Amazing Grace: Tips For Teaching Child Manners

The holidays aren't the only time a kid should demonstrate good child manners--but special occasions, parties or family gatherings are when parents most want their children to be acting their best. For children to exhibit respect, tolerance, and social graces at these special times, however, means those important lessons must have already been learned. Teachers and senior adults agree that today's children demonstrate less child manners than in previous generations, which is not a compliment for today's youth.

Children who grow up without learning respect and tolerance, as well as how to act in social settings, are at greater risk of not being successful as adults in work settings and at social events. Parents, teachers and providers can team together to start teaching and reinforcing appropriate child manners now and in time to impress even Great-Grandpa at the next family dinner. How?

Here are some tips for teaching kids social graces.

    R-E-S-P-E-C-T is Class Manners 101. Aretha Franklin sings about respect, and it is a fundamental skill needed for learning about child manners overall. Children must first be taught about respect--for their parents, for their friends and family, and for themselves. Here is where the issue of respect and manners gets sticky. The "old school" still believes in teaching kids the basic rules of never calling an adult by a first name, always responding with either "Yes Sir" or a "Yes, Mrs. Smith," and never, ever talking back or questioning an adult's directive. With that said, many individuals today believe some of the more traditional social rules to be too formal and too restrictive for today's kids. It is okay to agree to disagree with some of the recommended social rules. The key is to determine what rules are appropriate for child manners in your family or at your school or day care, and then to enforce them. These rules can be applied to sharing, asking to borrow a crayon, lining up in a hallway, and what actions cause a consequence and why. And, by doing so, adults teach respect along the way.


    Appropriate mealtime child manners should be taught as soon as a child begins eating at the table. Amazingly enough, many kids have never been formally told that they should not have their elbows on the table or where to leave their napkin. Kids don't automatically know what is expect or now, what is considered right or wrong, and without adult guidance, some kids grow into adults who also don't know basic rules at mealtimes. Many a potential job offer has ended over lunch when a hiring individual observed poor manners of an applicant, and too many dates end without a connection because of boorish behavior at dinner. Why not get kids on the right track now? This does not mean all kids need to know fancy table arrangements and eat from fine china. However, holidays or special evenings out can be a great time to promote these practices. Start kids young with learning how to set the table appropriately, and then talk to them about general etiquette rules. One family has a weekly "family night out" at the dining room table, in which the better tableware and glassware are used and the table is set with candles and other arrangements. Each week, a different child in the family makes the plans. On some weeks, the meal may consist simply of hamburgers, but the family uses the special meal to teach manners, social graces, and according to the mother, "hopefully foster an enjoyment and respect of table conversation and of the dining experience in general." Some schools have programs such as cotillions for children, and some child care settings feature play meal settings or dress up teas or parties. All of these are stepping stones for teaching appropriate child manners.


    Work on one social skill at a time. Don't overburden a child with too many lessons at once. Child care providers and teachers could work with parents to promote one child manner of the month, to be reinforced both during the day and at home. A general theme of respect, table manners, phone etiquette, addressing adults, social interaction with peers, etc., could be used and then scenarios and games coordinated to help teach the general message. Parents could help a kid's understanding of child manners by asking their child's care provider how mealtimes or share times are handled and then instilling those same processes at other times for consistency. Care providers will be glad you've asked and that you care enough to want to reinforce those teachings.


Do you want your child to exhibit social graces, charm and respect at the next holiday gathering or family dinner? Parents should not expect their kids to transform into princes and princesses without being taught and through frequent positive reinforcement and practice.

Here are more tips for teaching kids social graces and good manners.

    Praise your children when they exhibit appropriate good child manners; remind them and reinforce positive behaviors when they don't. Good manners and social skills are learned behaviors, and kids need constant and positive reinforcement. Teaching a kid how to greet adults or extend a handshake, for example, requires practice. While kids may forget, remember that they ultimately do want to please their parents and other adults in their lives by doing the right thing.

    The time to teach values is now!
    Schools and child care centers are jumping on this band wagon, with positive results. Regardless of a family's background or religious beliefs, certain values are core to everyone, such as honesty, tolerance, creating success, generosity, and kindness. La Petite Academy, for example, was recently recognized by the Make-A-Wish Foundation as the charity’s fastest-growing national sponsor after showing a 425 percent increase in funds raised between the Foundation’s fiscal year 2003 and fiscal year 2004. La Petite Academy’s commitment to the Make-A-Wish Foundation extends through its 645 schools and 80,000 children across the country. La Petite Academy’s Make-A-Wish campaign not only supports a worthy charity, but also helps teach children the importance of generosity, kindness and community involvement. The company further reinforces these positive character traits to the children in its care with a unique “Kids of Character” program. La Petite Academy offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes monthly activities specifically designed to build a sense of community and caring among children.

