Our parents were far from perfect. Now that you are a parent you probably realise that you also are far from perfect. Learning from other parents is key to being a good parent, so we’ve supplied you with some answers to a variety of parenting dilemmas.

When you have a newborn in the house, be sure to split the parenting responsibilities between both Mom and Dad. Splitting up the responsibilities will keep both parents from becoming exhausted, and give each parent a little alone time once in awhile. It will also help to allow each parent to get some much needed sleep, especially through the night.

Parents who have a teenager that is beginning the college selection process need to make sure that they do not try to influence their child to go to the same university that they did. Teenagers do not like being told what to do so they may choose the complete opposite out of spite.

If your baby is irritable and not relaxing as quickly as you want him to, head to the bathroom with him. Make yourself comfortable on the toilet and rock your baby as you have the exhaust fan and the faucet running. These sounds mimic the sounds of the noise of the heartbeat in the uterus.

If you have a baby that is not easily soothed, consider rubbing a bit of lavender essential oil on the back of your neck. The baby will smell this when you are rocking her and it will have quite the soothing effect on her. You may even want to put a couple drops of lavender baby lotion on your baby’s blanket.

A great parenting tip is to always utilize disciplinary techniques as a way of shielding your child from harm instead of using them as punitive tools that may harm self-esteem. In this way, you will also be able to instruct your child in the things they ought to be doing instead of dwelling on what they should not.

If you have trouble getting your child to not do something, it is generally best to specifically instruct them to do something else. For example, if you do not want your child to run down the stairs, instead of stating “don’t run,” it is better to state “please walk down the stairs.” When told not to do something, a child is more likely to instinctively ignore the instruction. Also, it avoids situations where the child might decide to be clever and jump down the stairs instead.

A great parenting tip is to make your child earn the money you give them. A simple way of doing this is to offer them an allowance if they do some work around the house. This will teach them some work ethic and also the value of working for their money.

A great parenting tip is to accompany your small children if they decide to go trick or treating. Young children definitely need a chaperone or parent with them when they go trick or treating because it can get hectic. You should be there for them to make sure they are safe at all times.

Get down to your child’s eye level. A child respects a parent who looks them in the eye when they are talking. A child appreciates a parent who will get down on the floor and play with them. If your child is always physically looking up to you then you’re missing something in your parenting style.

Talk to the school about those heavy text books your child is expected to carry back and forth between school and home. Despite efforts by the medical community to alert them, many schools remain apparently oblivious to the potential dangers of children carrying loads that are too much for them physically.

When things get tough while caring for a fussy or colicky baby, never be afraid to put the baby down in the crib or bassinet while you leave the room for a couple of minutes. Crying will not hurt your child, and you can take a much-needed break to regroup or call someone for help or support.

A great tip to help you be a good parent is to never abuse drugs or alcohol. If your child sees you when you’re drunk or high on drugs they’ll lose a tremendous amount of respect for you. You can simply avoid this by drinking moderately and by not doing drugs.

If you have a young child who avoids eating anything green, try to make your vegetables more interesting. For example, if you stick broccoli florets into his mash potatoes and tell him that he is a giant eating up a forest, he just might play along and eat his broccoli. His enjoyment in playing this game will take his focus away from “yucky” vegetables.

Reading all you can about parenting is an awesome tool to use in becoming a better parent. Other people’s experiences may not mirror yours, but they can bring insight into a variety of different techniques which can be applied to your parenting problems. Keep reading and learning and you’ll always be the best parent you can be!

Important Tips And Tricks For Parenting Well was originally published on Spring