Moving Baby out of the Crib

For the third morning in a row you have awoke to a loud thump coming from your toddler’s room.  Once more he has climbed over the rails and escaped the confines of his crib.  Before he hurts himself seriously, you need to consider that it is now time for a big kid’s bed.  You may find yourself hesitating; you wonder how he will adjust, or for that matter, how you will.  The following are some tips to make the transition easier for both of you.

1. Consider a Toddler Bed

These are smaller beds designed with younger children in mind.  They often come with a bed rail to keep the little ones from falling out and you can find them in comforting themes that your children love like Dora the Explorer and Thomas the Train.  In addition, many cribs transition into toddler beds.  The plusses are: you can use the same mattress as the crib, they are still small and less drastic a change for you child, they tend to be less expensive and they are lower to the ground.  The minuses are:  your child will outgrow the bed in a year or two, they are not usually rated over 80lbs so you cannot sit on your child’s bed to read a story and bedding for them is expensive and can be difficult to find.

2. Prepare Your Child for His New Bed

A few days prior to introducing it, get your child excited about it.  Say things like “three more sleeps until your big girl bed” and “you are so lucky you are getting a big girl bed”.  The day you will be replacing the bed, have a big girl day, doing lots of fun things like going to the park and baking cookies and top it off with going to sleep in her brand new bed.

3. Let Your Child Participate

Let him have a say in the new bedding or let him help put it together.  He will be a lot more committed to going to sleep in his new bed if he helped in getting it together.

4. Make it Fun

Let her jump on the bed a few minutes before tucking her in.  Always make sure you read a story or two in the new bed every night.  Make going to bed in the new bed a happy and pleasant experience.

5. Don’t  Ignore Your Child’s Fears

Moving to a big bed can be very scary for your young child.  He may wake up in the night disoriented and afraid without the security of being in a crib.  Now is not the time to let him cry it out.  Go to him and if necessary, stay until he falls back asleep.  If you let him cry, he will associate fear with the new bed and you will have a major problems getting him to go to bed at all.

This is such a big step for both toddlers and parents but it is just one of the many giant leaps we all take with our children.  So relax, enjoy the journey and be grateful you are not ready for the article on “Tips for Teaching Your Teenager to Drive.”

How to Agree on a Baby Name

From the moment that second line shows up on the pregnancy test, new parents start thinking about names. Some couples have known before conception what they would name their children, others are still pouring over baby name books in the delivery room. The biggest challenge comes when the couple cannot agree on the perfect name for their progeny. The following are some tips for finding a name for your child that you will both love. 

1.  Take a Look in Your Family Trees

There are often wonderful names hidden in its branches. Ask your grandparents what their parents’ and grandparents’ names were. Old-fashioned names are back in style and you may even find a gem that is present on both sides of the family. There may also be family surnames that may be used as first names. For example, a name like “Johnston” could make a terrific first name for a boy and “Payette” could be a pretty girl’s name. Using names from generations past brings a sense of unity and history to your new family.

2.  Make it Meaningful

If you met on a plane, you might want to name your daughter Air. If you met in physics class, perhaps you might want to name your son, Photon.  These are somewhat silly examples that show how you can take events in your life as a couple to give a meaningful name to your child. Think of what means something to you, whether it is a city that is important to you or an English teacher from high school. Your child will delight in hearing how his or her name came about.

3.  Take Turns

Often the easiest way to solve the name debate is that one member of the couple gets to choose the first name and the second member gets to choose the middle name for their first child. It is then reversed for the second kid. You just have to make sure to be reasonable. If your husband hates “Gertrude” or your wife hates “Thor”, you may need to fall back on your second choice. 

4.  Mix It Up

Sometimes the most unique names are the ones created from two different names. For example if your husband is set on “Lisa” and you have always dreamed of naming your girl “Annette”, you can combine the names and create “Lisette”, “Lisanne” or “Annalisa”, all beautiful compromises. Use your imagination and have fun creating new combinations. You may or may not find the right name but you will certainly find many laughs in trying. You may also want to run a quick Google search on any new name to make sure it does not have any alternative meanings of which you are unaware. 

The perfect name is out there and finding it is a job for two. Hopefully, some of the devices listed above can help you do it with a minimum of discourse and stress but if they do not, relax.  If you cannot find the right name, it will find you. Your baby will leave the hospital with a name that will not only be exactly right for him or her but will be exactly right for his or her parents too.

Things to do with a Toddler in Hamilton

Hamilton, Ontario is a great place to raise a toddler. There are innumerable activities and events geared towards the under four crowd and there is no need to spend a lot of money, most activities are either free or close to it. Whether it is a warm, sunny, July afternoon or a cold, damp, February morning there is always something to do with your little one in Hamilton.

1. Parks

Hamilton has some of the best children and family parks in the country. Almost all have some type of wading pool or splash pads, and baby swings. The larger ones have washrooms and changing areas.

Check out Gage Park for a nice afternoon of exploring the paths, smelling the flowers in the garden, climbing on the playground and splashing in the fun splash pad. Even in winter, this large park is a fun destination for building snowman, collecting pinecones or catching snowflakes on your tongue.

