Do you have a child that hates taking a bath?  What do you think the reason is?  Sometimes adults feel like kids are just being difficult when they refuse to take a bath and that there isn’t a real reason behind why they don’t want to take a bath.  However, sometimes there are real reasons why they resist.  Check out 10 real reasons kids fight taking a bath.

1. Fear of water: Some kids could have a fear of water.  It does happen and when kids get older their ability to voice their fears improves.  Maybe they choked on some water in a baby pool once or they knew someone who drowned.  That could have caused them to fear water and wonder if the same thing could happen to them.
2. Painful rash: Kids can get a nasty case of diaper rash or variations on diaper rash that are extremely painful when they hit warm water.  Even older kids could get a rash brought on by an allergy to laundry detergent.  If parents always send them in to shower by themselves then there is no way that they would know what is going on.  Older kids might be embarrassed to say something about a rash.  Rashes are sometimes brought on by medications and it could be serious so look deeper into why your child doesn’t want to take a bath.
3. Fear of going to bed: Some kids suffer from night terrors or nightmares and have a fear of going to bed.  Many bedtime routines include taking a bath so it’s not unusual for a child to think that if they can prolong the bath that they will prolong having to go to bed.  Getting to the bottom of their fears is important so you can give them the help they need.
4. Get too cold afterwards: It’s not fun to get out of a nice warm bath and get really cold.  It’s possible that your child is really sensitive to temperature changes and just dreads getting into hot water only to get out and be really cold.  Helping kids by bringing a heater into the bathroom or drying them off quickly afterwards may help them not dislike the experience so much.
5. Don’t like getting hair pulled afterwards:  My daughter has long hair that tends to get really tangled when she washes it.  She has actually told me that she hates taking a shower because she doesn’t want to get her hair pulled.  While we try our best not to pull her hair we have added a spray-in detangler to her routine so she doesn’t hate it quite so much.
6. Hate cleaning the bathroom up: Both my kids hate that they have to pick up towels and wipe up any water on the floor when they get done with a shower.  They also have to pick up their clothes and take them back to their room.  For some reason they hate doing this and this will cause them to fight taking a bath.
7. Hate the blow dryer: Some girls hate the blow dryer.  The sound is loud and it blows their hair in their face which they don’t like.  Going to bed with wet hair or going out in the cold with wet hair isn’t a good option so sometimes blow drying is a necessary evil.  To avoid this fight you might move the bath time from bedtime to maybe the morning or after school when there’s more time to let it dry naturally.
8. Don’t want to miss out: If you have particularly social kids or you are doing something really fun as a family it can be hard for a child to leave the fun to go take a shower or bath.  Try to let your child know that you will pause the movie or the game until they get back.  To avoid this you might change bath time to after school when there isn’t so much family fun going on.
9. Afraid of falling in the shower: Children can get a little careless in the bathtub and maybe they have slipped or fallen in the past.  Having a fear of falling or getting hurt is actually pretty common.  To help with this you might put rubber grips on the bottom of the bathtub to give them better traction.
10. Hate getting sprayed in the eyes: Once a child reaches a certain age they are better off taking a shower versus a bath.  Girls with long hair have a hard time washing their hair by themselves in a bath so a shower works out better.  However, they are still pretty short and may hate having the spray get in their eyes.  A solution for this is a shower head that attaches over the faucet and can be suction cupped to the wall at whatever is an appropriate height for your child.

Nocturnal enuresis, commonly known as bedwetting, affects millions of kids and teens around the globe. Approximately 15% of children wet the bed past the age of three, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. It is a symptom, not a disease, that runs in families, and is usually not associated with any emotional problems. There are a number of steps that doctors recommend to help bedwetters. The following are 10 tips to help kids stay dry at night.

1. Limited Liquids – Avoid excess fluid intake after 3pm. Carbonated drinks, caffeine, chocolate and citrus should be curtailed.
2. Urinate Just Prior to Bedtime – One of the causes of bedwetting is inadequately developed bladder control. Emptying it as close to bedtime as possible reduces the risk of it emptying involuntarily.
3. Focus on Pee Breaks – Rather than setting as a goal to get through the whole night, work with your child on getting up during the night to urinate.
4. Reward Milestones – This is an especially effective technique for use with younger children. Establish some goals – such as consecutive nights without incident – and provide incentives to reach them.
5. Avoid Blaming or Punishing – Conversely, reassure the child that they are not at fault for their bedwetting. Emotional trauma only makes matters worse.
6. Reassurance – As bedwetting does run in families, you can share with the child that another family member once had the same problem, and got through it, just as they will too.
7. Toilet Access – Be sure the path from the child’s sleeping quarters is as short, and as nearby, as can be arranged. The fewer the obstacles and the shorter the path, the more likely your child can get there quickly and safely in the middle of the night. Make sure the way is sufficiently lit as well.
8. Alarm Technique – Some doctors also recommend alarms which can be safely placed on the child’s underwear or bed pad. The alarm is activated by the wetness of the urine, and wakes the child to finish in the bathroom, then change clothes and bedding, etc. Ultimately, the conditioned response has led to as much as a 70% success rate.
9. Daytime Drill – Have your child go to the bed first to lay down for a few moments prior to bathroom visits during the day. This kind of drill will help the child develop the habit of getting up at night to go.
10. Involve Child in Clean-up – While your child should never be blamed, he or she needs to be aware that getting over the bedwetting is up to them, and not you. Having them take part in the clean-up helps them understand what’s involved, and makes a good motivational tool.