    Set the example! Don't expect your kids to exhibit child manners if you don't serve as a positive role model yourself. Providers comment about kids discussing "dad's burping contests" or mom "always talking with her mouth full of food." Kids do learn through observation, and think about that next time you're eating with the elbows on the table!

Robin McClure

Building Your Child’s Self-Esteem By Paul C. Holinger, M.D., M.P.H.

When a baby finds that her signals are validated and responded to appropriately—that troubles are soothed and pleasure enhanced—she begins to sense that her feelings, expressions, of her very being, are of value and important. A baby learns that she counts for something. This is the foundation of the development of self-esteem—a combination of who you are, how you feel about yourself, and what you think about your future potential.

Self-esteem takes root or withers depending on how you handle your child’s signals of fun—interest and enjoyment—and validating and attending to the signals for help—distress, anger, fear, shame, disgust, and dissmell (aversion to unpleasant odors).

As parents you are the most important people in your baby’s world. You provide your child with his first definitions of himself. You tell him through your every word, gesture, and action just how important he is and how he is perceived by the outside world.

Over the coming months and years, as your child matures and becomes an adult, his self-esteem will become a more complex web of interlocking emotions and thoughts about himself and about how he sees and is seen by others. It’s common for growing children and as well as adults to fluctuate between episodes of high and low self-esteem over the course of months or years. However, a solid foundation of self-esteem—built by appropriate responses to a child’s signals and nurtured throughout childhood—will help most people maintain a basically optimistic view of their lives and their future over the course of life’s ups and downs.

Your goal now, with your baby, is to help him develop a sense of himself that is reasonably solid and stable. As he grows, that will allow him to perceive his talents and abilities accurately, respond to life with flexibility, and look at his goals and capacities realistically.

Of course, the real key is loving the very essence of your child—loving and valuing the child for himself or herself, who he or she is. But this is often easier said than done—especially if the parents have not been loved and valued. Yet, understanding the nine signals can be useful here too: Much of the child’s essence is wrapped up in her interests and enjoyments; and understanding and attending to the negative signals can help prevent the cycles of frustration, hurt, and anger which can so contaminate the parent-child relationship and erode the child’s internal world.

The Foundation of Self-Esteem

From the first days of your baby’s life, you can lay the foundation for self-esteem by responding appropriately to your child’s signals for help (distress, anger, etc.) and fun (interest and enjoyment).

Many experts believe that another important building block of self-esteem involves a child’s experience of competence. Competence is initially achieved as a result of the brain’s capacity to create order out of the disorder of all the incoming stimuli. An infant’s inherent ability to develop competence lays the foundation for later, more sophisticated mastery of interaction with the world and people, which in turn may produce a sense of self-esteem. One part of this development, as a child grows, is learning that he is able to exert control over external events. Another, as he interacts with his environment, is learning how to adapt in a healthy way to the external world’s social requirements and expectations.

Focusing Appropriate Attention on the Child. Babies thrive when they feel they are of genuine interest to you and are the center of your universe. They use their nine signals to express their entire range of emotions. When a baby cries, or fusses, or coos, she expects you to react with as much enthusiasm or distress as she does about what is happening to her. 

What parents sometimes forget is that to babies those reactions of distress are proportional to the situation. Not being able to get a hold of a ball that rolled into a corner is terrible! And your baby wants you to pay attention to him when he announces it in no uncertain terms. He finds himself incapable of righting the situation himself—no matter what he does, he’ll never be able to reach the ball. Talk about frustration! So he asks for your help in the only way he can—by making a scene. If that doesn’t elicit your sympathy and attention, if you don’t respond and help your baby out of his distress, he will begin to think that his problems don’t really matter, how he feels doesn’t count. Instead, if you take the opportunity to pay attention, validating and confirming his feelings and perceptions, you will help your child become confident. 

