Separation anxiety - Three tactics you may want to try

Although separation anxiety might be common in babies and toddlers, some parents may be surprised to learn that it can continue well past their son or daughter's kindergarten years. The truth is that some children are simply more susceptible to the fear of being away from those who introduced them to the world. If your little one shows signs of this at a late age, there are several things you can do to quell the symptoms.

Try, try again. If it makes things easier, you should view separation anxiety as a football strategy - practice makes perfect. Leave your child with a babysitter you can rely on and evaluate the outcome. After some time, you're likely to see some improvement.

Don't emphasize the fact that you're leaving. Although it might be amusing for both of you to make funny faces and tell a few jokes before you leave the house, this might only lead your young one to miss you even more. Give your kid a simple hug and make a continuous ritual out of it every day.

Stay firm to your duties. It's tough for the little ones to comprehend the idea that you're filling their bellies by going to work. If they complain and whine a little as you're making your exit, don't succumb to their behavior. Instead, confirm to them that everything will be all right.

New Dad Advice

Managing a play date for dads: The basics

Sure, you love spending time with your son - playing superman, tossing the little guy into the air and sharing a spoonful of peanut butter from the container are all in a good day's fun. But as he gets older, it's important that he socializes with other youngsters - and the etiquette of these play dates can be difficult for dads to navigate. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind.

1. Keep groups in even numbers. The old adage "three's a crowd" is especially important to remember when organizing play dates for little ones. One-on-one meet-ups are often the most successful. When another child comes into the fold, it's only natural that two of the kids may team up and leave the other one hanging.

2. Don't let adult politics force a play date. Encouraging your son to hang out with your boss' child, your best-friend's daughter or the newest neighbor's kids may not work out as well as you hope. If a fight breaks out among the kids, it could cause tension among the grown-ups.

3. Supervise. It's imperative that you keep tabs on your youngster and all of those under your charge. Similarly, if you're dropping your little guy off for a visit at his newest friend's house, make sure that he'll be carefully watched over. If you don't know the parents well, stay at the house with your son, or suggest that you all meet up at a public place, like the park.

Related Articles – Dad Activities

Movie Review: The Smurfs

Hollywood always has a way of adding a "realistic spin" to a beloved classic tale, and the trend rears its ugly head once again in the latest family friendly flick to hit theaters - The Smurfs. Here, those little blue creatures struggle to break free from Gargamel's grasp and somehow end up being transported through space via a portal that takes them to New York City.

Although it's nice to catch a whiff of '80s nostalgia through the franchise that practically had a monopoly on Saturday morning, dads should also be prepared for a two-hour cheese-fest sprinkled with bits of blue.

Hank Azaria remains the highlight of the film. Evolving from his recent quirky roles in Mouse Hunt and Year One, the actor unleashes his dark side as Gargamel, an evil wizard who seems to have a verging-on-creepy love-hate relationship with his cat, Azrael. Azaria, the man who voiced Apu from the Simpsons, hasn't been this captivating since his turn as Agador in The Birdcage.

Neil Patrick Harris, who plays Patrick, the oblivious human who gets stuck with the Smurfs, does a decent job tackling the role of a soon-to-be father. Even though most dads might prefer to see a character who bumbles his way through the situation with foolishness and paranoia (Hugh Grant in Nine Months, anyone?), Harris's portrayal provides a somewhat more realistic and lighthearted take on the uncertainties one faces at the start of raising a family.

Read More The Smurfs Review

Should you track your kids?

It possible to keep track of almost anything nowadays with the invent of smartphones or computer - from your stocks to your team's score. And if you are thinking of keeping track of your child then many gadgets are available in market for it. You may be wondering whether it's okay to use tracking devices to ensure that your children are staying out of trouble. If this is the case, there are a few things for you to consider.

According to recent study conducted by Retrevo Gadgetology, 59 percent of parents think it's alright to track their child's location without his or her knowledge. Researchers found that 64 percent of moms would opt to track their kids, while 53 percent of dads think these methods are acceptable.

In addition to physical tracking applications even easy to understand programs will allow you to read your children's text messages and emails, as well as monitor who they are calling.

