in keeping up with the amount of milk coming out, a parent may need to get a nipple that has a smaller flow.  Also, darker colored latex bottle nipples may pick up smells and tastes over time and can carry a higher risk for an allergic reaction than clear silicone nipples do.  What&#8217;s more, a parent may want to match up an infant pacifier to the bottle nipple the infant prefers.</p>
<p>      In recent times, there has been much debate over a lightweight plastic called Bisphenol A that is used in baby bottles.  Some people believe that this plastic poses a risk to children&#8217;s health.  The truth of the matter is that in 2007, the FDA reaffirmed their standing, stating they had “determined that the use of polycarbonate-based <a href="http://www.chickabeez.com">baby bottles</a> and BPA-based epoxy coated cans used to hold infant formula is safe.”  When plastic baby bottles are used as they are intended, levels of bisphenol A from the baby bottle are well below any level than can cause harm to an adult or child.  These findings should make any parent comfortable with their purchase of any baby bottle.</p>
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		<title>Using a Baby Gate</title>
		<link>http://www.optimalparenting.com/using-a-baby-gate/</link>
		<comments>http://www.optimalparenting.com/using-a-baby-gate/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:55:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.optimalparenting.com/?p=6</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When my husband and I had our first child, we lived in a tiny town house that had very steep stairs leading up to the bedrooms.  One afternoon when our daughter was about 13 months, we were rushing to get out of the house.  I was down stairs in the kitchen cleaning and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When my husband and I had our first child, we lived in a tiny town house that had very steep stairs leading up to the bedrooms.  One afternoon when our daughter was about 13 months, we were rushing to get out of the house.  I was down stairs in the kitchen cleaning and my husband and daughter were in the living room playing.  Then he ran upstairs to grab his wallet for what he thought would just be a second.  However, when he got up there he couldn&#8217;t find it and had to search.  Meanwhile, I was loading up the dishwasher and not paying much attention to our daughter.  Then we heard one of the most sickening sounds a parent can hear.   Thunk, Thunk, Thunk, Thunk.  In the few moments while he was upstairs and I was preoccupied (and no one put up the baby gate!) she had climbed up more than half way up our steep stairs and fallen back down.  Thankfully, she wasn&#8217;t seriously hurt, just bruised and very scared.  However, in 2004 in the United States alone, there were more than 1,000 people killed because of accidents on the stairs.  This figure doesn&#8217;t even include the broken bones, bumps, and bruises like my daughters&#8217;. </p>
<p>      So, what is the best way possible and practical to protect your children?  <a href="http://www.chickabeez.com/baby-gates-for-stairs/">Baby gates for stairs</a> come in all different price ranges, shapes and sizes, and are just as important to use in your home as <a href="http://www.optimalparenting.com/the-importance-of-cabinet-locks/">cabinet safety locks</a>, so before you leave the house to go to shopping for one there are some things to consider.  First off, the location you need to have blocked off will affect what type of baby gate you purchase.  For example, at the top and bottom of the stairs, you never should use the <a href="http://www.chickabeez.com">pressure mounted baby gates</a>.  If a child puts enough weight on the gate, it could cause the gate to collapse.  Also, the square mesh gates are easier for children to climb over and are not recommended for child protection use anymore.</p>
<p>      In heavy traffic areas, you might want to consider splurging on the more expensive gate that screw securely into the wall or doorjamb and has a handle or spring that unlatches.  These are much more convenient since you won&#8217;t have to put up and take down the gate one hundred times a day.  Also, the more convenient a gate is to use, the more likely a person will be to use it and consequently, the safer your baby will be.  If a person is concerned about the appearance of the gate, in the past few years there have been many different designs that will please almost any shopper.  </p>
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		<title>Optimize your Parenting</title>
		<link>http://www.optimalparenting.com/optimize-your-parenting/</link>
		<comments>http://www.optimalparenting.com/optimize-your-parenting/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:56:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.optimalparenting.com/?p=3</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Your children didn&#8217;t come with an instruction manual, and parenting can be hard and stressful.Here at optimal parenting  our goal is to supply you with basic parenting tips to help you keep  you family safe and happy. We will discuss how to keep your family safe  inside your home, outside your home [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Your children didn&#8217;t come with an instruction manual, and parenting can be hard and stressful.Here at optimal parenting  our goal is to supply you with basic <a href="http://www.sunshineproviders.org/">parenting tips</a> to help you keep  you family safe and happy. We will discuss how to keep your family safe  inside your home, outside your home and give you helpful discipline tips  that you can implement as your children grow into their teens. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Accidents are the leading cause of deaths  in children, and most of these accidents could easily be avoided and  is important to keep your child&#8217;s safety in mind when you are in your  home or out. Using easily installed products on the market such as plug  covers, cabinet door locks,  door knob covers, stove guards, and  even swinging stair gates are helpful in avoiding accidents that could  potentially harm your children. These products are not only for infants  they can be used for years to keep your children out of harmful situations.There  are numerous laws and regulations when it comes to child seat safety,  here at optimal parenting we will keep you informed to these new changes  so that you can keep your little ones safe while you run your errands,  take them to school, or on trips with the rest of the family. It is  also wise to have a serious discussion with your children regarding  strangers and the dangers when they play outside.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">As a parent you will need to discipline your child, teach them manners, and help them transition into the real  world as an adult. All these basic tips will help your children grow  into an respectable adult and keep your whole family happy and healthy.  Rearing teens can be a difficult and stressful task, we are here to  provide you with ways you can help your teen make good life decisions.  Offering your kids choices from youth on into adulthood is often an  effective discipline techniques, by having a choice, it give your children  some sense of control as you try to get them to do what you want.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">With this site we strive to be your very  own owners manuel for raising your children providing you with helpful  tips and guide lines. At some points in their lives it can seem over  whelming and hopeless, but there is hope in having a happy family life  where you and your children enjoy eachothers company with no fighting  and argueing. </span></p>
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