Provide Reward and Praise. Along with paying attention, reward and praise from you are essential to child’s self-esteem. You must never forget how much your child wants to be like you and to be liked by you. Kids need to hear that you approve of them and think they are wonderful. They long to see the “gleam in your eye” that signals love and approval. You can’t assume they know how you feel. They don’t. They need to be told, over and over and over. In the long run, reward and praise tend to be better and healthier motivators than fear and shame. Of course, whenever you’re dealing with behavior, it is also important to explain to the child the pros and cons, the reasons and rationales, for whatever issue is at stake. 

Offer Protection. If a child perceives the world as threatening or dangerous, it is almost impossible for her to feel brave and strong, to know that she can make her way through it successfully. But when you respond to your child’s negative signals of distress and anger by allowing expression of the signals and then removing the triggers, you have begun to give her the tools to deal with the world. When it comes to feeling confident, nothing helps a helpless baby like knowing she can depend on you to shield her from danger and distress. 

How Self-Esteem is Damaged 

Some parents inadvertently diminish their children’s self-esteem by interfering with or belittling their signals for interest and enjoyment. This triggers the automatic, built-in response of shame, and shame erodes self-esteem. 

In my clinical practice, I frequently work with families in which both the parents and children have a variety of troubles related to a poor sense of self and self-esteem. The adults in these families often don’t understand how feelings and emotions work. The family ends up in a toxic situation because there is a mismatch between the child’s expression of emotional needs and the parent’s ability to respond appropriately. Often, then, the children fail to develop a solid sense of self—who they are, what they like and don’t like, a confidence in their perceptions and feelings, and so on. The resulting tension that develops between parent and child can contribute to the erosion of his self-esteem. The child may become angry, defensive, intolerant, and inflexible, or withdrawn, self-destructive, envious, and fearful. In fact, a whole variety of the less pleasing personality traits can be directly attributed to a person’s lack of belief in his own essential worth. Think bully. Think timid. Think depressed, depleted, and drained. These different qualities result, in part, from a lack of self-esteem. 

The results of these kinds of parenting missteps can be heartbreaking. But the results of positive parenting are tremendous. You and your child are able to enjoy one another’s company, to delight in the deepening of your friendship. You gain access to the delightfully quirky way the world looks to a child. You learn as your baby learns. You gain confidence in your parenting skills; your self-esteem increases. Over time, you become ever more able to allow your child to grow into a unique, self-confident being. And because she has a solid sense of self, she will become capable of forming fulfilling relationships and of maintaining a healthy autonomy. 

......From Robin McClure

Child Discipline - Is Spanking a Child Ever Okay

To spank or not to spank? That continues to be the question when it comes to child discipline, and just about everyone has a strong and often emotional opinion.

While most people (at least publicly) decry the use of spanking as a form of child discipline, more people do spank their kids than they let on. Instead, many spanking opponents still justify "swats" or "smacks" or even "popping of the hands or head" as different than spanking. But spanking doesn't literally just mean the kind where a child is bent over your knees and whose bottom is struck with a hand (or even belt). Most define spanking as any physical contact that involves striking a child for the purpose of stopping a behavior or action or getting their attention.

With all that said, most child psychologists, pediatricians, so-called parenting experts, educators and middle-class parents oppose spanking. The reasoning is that spanking can cause life-long emotional damage to a child (and sometimes even physical damage as well). Plus, spanking opponents argue, there are plenty of other alternative ways to discipline a child who is acting inappropriately.

Proponents of spanking are often religious conservatives, who reference corporal punishment (spanking) as being the preferred way to discipline children in accordance with the Bible. Who hasn't heard the reference, "Spare the rod and spoil the child?" Proponents say that spanking, when used appropriately, creates a better sense of discipline and doing the right thing in children. They strongly argue against opponents' claims that spanking a child teaches them to become violent adults.

Proponents also argue that occasionally spanking a child who is acting unsafely or terribly does not make them child abusers or parents with anger problems. They also point to how well-behaved their child is, especially compared with out-of-control, disrespectful and tantrum-prone youngsters whose parents keep threatening them with "time-outs" or "going to bed early" without changing the behavior.

So who uses spanking as a form of child discipline today?
It's hard to know exactly what percentage of parents or caregivers (like grandparents) actually spank a child, because many who do don't admit to it. But essentially, people who spank, at least occasionally, include:
Caregivers from older generations, who were spanked as children and believe that they turned out to be absolutely fine. Grandparents and even older parents whose parents spanked them appropriately indicate they remember the experience, and as a result, effectively learned to not repeat the same inappropriate child action again.