Although these methods will likely keep your children safe, they might also make the young ones feel alienated.Whether you choose to limit your children's privacy or not, it's suggested that you monitor their communications discreetly. Some level of trust should always be established within the parent-child relationship.

It's a girl? How to cope when your baby isn't a boy

Some dads do get disappointed if their new born bundle of joy is a female. If you too are in such kind of dilemma, don't worry - all of your hopes and dreams aren't shattered. In fact, there are many reasons to be proud of having a girl instead of a boy.

Many dads as well as mom pray for a boy as dads want someone to teach their athletic wisdom to and mom’s wants someone to take care of them. Moreover, fathers are more overprotective of daughters - whereas sons are sometimes easier to guide when it comes to growing up and dating. Boys are more notorious, the sense of responsibility comes in a daughter at quite an early age.

Most of the times daughters speak openly with their dads which helps to improve father and daughter bonding. That’s why there is the phrase "daddy's girl."

As father, it’s important that to understand gender of the child doesn’t affect the way you raise the child. So sit back and relax knowing that your little princess will likely mature in ways that you've never imagined as long as you're there for her. Just don't spoil her too much!

Poison-proofing tips that dads need to know

If you're the proud owner of a new bundle-of-joy, chances are you're doing your best trying to make his introduction to the world as risk-free as possible. One of the most important things that a father can do to ensure the safety of his child is to prepare his home for the inevitable adventures of this curious little explorer. While part of the process involves best practices, such as storing sharp objects in cabinets, child-proofing electrical outlets and even training a pet to play nice, poison-proofing is one step fathers simply cannot skimp on.

More than one million children each year are victims of accidental poisoning. The sad fact is that most of these occurrences could have been avoided with a little due diligence from parents. Because small children have a tendency to put things in their mouths, any poisonous substances must be kept locked away behind child-proof doors or in an area in which a small child cannot access.

While you're probably aware of some of the more traditional toxins in your home, such as detergents, drain-cleaners, pesticides and automobile fluids, other potential hazards may surprise you.

Cosmetic and personal care products such as mouthwash, nail polish and baby-oil, are not often thought of as poisons. Their placement by the bathroom sink is a daily pattern and is easily overlooked. However, to curious little hands, these items may be colorful and enticing, so make sure to store them in an out-of-reach area.

Prescription drugs should always be stored in a high medicine cabinet or lock-box. These substances can be dangerous to adults, so it follows that they are potentially fatal to small children. Over-the-counter drugs such as cough medicine and pain-killers should also be secured. These include ibuprofen, acetaminophen and aspirin.

Certain varieties of house plant can also be dangerous, as they may contain naturally produced chemical toxins. Keep a close eye on flowers such as azalea, hyacinth and hydrangea. In the case of house plants, dumb cane and caladium can pose a threat.

Ultimately it is up to you as a father to read the labels on all of the products in your house to determine the potential dangers they may pose. However, with a little bit of time and effort, you can ensure that no toxins are within the reach of your little one.

Advice For Dads

Ray Romano's Advice for Dads

Celebrity dads go through the same grind as any first-time dad, including having fatherhood jitters. Ray Romano admits that he was no different. In his recent appearance on the Today show, Ray confessed to Matt Lauer that he was so nervous after his first child was born that he couldn’t get anything right.

The Everybody Loves Raymond star remembered the birth of his daughter Alexandra over 19 years ago, which led to his first dad debacle, followed by his first lesson in parenting as well.

“My daughter was born at St. Vincent’s Hospital right here in New York,” he says. “I went to pick them up, my wife and child, and [with my] newborn baby in my arms, [I] go outside [and say], ‘Where’s my minivan?’ I parked in a tow-away zone so we had to go to Queens in a yellow cab. My daughter came home in a yellow cab.”

Ray and his wife Anna are also parents to 16-year-old twins Matthew and Gregory, and Joseph Raymond, 11. The 51-year-old star admits that raising four kids has made him wiser. He has some very good advice for dads, “My advice is just let the woman tell you where to go and what to do.”

Ray Romano is also the voice of the mammoth, Manny, in Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, which is now in theaters.