Pier 4 park is also a great place to take your toddler. The tugboat playground is angled to the waterfront so the kids get the feeling of being in a real boat. There is also tons of green space, a terrific waterfront trail and a small beach. A fun park to spend an afternoon or a day.

There are also a host of small parks along the Waterfront Trail at Hamilton's beach. Kinsmen Park is especially nice with its wading pool. Your toddler will enjoy going from park to beach to pool. A great way to indulge the short attention span.

For more info on Hamilton's city parks, check out the Hamilton Park Website.

2. Libraries

It is never too early to introduce your child to the joys of reading. Hamilton's public libraries have a number of geared towards toddler programs available at different locations throughout the city. They have Family Story Time for 2-5 years; Toddler Story Time for 2-3 years and Preschool Story Time for 3-5 years. The kids love this; it is not just stories but songs, finger plays, and puppets. They last about 30 minutes. Check the Hamilton Public Library Website for schedules and locations.

To make a morning or afternoon adventure out of it, take Hamilton Public Transit there. Your little one will love riding the bus especially if you point out sites of interest along the way.

3. Ontario Early Years Centres (OEYC)

Check their website for a location near you and you will be glad you did. These drop-in centres for babies to preschool children are a lifesaver for stay at home parents. They offer gym activities, play activities and crafts for the kids as well as a supportive community for the parents. They even offer daily lunches for both the kids and parents. All this is free. It is a great place to go spend a few hours on a rainy or snowy day. Especially good is the daily open gym to burn off that toddler energy.

4. Hamilton Children's Museum

Occupying a small corner of Gage Park, this seemingly humble building is a fun place for your toddler. They have many interactive exhibits, games, stories and lots of play areas. Your little one gets to have a great time and learn as well. Who knows, you may even learn something yourself. Admission for two costs less than a Happy Meal ($3 for toddler, $1 for an adult) and the time you spend together is priceless. Check out the Museum's website for operating hours and exhibit information.

5. Indoor Playgrounds

Hamilton has a couple of wonderful indoor playgrounds for those cold or rainy days. There is Chatters with its great big slides, ball room and toddler area and Zoom Zoom's in Ancaster, which is a little bit smaller, but still a nice size. Both facilities are clean, well staffed and offer a snack bar. Make note though, that although these are enclosed facilities you are responsible for supervising your toddler and keeping him safe.

This list of things to do with your toddler in Hamilton is by no means exhaustive. Check out local Mom boards for recommendations, or your local YWCA and Boys and Girls Clubs for their programs. Do not forget about family swims at local pools, local petting zoos and seasonal activities such as pumpkin patch visits and holiday parades. Very few cities have paid as much attention to their youngest citizens as Hamilton has, make sure you take full advantage of all this city has to offer to them.

How to do a Rad Flush on a Motorcycle

Flushing your motorcycle's cooling system is an important part of maintaining your bike. Additives in the coolant breakdown due to engine heat, and the detergents, additives and cooling agents can no longer do their job. Not only can this cause your motorcycle to overheat but it can effect engine performance as well. However, there is no reason to pay a mechanic to flush your motorcycle's cooling system. It is a straightforward and easy project you can do yourself. The following steps will walk you through the procedure.

1. Consult your owner's manual, or check on the internet for your motorcycle model to determine the quantity of coolant required for a flush. Also, check to see if your motorcycle has an aluminum core and if it will require a different coolant. Make sure when you buy your coolant you ask the counter person if the coolant has the correct glycol mix.

2. Ensure you have the equipment you need. You will want rubber gloves, safety goggles, a medium sized pail and pliers or a wrench.

3. Make sure the bike is turned off, is sitting on a level surface and has not been ridden for a couple of hours. This is very important because you must never open a radiator cap when still hot as the contents are under extreme pressure.

4. Put on gloves and glasses and open radiator cap.

5. Locate the peacock valve or plug on the underside of the radiator. Have pail ready and place under peacock valve. Open counter clockwise. You may need to use the pliers or wrench if the valve or plug is difficult to move.

6. Empty radiator completely, until no more coolant runs out. Set full pail in a safe place.

7. Close the valve clockwise until it is tight.

8. Fill the radiator from the top cap until it is full with the new coolant.

9. When full (cap still off) start the motorcycle. Coolant level will likely lower as it is running and may need to be topped up.

10. Once the vehicle is running and level stays stable, turn vehicle off and replace radiator cap.

11. If motorcycle has a separate overflow repeat steps 5-8 for the overflow compartment.

12. Dispose of coolant properly by taking it to a shop or garage.

A radiator flush should be done once every two years for the casual or seasonal rider. For an every day or year round rider, it should be done once a year. Maintaining the coolant system of your motorcycle is as important as changing the oil and checking the tire pressure and is an integral part to keep your bike running great.

Heather's Happy Family

I wrote this for a friend who simply has the most beautifully named family.  Even her mother (not in this poem) has a fairytale rhyming name.

There was a magic family full of life and good,
Their home was perched along a brook that ran deep in the woods.
They lived among the fairies, beside a double glen
Where fields and fields of heather could be counted on like friends.