Harried parents, often of multiple young children, who spank (but usually refer to it as an occasional "smack" or "slap" rather than spanking). These parents indicate that they only correct their children this way only when it involves an inherent danger to a child (themselves or to others). An example of this is a parent who smacks a child's hand who is about to touch a hot stove.


Caregivers (parents or any adults) may also spank a child when, after being disciplined using another method, deliberately repeat the same behavior, as if to antagonize the parent. An example is a child who runs through a store (yes, it happens) and pulls things down from shelves, after being told not too repeatedly. You see this too with kids stepping into the street after they have told to stay on the curb. Swatting a child gets their attention and may stop the behavior, and possible tragedy, from occurring.
Why is this such an emotional issue?
Child Protective Services or even the police have been called to investigate situations where an adult spanks a child in public. Well-meaning adults may intervene when the situation may or may not call for it. There is a fine line and considerable judgment involved when a spanking becomes abuse. Parental rage, brought on by an out-of-control child, can result in horrible and tragic results. At the same time, a swat on the backside to stop a really bad behavior isn't abuse, although some may still insist it is.

Until the last 10 to 20 years (depending on the school), corporal punishment was routinely used in the classroom to put an immediate halt to inappropriate behaviors. Parents were typically notified after the fact. If you disagreed with the use of spanking, you were to sign a form attesting to that at the beginning of each school year, and then were typically required to meet with the school administrators to determine an alternative discipline. Now, most, if not all, schools ban the use of corporal punishment and even designate their stance opposing it in their informational handbooks. But some educators lament that not being able to dispense immediate punishment means kids may escape any disciplinary action at all, or have it be so lame (such as missing recess) that they laugh about it later.

Whether or not you overtly oppose any type of spanking, support it in very limited cases, or like many parents, publicly decry its use but privately have used it at least once on a defiant or out-of-control child, the controversy surrounding it isn't likely to end for generations to come.

If you have a strong opinion about spanking of any type and under any circumstance with a child, be sure to convey that to your child's caregivers (family providers, day care workers or babysitters, or friends). At the same time, be prepared to offer up what alternative measures you do permit.

Too many previously-successful child care arrangements have ended because of a lack of communication about permissable child care discipline strategies. And, if your parents spanked you on occasion but you adamantly oppose it with your child, don't just assume the child's grandparents will just know your position. Get it out in the open before they take on child care duties.
..... Robin McClure

Siblings: Setting the Stage for Positive Sibling Relationships

Regardless of what you imagine when your planning your family, siblings don't always have that loving feeling toward one another--regardless of age or birth order. At the same time, relationships with siblings are generally the longest bonds of our lifetimes, as we share more time and history together than do parents and children, partners or spouses, and friendship. So, it's up to parents to strive for positive and long-lasting relationships among children in the home.

Setting the stage for positive sibling relationships

Don't feel a need to tell your child the moment you know you are expecting another baby. That's too much time. While advance planning and preparation is a must, the duration of a pregnancy is typically too long for a young child to wait. Rather, time the news of a new baby when a growing belly makes it obvious or when new purchases or rearranging are about to be made.


Don't tell your oldest child he needs to "give up" space for a new baby. Instead, talk about how you are regarding your child with a "bigger kid" space, Avoid the common mistake of taking a youngster's crib away just as a new baby is born. Your tot may not feel ready initially for a toddler bed and be resentful of the baby as a result.


Seek out ways an older child can help with a younger sibling or new baby, but don't force chores. You want your child to feel like a helpful assistant and not a go-fetcher. Follow your child's lead on involvement with a new baby.


Provide your older child with one-on-one time with parents that don't involve the new baby. In the end, your child most wants to feel special and reassured that he is still loved and valued.


Ask your child's caregiver to help older child adjust to extended family. Utilize the adage that it takes a whole village to raise a child, and ask your youngster's childcare provider or teacher to lend a helping hand. Often, a caregiver can help a child adjust to an extended family or new baby by talking about families and about possible emotions a child may be feeling.