Sleeping with your baby

Your picture-perfect view of new parenthood probably involves mom and dad staring lovingly over a crib as the baby sleeps. However, you, especially as a dad, may want to evaluate sleeping options and here's why:

1. The baby-in-crib alone is a relatively recent and distinctly American practice. If you think about it, before multi-room dwellings and back to caveman days, families used to sleep together for warmth and safety. Most of the rest of the world "co-sleeps" and finds it completely natural to do so.

2. Crib death, or SIDS, is a very American phenomenon, and perhaps can be related to the distance mommy is from a struggling baby.

3. And finally, and most importantly for dads: co-sleeping keeps mom close to baby for middle-of-the-night feedings. When we had our first and second babies, they slept with us for the first 6-7 months. In the middle of the night, baby was hungry and baby reached out and had a snack. My wife often said she barely remembered the feeding. Compare that with the story of some of my friends who kept the baby in a crib across the hall. Very often it was the DAD who got up in the middle of the night (wife had baby all day after all and was still recuperating from delivery) and it was DAD who spent 15 minutes at midnight and 4AM warming the bottle and another 15 minutes feeding and burping the baby. Now, I will grant you that middle of the night feedings have a certain romantic glow to them - there you are, the great dad, alone with your thoughts and your new son and daughter in the moonlight... However, after a week of completely interrupted sleep you may get a little tired of this routine, especially when you count the months before "sleeps through the night" is a reality.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Sudden Infant Death syndrome (SIDS) is defined as the sudden, unexplained death of an infant, and is the one of the main causes of death among infants between a month and a year. SIDS is said to occur only when no possible explanation can be found even after:

* Autopsy
* Examination of the place where the death occurred
* Review of medical history of infant and family

The baby typically does not seem to show any sign of suffering and death occurs rapidly. In addition, SIDS is commonly known as crib death because of a strong link with sleep. It is estimated that 2,500 babies in the United States die of unknown causes every year.

Probable Causes
While no single cause can be pinpointed, researchers believe that SIDS may be the result of a combination of several factors.

During pregnancy:

* Consumption of prohibited substances during pregnancy (tobacco, alcohol, drugs, etc.)
* Early motherhood
* Poor medical care during pregnancy
* Short interval between two pregnancies

After birth:

* Exposure to smoke after birth
* Sleeping on the stomach or sleeping on too soft a surface

The last point should be emphasized, as babies tend to pause in their breathing, or re-breathe exhaled air, reducing the amount of oxygen in their blood while increasing carbon dioxide. Babies need clear space around their heads to breathe freely.

Prevention

* Ensure that your child always sleeps on the back. Sleeping on the side is also not a good alternative. For babies, sleeping on the back reduces the chance of accidental death greatly.
* Your infant's sleep area should be firm, without any pillows, toys, or covering. A firm mattress is preferable to a soft one. Remove stuffed animals during nap or sleep time
* Keep a comfortable room temperature. Excess body heat is seen to increase the chances of SIDS.
* For unknown reasons, breast-feeding and pacifiers are known to decrease the risk of SIDS.
* Keep the air around the baby free of smoke.

Know the pros and cons of co-sleeping

Is it okay to let the baby share your bed with you? There is no single correct answer to this situation. It is up to you, as a parent, to decide after knowing its pros and cons:

Advantages of co-sleeping

* Sleeping with your baby can foster a closer bond between you and your child.
* It gives you more time to spend with your baby. This is especially important for working couples.
* According to some studies, breastfeeding is higher amongst babies who share their parents’ bed
* Babies who sleep with their parents are believed to enjoy better sleep.
* Some studies report that babies who co-sleep wake less often during the night and fall asleep faster.
* Co-sleeping tends to reduce crying amongst babies.
* It is easier for parents to attend to the baby’s needs at night.
* Co-sleeping enables parents to respond immediately to babies when they cry.

Disadvantages of co-sleeping

* Once they get used to sleeping with them, babies may refuse to sleep in the parents’ absence.
* It may be difficult to teach co-sleeping babies to sleep alone later.
* Sleeping with a restless baby may disrupt the parents’ sleep.
* Parents may see a baby in bed as an intrusion in their love life.