Parents of an only child worry about him or her becoming lonely, but even kids in large families can suffer from loneliness. Being lonely really doesn’t have to result from being alone. Some kids are perfectly content to spend time on their own and don’t seem to need as much social interaction as others. On the other hand, some children can feel isolated even when surrounded by a large family or other peers. How do you tell if a kid is lonely or just likes to be alone?

1. Talks a lot – One of the first signs of a lonely child is that he/she talks a lot. Kids who feel a need for social interaction will talk incessantly. Unfortunately, this constant blathering can really be bothersome to other people and cause further avoidance. This only makes things worse for the lonely kid.
2. Seeks attention – Another big clue a child feels lonesome is when he/she is constantly seeking attention. This can manifest itself in either positive or destructive ways. Attention seekers can either misbehave or engage in goofy shenanigans. Many of the best comedians started out as class clowns who were just lonely kids looking for attention.
3. Make-believe friends – Does your child have make-believe friends he/she interacts with on a regular basis? This could either be a sign that he/she has an overactive imagination or is really lonely.
4. Pesky – Lonesome kids can really be pesky at times. They will pummel you with constant interruptions at the worst times. The problem is that they resent the attention you give to your work, other people or even household tasks and try to divert it to them.
5. Reclusive – Although some lonely children will do whatever they can to get attention, others will do the opposite and become reclusive. This sign is a little harder to read because some kids just prefer to be alone while other really crave company but don’t know how to achieve it.
6. Lacks social skills – Most lonely children really lack the social skills they need to get along with others. This is like a catch 22 since this lack of skills just compounds the problem. Does the kid lack these skills because they’re lonely or are they lonely because they don’t know how to get along with their peers?
7. Low self esteem – Kids who are lonely really have low self esteem. They’re constantly seeking the approval of others to determine their own self worth and are subsequently disappointed. These children need to learn that they do deserve friendship but are not responsible for the poor behavior of others.
8. Behavior problems – Lonely kids can develop behavior problems such as being timid, anxious or unsure of themselves. This can only reinforce the problem if peers reject or victimize them because of it.
9. Sad – Lonesome children can become very sad and unhappy. They can start sobbing for no apparent reason and will reject any consoling. This can be heartbreaking for parents who often have no clue as to the underlying problem.
10. Says so – The most definitive sign your kid is lonely is when he/she says so. They might not come right out and say “I’m lonely”, but may say things like “Nobody likes me”, or “I don’t have any friends.” These kids are really seeking help and their pleas shouldn’t be ignored.

Parents of a lonely child really have a challenge to help their child overcome this problem. It takes some extra added attention and time out of their busy schedules. They also risk being accused of playing favorites when there are other siblings in the family. Parents can’t force other children to like their lonely child, but can help him or her with their social skills and self esteem. With love and understanding parents can encourage their kids to overcome their loneliness. When children learn to love themselves they find that others will follow suit.

Quiet time can be hard to come by in a house full of children, but it is important for your kids’ well being. Whether the time is spent relaxing and decompressing from an eventful day or focusing on homework, your children should have an uninterrupted block of time worked into their daily routine where they can find complete silence. Turning off televisions, cell phones and MP3 players should be strictly enforced, and here are some of the reasons why.