Realize that there's no perfect spacing of children by age. There are many theories and recommendations about whether children are closer when they are near in age or whether they are further apart, but for every rule there is an exception (and likewise). Parents sometimes like the idea that two similar-age children will be very close in interests and be playmates for one another or that a larger span will provide for helping hands of the older one to the younger one. While this can indeed be the case, be realistic in knowing that closeness or intense squabbling may depend on personalities, jealousies, and family dynamics overall and not just age. In a tough economy, the cost of raising a child can become a more important factor than age spread.
Siblings from blended families

Blended families are commonplace today, but parents often err in not allowing enough transition time. Just because each parent has a son around the same age, for example, doesn't necessarily mean they will become fast friends. Of course, everyone would love it if that did indeed happen, but forcing friendships or piling on guilt about how your child is behaving isn't the answer.


Involve older children in family decision making as often as possible, but if there is no flexibility regarding a certain rule, then be sure not to present it that there is. Maybe new step-siblings will be required to share a room, for example, but you can provide them with flexibility in choosing how to decorate it. Look for ways to minimize conflict and to promote civility. Closer relationships will take time.
Do's and Don'ts

Avoid comparing kids to one another. This sounds so easy in theory but is actually quite difficult to avoid.


Join forces as parents and avoid disagreeing with one another or taking sides with kids. Parents, particularly in blended families, should make a pact to present a unified front in front of children, and then work out differences in private. Your kids otherwise will quickly find out ways to divide and conquer.


Let kids work out their squabbles without your intervention. Since attention is a motivator for many arguments amongst children, not getting involved with your children's fights can help kids to work things out by themselves. At the same time, parents should pay attention that physical force is not being used and that someone is not getting hurt.


Don't let your kids get a rise out of you. Stay calm, cool, and collected and use that calmness to administer appropriate discipline or consequences in a non-judgmental fashion.


Utilize the fair, but not always equal, philosophy. Parents need to teach kids that being fair to all children doesn't mean being equal. A child who is older, for example, may get to stay up later or do activities that a younger sibling doesn't get to do. A child's party invite doesn't mean the other kids get to attend as well. Your job as a parent would be extremely challenging if you afforded all kids with equal opportunities to participate in the same things at the same time--regardless of age appropriateness.


Don't force siblings to be "buddies;" your very actions may backfire. Relationships will typically develop naturally, and in spite of your best efforts, your kids may not be particularly close. Or, they may become inseparable. While it is fair to expect civil behavior, don't require your child to act happy or pretend to be excited about a sibling or impending birth. Offer support and then your child work out some of his potentially conflicting emotions with you there by his side. Regardless of their common interests, what they will have is the common bond of years of shared experiences and memories!


Robin McClure

Brat Attack: Stopping Tantrums

Who hasn't heard an out-of-control toddler shrieking at the top of his lungs in a store while a frantic (and embarrassed) parent tries to defuse the situation? Anyone with toddlers knows the scenario all-too-well, and babysitters and providers alike have experienced the wails, acts of defiance, or outright tantrums. So, we all know what a toddler tantrum is; the question is what can be done about this brat-like behavior?

The good news is that child experts say that tantrums are typically not caused to test a parent's patience; rather, they are a typical part of growing up. Toddlers often act out because they are learning to control themselves and to develop independence. However, having said that, it doesn't mean parents should condone the behavior. Rather, parents and/or providers need to learn to manage the situations to make it less stressful on everyone involved. And part of that is by learning more about what typically causes the tantrum eruptions and find a solution to avoid those triggers.

To help in determining what helps to minimize tantrums, parents should note patterns concerning behavior as to when your child is at his best and at his worst; and what happens when she is hungry or tired; overstimulated; bored; or frustrated. Then, give the following suggestions a try.

As possible, try and schedule on-the-go activities during your child's peak times and avoid trips to the store and other errands during key meltdown times. Really observe and listen to your child, and understand that sometimes tantrums occur because your toddler is trying to communicate a feeling or need, and is frustrated over not being understood.


Praise, praise, praise good behavior and talk about what your expectations are and what consequences will be administered if bad behavior occurs. If you decide to reward a child for good behavior, consider making it in the form of a non-gift and non-food. The "treat" for great behavior, for example, can be 10 minutes of snuggle time in a favorite chair with a parent and picking a favorite book to look at together. Many parents fall into a trap of "buying" a child's good behavior, only to find that it backfires because kids will learn to manipulate that toward their own gain.


Be prepared to back up what consequences you set for a child, even if that means leaving a store without making the planned purchases, or really putting a child to bed for the evening 2 hours early. Parents/providers also need to not take it so personally when a child exhibits bratty behavior from time to time, and try and keep calm control and not let the explosion get the best of them.


