The tide has turned against baby walkers and many people will warn you against using them due to delaying development of motor skills as well as high risk of injury to your toddler.  Just 24 hours of using a walker can result in delays in excess of 3 days for walking and standing on their own.  Walkers allow the toddler to move at a faster speed than normal, as well as giving them access to things they would not normally be able to reach. Canada considers the use of walkers so dangerous, that they banned them in 2004. This is a product created to assist in supporting your toddler from the ribs rather than pulling up on their arms, which could lead to injuries.  Strap the padded vest around the toddler’s ribs. Hold a loop in each hand above each of the toddler’s shoulders. Pulling up slightly to give the toddler support, begin moving them forward one step at a time. This will give your child something to hold onto as they explore moving around the house on their feet. They will have the support of an object which moves with them.  Find a toy which is heavy enough to support your toddler and has a wide base for balance. Start with a push toy. This will be easier for them to use and encourage them to move forward while looking straight ahead. Consider a toy which is a miniature version of something your toddler has seen you use, like a mini shopping cart full of toys. Pull toys, like wagons, are more complicated and can tempt the toddler to look behind them instead of where they are going. Make sure their path is cleared of obstacles.
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One-sentence summary -- Avoid walkers. Strap on some walking wings. Provide push and pull toys.


Your child should know that they can come to you at any time to talk. You might think your child already knows this, but reminding them on occasion may be helpful. This should be done with no pressure, not after a room search or questioning.  Simply say "I understand that you may be going through things that are confusing or troubling. Growing up can be hard. You can always come and talk to me about anything — no matter how small." When your child does open up, reinforce this behavior by affirming it: "I know that must have been hard for you to talk about. I really appreciate you trusting me to tell me about what's going on with you." Parents are often juggling a dozen tasks at once, which means you may miss opportunities to have meaningful conversations with your child. When your child decides to talk to you, aim to listen.  Monitor your nonverbal body language to ensure that it is open (i.e. arms and legs uncrossed), that you are oriented towards them, that you make regular eye contact, and that you make expressions to show you are listening, such as nodding. When you fail to attend to your child when they are trying to talk to you, you send the message that what they to say isn't important. This may cause them to keep things to themselves in the future. When your child has the need to talk to you, try to make yourself available as soon as possible. You've learned that your body language can signal a disinterest in what your child has to say. This is also true when you miss conversation openers.  Consider this scenario: Your teenage daughter comes home upset. You ask what's wrong and she starts talking about a fight with her best friend. You realize that she is only upset about "teenage drama" and you slowly tune her out or half-listen. If she notices that you are not engaging in the conversation, she will shut down. Use even the simplest conversations as a way to connect with and get closer to your child. If they feel like they can talk to you about the little things, they may be more confident that you'll listen to the big things.
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One-sentence summary -- Keep your door open. Attend to your child. Look for conversation openers.


This will eliminate your risk of electrical shock as you clean the fountain. Stones will need to be cleaned before they are placed back into the fresh water. Consult your fountain's manual or contact the manufacturer directly if you are unsure how to remove the pump safely from the fountain. Depending on the size of your fountain, you can either empty the fountain over a sink or use a shop-vac to remove the water. Use a soft, non-abrasive sponge to avoid scratching or damaging the fountain's interior and working parts. Clean the fountain, pump, and stones using a cleaning mixture of warm water and mild liquid soap, or use a commercial calcium lime removal product. For an all-natural alternative, spray distilled white vinegar on the fountain's interior and parts, then scrub using a wet sponge. Use a toothbrush to clean any small, tough corners or spots that are hard to penetrate or reach with the sponge. Use a soft, clean rag or cloth to dry and remove any excess cleaning mixture from the fountain's interior and parts.  The procedure for refilling your fountain will vary depending on its size. Pour bottled, distilled water into your fountain or use tap water from a sink. Depending on the size of your fountain, you can refill the fountain from the inside of a sink or use a bucket to transport the water from the sink over to the fountain. Observe the fountain for a few minutes to make sure the pump is properly re-installed, and that the fountain work efficiently.
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One-sentence summary -- Turn off and unplug your fountain. Remove any stones or pebbles from the inside of your fountain. Remove the fountain pump from the fountain. Remove the water from your fountain. Clean your fountain and its components. Place the fountain pump and stones back into the fountain. Refill your fountain with fresh, clean water. Plug in your indoor fountain and power the fountain on.


Ensure that the food has passed an AAFCO feeding test. The label should read, “Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that _____ provides complete and balanced nutrition for ______.” Commercial dog foods are sold at pet food and grocery stores. These foods typically contain all necessary nutrients in the correct amounts and ratios. Homemade foods often do not contain the proper balance of the necessary nutrients and should be avoided. At this point in the pregnancy, your dog will have higher nutritional demands. Puppy food contains higher amounts of protein, fat, energy and minerals.  At this point you should also increase the amount that you feed your dog by 20-25%. Do not feed large-breed dog or large-breed puppy foods, even if you have a large-breed dog. These foods typically do not contain enough energy or calcium for a pregnant dog. At this point your dog will be eating 50% more than she did before pregnancy. For example, if your dog ate 2 cups of food twice daily before she was pregnant, she will need 6 cups of food per day by the end of her pregnancy. Because the puppies will be pushing on her stomach, she may not be able to eat this much food in one meal. Dividing her food into smaller, more frequent meals will ensure that she gets all of her nutritional requirements. Some dogs need to be “free fed” at this point, meaning that their food is left down throughout the day to allow them to eat as needed. You may think that additional calcium is required, and some inaccurate websites even recommend it, but do not give your dog any additional calcium. Additional calcium can affect your dog’s internal ability to regulate calcium and can put your dog at risk for a life-threatening drop in calcium (called eclampsia). Adding meats to your dog’s food can cause them to eat fewer carbohydrates and decrease her energy intake.
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One-sentence summary --
Check the label on the food you feed your dog. Feed a normal amount of high-quality commercial dog food for the first 4 weeks of pregnancy. Switch to a high-quality puppy food during the 5th or 6th week of pregnancy. Increase the amount that you feed your dog by another 25% for the end of her pregnancy, during the 8th and 9th week. Do not supplement your dog’s food with vitamins, minerals, or meats unless directed by your veterinarian.