1. Kids Get Stressed Out, Too – Though many adults idealize childhood and think of it as a carefree time, for many modern children, this simply isn’t true. The American Psychological Association conducted a survey indicating that children worry about their family’s financial situation and their grades, with older children showing marked stress over issues such as college acceptance and funding. This survey also showed that parents consistently underestimated the stress level of their children by 12-24 percentage points.
2. Quiet Time Can Help Control Symptoms of ADD/ADHD – In order to properly concentrate on schoolwork, kids with ADD/ADHD need an uncluttered and quiet space to unwind and focus on the work at hand. Outside stimuli can greatly affect your child’s ability to keep their mind on one task; blocking out noise that can distract them and hinder productivity is a must.
3. The Pursuit of Individual Interests – Quiet time is a chance for your child to explore self-contained activities and interests, boosting their independence. In the absence of video games and cartoons, your kids can focus their attention on reading, working on artistic projects or other relaxing hobbies. The ability to entertain themselves with limited outside stimuli will serve them well later in life.
4. Improving Sleep Patterns – A child that spends their day being bombarded by over-stimulating noise and activity will often have trouble decompressing before bed without the aid of quiet time. This sleep disruption can affect everything from their mood to their physical health; setting aside a period of winding down before bed can help kids relax  instead of jumping into bed with a racing mind.
5. Preserving Parents’ Sanity- Your children are affected by your mood and stress level, and you are just as susceptible to the crankiness that comes from constant over-stimulation as they are. While your children are enjoying their quiet time, you’ll have the opportunity to decompress a bit as well; as a result, you’ll be better equipped to deal with the minor crises that crop up throughout the day. Keeping your cool in high-pressure situations will help them to do the same, so everyone wins.
6. Quiet Time Can Be Family Time – Instituting a policy of “Quiet Time” in your household doesn’t have to mean that everyone retreats to separate rooms to isolate themselves. Spending your quiet time together can be just as relaxing, and it will help you maintain your connections to one another. Younger, excitable children may need the occasional reminder to be calm, but everyone can benefit from peaceful time spent together.
7. Escaping The Demands of Siblings – Older children can be taxed by the rambunctious behavior of younger siblings, causing them to act out of anger when they’ve been pushed to their breaking point. A period of quiet time can give your older children a much-needed break from the little ones, helping them to treat them better and enjoy interacting with them more as a result.

Tailoring your Quiet Time to the needs of your family is essential to success; there are no one-size-fits-all solutions. Working out a schedule and guidelines can be approached as a family, giving your children the chance to give their input as well. They’re more likely to respect a plan they helped to create.

Many parents are concerned about exposing their children to alcohol and carefully monitor products they come in contact with. What most people don’t realize is that there are many different forms of alcohol that are used in common household items and even food.  An alcohol is any organic compound in which is bound to a carbon atom, usually connected to other carbon or hydrogen atoms. The three basic alcohols are ethanol, isopropyl alcohol and tert-butyl alcohol. The fundamental properties of these compounds have numerous applications, so here are 10 safe uses of alcohols for kids.

1. Rubbing alcohol – Isopropyl alcohol is the main ingredient in rubbing alcohol and can be found in just about every home. It’s used as a disinfectant, antiseptic and can also be used to cool and soother the skin. When kids get their immunization shots the nurse will first disinfect the surrounding skin with alcohol.
2. Ink – Most people don’t realize that alcohol is used in the production of the ink in the pens and markers kids love to use. Butyl acetate solvent has many industrial uses and one of them is in the manufacture of inks.
3. Paint – Butyl acetate solvent is also used in the manufacture of many paints. Children love to paint, so alcohol plays a big role in enriching their lives.
4. Ice cream – Believe it or not, alcohol is also used in many food items including ice cream. Kids love ice cream even though a form of tert-butyl alcohol is used safely as a synthetic fruit flavoring.
5. Candy – Sorbitol, Mannitol, Xylitol and Maltitol are sugar alcohols used in many sugar free candies and gums. Of course parents want to limit the amount of sugary candy their children consume to prevent obesity and cavities. These sugar free alternatives are safe for kids to consume in moderation.
6. Baked goods – Another use of tert-butyl alcohol is in many baked goods with synthetic fruit flavoring that kids love. Of course home made muffins with real blueberries are best, but can be expensive and time consuming. Chances are any pre-packaged baked products or mixes contain safe amounts of an alcohol subset.
7. Cheese – This form of alcohol is even used in the flavorings for cheese. Most kids love cheese and parents can’t object to their kids consuming this healthy dairy product.
8. Medications – The biggest concern parents have is for alcohol found in children’s medications. However, the reason it’s in many cough and cold medications is because alcohol is used to kill germs and dilate tissues in the throat for a warm, relaxed feeling. The lower percentage used in children’s medications are considered safe, such as the alcohol used in some teething medications.
9. Hand sanitizer – Most schools, clinics and other public places encourage the use of hand sanitizer to limit the spread of germs. Alcohol based hand sanitizers are more effective at killing germs than soaps and don’t dry out hands as much.
10. Lotion – One popular baby lotion lists cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol and butylenes glycol in the ingredients. Small amounts of these various alcohols are used in many lotions to soothe the itching and redness of dry skin while remaining gentile enough for infants.

Alcohol is a nearly universal solvent used to mix together various chemicals. You would be amazed at how many different products have some form of alcohol used as an ingredient or in their production. Of course parents don’t want their children drinking alcoholic beverages, but they need not be concerned about the many safe uses of the various forms of alcohols in common products and food items.