Each morn this lovely family would gather berries sweet,
Then sit amongst the daisies to enjoy their juicy treat.
Laugh and skip and play they would, amongst the ancients runes,
Ne'er stopping once to catch their breath until they saw it noon.

For tea they would melt honey onto some ripened fruit,
And the little boy would charm them all, as on his horn, he'd toot.
The little girl would start to giggle and soon begin to dance,
To keep the lads from this young lass, the father had no chance.

As daytime waned into the night and stars began to shine,
The boy and girl were laid in beds that hung from fragrant vines.
Wife and Husband knew full well they lived a life of bliss,
Entwining arms and hearts and souls they shared a perfect kiss.

Stepmother Poem

There are poems about Mothers and poems about Dads.
Some poems make you laugh and some poems make you sad.
There are poems about birthdays and poems just for lovers,
But there are very few poems that are about a Stepmother.

She is portrayed as evil, a devil, a shrew,
With agendas aplenty and morals quite few.
There are many more names and none of them stellar,
If you want a long list of them, ask Cinderella.

She's a gold digger, a home-wrecker, really quite harried,
But that doesn't describe who my father married.
He married a woman as warm as the sun,
Who has opened her heart to most everyone.

She is generous and kind and sweeter than sweet.
With a smile and a kind word to all that she meets.
When first I met her, I was a teen, oh so smart,
With the world at my feet and tongue sharp as a dart.

She saw through my facade and made me her friend,
And I knew then she'd be there through thick and through thin.
Stepmother's a harsh word and the French have another,
Its Belle Mere and translated means Beautiful Mother.

So I say to you, my Belle Mere, my beautiful mom,
Please know that I love you, you're my very best chum.
We've all been so lucky to have you in our life,
My Dad got it right when he made you his wife.

Buffalo Zoo Attractions

There are lions and tigers and bears of course, but the Buffalo Zoo offers more than just the standard animals in cages. They have unique breeding programs, hands-on opportunities for interaction with the animals, a large children's play area and a recently added exciting Rainforest Exhibit. They may be the third oldest zoo in the nation but they are as cutting edge in their ideals and training as the newest.

The Animals

The Buffalo Zoo offers a variety of mammals from the common deer, to the majestic lion; from the domestic mule to exotic the Indian rhinoceros and everything in between. There are also many species of birds, as diverse as parrots, toucans and vultures. Not to forget the cold-blooded crowd, the zoo is also home to many amphibians and reptiles including frogs, turtles and even a cobra.

The Exhibits

Because of the zoo's age, some of the exhibits are old-fashioned looking and you get an old-world feeling while visiting. Do not let this fool you, the care of the animals is twenty-first century and the zoo staff is top-notch.

If you have children with you do not miss the Sea Lion Cove and Otter Creek displays. Nothing is funnier than the crazy antics of these water mammals. Your kids will also love the children's petting zoo, where they can get hands on with pigs, ducks and some awfully silly chickens.

Make sure to explore the new Rainforest Waterfall Exhibit with its South American flora and fauna. You must also visit the Vanishing Animals Exhibit, although the zoo staff tend to coddle these animals a bit, so note that if it is a cold day some of the animals may be brought inside.

Interacting with the Animals

Feeding the Giraffes: For a small fee you can have the fabulous opportunity of feeding these elegant creatures, an experience you will never forget.

Wild Workshops: For a fee you and your family can enjoy a once in a lifetime opportunity to work behind the scenes with the zookeepers to help prepare the animals for their day.

Zoo Outreach: You can see the animals without even going to the zoo! The Zoo-mobile and the Zoo Trunk bring the zoo experiences to places well outside of the zoo gate.

Breeding Programs

The Buffalo Zoo is an active member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariumsand is especially active in their Species Survival Program. They breed all the popular and media friendly mammals like giraffes and gorillas but they also have a breeding program for the less trendy animals. The Buffalo Zoo is working tirelessly to help save endangered species of frogs, lizards and snakes. In fact, just a couple of years ago they reintroduced 1,000 endangered Puerto Rican crested tadpoles back into the wild into pools located in Guanica State Forest in Puerto Rico. The Zoo has been recognized with a number of awards for their work in this area.

Other Zoo Attractions

If the parents need a break and the kids are still revving, take a stop at the large children's playground. There is plenty of fun for the kids and plenty of places for the adults to rest-up.

For a bite to eat you can visit the Beastro. This cutely named concession stand offers standard attraction fare like ice cream, soft drinks and hot-dogs.

No visit would be complete without a visit to the Gift Shop and the Buffalo Zoo has a nice one. Lots of cute little animals and T-shirts as well as more mundane items like batteries and stroller rentals. Be sure to check out their new "Animal Land" where you can stuff and personalize your very own zoo animal.

The Buffalo Zoo is one of the most entertaining ways to spend a day, and at less than $31 for admission for a family of four, one of the most economical. You will find because of its constant changing and upgrading it will become one of your family's favorite destination stops. So next time you are looking for a roaring good time, put on your safari shorts and head over to the Buffalo Zoo, you will be glad you did.

For more information on directions, zoo hours and admission, please visit http://www.buffalozoo.org/.