The best news about tantrums is that they really and truly will pass. As kids continue to develop and improve their ability to communicate and make their wants/needs known, the tantrums will typically diminish. But not to worry; it only means children are on to their next stage of behavior and growth, and with it new actions and misdeeds to keep a handle on!


...... Robin McClure

Are today's kids too stressed out?

Are today's kids too stressed out?
Are we raising a generation of stressed-out kids? Sadly, the answer seems to be yes. Family dynamics, money concerns, social issues, and academic pressures seem to be the culprits. Several studies have taken a close look about kids and their level of anxiety. Would you say that today's kids seem more stressed out than when you were a child?
Answer: If you answered yes to whether today's kids are more stressed out than youth of previous generations, you'd be correct. Concerns about money, family dynamics, homework and overall school success, pressure to excel in extracurricular activities, and social issues are the culprits.

According to several new studies, average kids today are more stressed and anxious than their peers who were treated for a variety of psychiatric issues in previous generations. The findings also attributed causes as relating to higher divorce rates, concerns about the environment, and less social connectivity.

While stress is a normal occurrence during certain childhood periods, such as when studying for a final exam, for example, findings also indicate that kids are becoming stressed at an earlier age. In addition, pressures kids are feeling to succeed, due to traumatic events (like 9-11), or discussions about the environment and global warming, can add additional concerns. Parents may unwittingly contribute to a child's level of anxiety by putting them in too many competitive activities or having too-high of expectations at an early age.

Whatever happened to the notion of letting kids to simply be kids and learn through play and imagination?

...... Robin McClure

Keep Your Baby Comfortable in Inclement Weather

Sometimes it's hard to know how to dress your baby, particularly if you're going to be in and out of the house or car. Read these tips on keeping your baby comfortable both in and out of the house, all winter long.


Cold weather can be difficult to deal with when you have a baby. Whether you're inside the house or outside in the elements, you want to be sure that your baby is cozy but not overheated. Here are some simple baby clothing products you can use to keep your baby warm and content, no matter where you go this winter season.

When You're Hanging Out at Home

Chances are, you'll fight with yourself over the temperature at which to set the thermostat. You want the baby to be warm, but you don't want to sweat all day either. Here's the good news: babies really only need one more layer of clothing than adults do. So when you're hanging out at home for the day, just throw a lightweight sweatshirt or cardigan over the baby for a little extra warmth and forget about cranking up the thermostat. To keep toes warm, I recommend a simple pair of soft-soled baby shoes like Robeez or slippers like those from UGG.
For nap or bedtime, I recommend using a fleece sleep sack like this one from Halo. This will keep your baby plenty warm without extra layers or blankets, which can ultimately increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Unsure of how to purchase the proper sleep sack? Check out this video that shows you how to select the proper sleep sack for your baby.

When You Head Out for the Day

Dress in layers! Create a base layer with a thermal-regulating bamboo bodysuit and top it with several thin layers. This is particularly important if you'll be riding in the car because a bulky coat is not safe to wear in a baby carseat.
Don't forget a hat and mittens for your day out as well. Typically mittens that are connected by a string work best for babies because, even if they can get them off, they can't lose them somewhere in the back seat. If you want to make sure your baby doesn't take of their mittens, you can always use a pair of socks in place of traditional mittens.

Whenever you head out in the car, be sure you have an emergency baby clothes kit with you in the event you have a roadside breakdown. Nothing fancy, this kit is something you can put together yourself and store in a simple travel bag. To transport the baby from the house to the car or the car to your final destination, just wrap him in a blanket. This will keep him just as warm as if he were wearing a bulky jacket — plus it gives you an excuse to get in a few extra cuddles!

If you plan to spend a significant amount of time out in the winter elements, it's a good idea to invest in a baby bunting for your car seat or stroller as well as a pair of baby sunglasses. Baby sunglasses might seem like an odd choice for wintertime adventures, but it's actually more important that your baby wears sunglasses in the winter than in the summer; the reflection of the suns rays off the snow creates a stronger glare and is more harmful for your baby's eyes. Be sure to purchase a pair of baby sunglasses that provides the ultimate in protection. Above all else, don't forget the sunscreen!

Keeping your baby warm in the winter isn't hard; with a few simple wardrobe adjustments, you can easily keep him happy all day long.

.......Stacie McClintock