If you’re a first time parent, or have a child on the way, you might not be sure how best to raise your child. This article will help with some basic parenting advice to help you get through the tough spots and help your child become an adult you can be proud of.

Limit the amount of television your child watches each day. Too much television is bad for your child, mentally and physically. It is one cause of childhood obesity, can lead to poor eyesight, and contributes to feelings of anxiety. Have your child play with toys or go outside instead.

Smoking with children in your home can really have negative consequences on their health, so try not to do it in your home. It is actually a good idea to quit smoking altogether, especially if you have children. Secondhand smoke is very dangerous to others. Asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and other respiratory ailments are much more common in children who breathe in second-hand smoke.

If you need to put an eye drop in your child’s eyes, place them on their back and lay a toy on their stomach. This will cause them to look down and allow you the opportunity to put a drop of medicine on the inner part of their eye. When your baby glances back up toward you, the drop will go in without any problems.

Never yell at your children. It is best to talk to them with a calm voice, no matter how bad they are being. The more upset you get, the more upset they will get and things will spiral out of control very quickly. Keep your calm as much as possible.

A great parenting tip is to look at the efforts of your own parents as a base to work from and not the only way to raise your child. There’s nothing worse than repeating the same mistakes with your child that your parents made on you. Always strive to come to your own solutions.

Use your smart phone to soothe your baby with noise. You can download a white noise application and then place the phone near your child. This is particularly useful if you are going for a walk or if your child is riding in the car. You do not have to use white noise; there are a wide range of other calming sounds available.

An important part of parenting is the setting and enforcing of clear boundaries. Consistency is critical, so once a line is drawn on a particular behavioral topic, the consequences for crossing that line must always be upheld. By following this course of action, your child will have predictable rules under which to operate, and will always be aware of what is acceptable and what is not!

Do not neglect yourself and your needs. Even if you’re having a stressful and hectic day go ahead and take some time to relax, you want to re-energize yourself. This will help you relax and feel better so that you can attend to your kids properly.

Avoid using other children you know as benchmarks for your own child’s rate of growth or development. Every child acquires skills like walking, talking, reading, and so forth at his or her own pace, and it is much healthier to bring up any concerns you have with your child’s pediatrician.

Not every child is social or outgoing. Kids can be shy and aloof, but that isn’t a bad thing! If you believe your child avoids contact with others, then there is cause for concern. This may be the time to take your child to the doctor to see if there are any psychological issues that can be corrected.

When potty training a young child, be sure get him to try regularly, every hour or so. The child might not know how to let you know when they have to use the restroom, and sometimes there is not enough time and they will have an accident. When you take them often, every couple of hours, this will make accidents less frequent. This proactive strategy will help your child be more aware of his bathroom needs.

A great way to build a good relationship with your child, is by showing interest in his or her day. This can be done by genuinely asking how his or her day went and then, giving your child your undivided attention. This is a way to learn what your child’s triumphs and disappointments are.

Child rearing can be challenging, but if you keep in mind the advice you’ve read, you will be giving your child a great foundation. Stick in there through the rough spots and remember that children act out sometimes, but if you continue to use proper parenting techniques, they will grow up to be successful, happy adults.

Raise Great Kids With These Parenting Tips was originally published on Spring