Parenting can be challenging and rewarding at the same time. To be an excellent parent you need a number of skills. Mainly you’ll need patience, understanding and time. You can become a great parent if you keep your cool and understand that some things are beyond your control at some times.

Make sure you have an appropriate first aid kit in your home. Children suffer a variety of different injuries and you want to make sure you are prepared for them. In your first aid kit, make sure to include, band aids, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, cotton swabs, bacitracin ointment, and calamine lotion.

Do not try to introduce the bottle to a normally breastfeed baby who is hungry. A hungry baby will not understand what the bottle is for and will reject it immediately because he at this point only associates food with the breast. Get the baby used to the bottle when they are not hungry so that they can learn that it provides food as well.

Prepare your child for a lifetime of safe street-crossing behavior. Always hold hands, look both ways, and then look both ways again when crossing a street or walking across a parking lot. Starting early will instill the importance of this responsible in your child, keeping them safe and sound as they walk to school or accompany you to the store.

If your children are playing with toys and sets that have dozens of tiny pieces or parts, use a cookie sheet as a sort of place mat. The raised edges will prevent small pieces from being scattered around and lost forever. And clean-up is simple: just tilt the cookie sheet and pour everything back into its box or container.

Make sure your swings and mobiles use plugs over batteries. When you have twins you are using two of everything and that will include double the batteries. Save yourself the extra cost by only buying or registering for items that you can plug in so that you won’t have to take out a mortgage for batteries.

If you have teenage children, try to eat dinner as a family at the dinner table as often as you can. Sometimes teens may prefer to eat in front of the TV or at their computer desk. Having dinner at the dinner table as a family gives your children a chance to share with you about their day. This is a good way for you to connect with your teenagers and to show interest in what they are doing.

If you are exhausted trying to care for your newborn at night, put her rash cream on her diaper, Just before you go to sleep in the evening. This will save you time during late-night feedings, because you will be able to put your baby’s diaper on without worrying about putting the paste on her bottom first.

Make sure you have your child’s password for any social media sites so you can easily monitor on-line activities. Whether you ever log on to their account or not, knowing you can encourages your child to be more responsible with the information or photographs shared and their interactions with others.

To preserve your sanity after having a new baby, do not be afraid to ask friends and family to give you and your new family some space or to ask them to pitch in with cooking or cleaning if they do visit. You and your spouse need time to adjust, bond and catch up on sleep.

Praise your children. Some parents are very good at focusing on the negative, but forget about the positive. When a child is praised it lets them know that their parents love and appreciate them. It also makes them more likely to repeat positive behaviors. Try to look for something to praise your child about at least once a day.

Give your toddler a real treat for his or her birthday, by going an entire day without saying “No.” So long as they aren’t in danger, allow them to spend the day doing what they want. Your child can have to opportunity to do fun things, such as, making forts out of the furniture, running around naked or painting in the bathtub. Your child will be delighted and the experience gives you some insight into how much your preferences, shape your toddler’s typical day.

In order to teach you child how to have good behavior you have to show them by example. You cannot tell your child to act a certain way and then you go and do the opposite right in front of them. Act the way that you want them to act.

As you and your child develop a relationship you can see the rewards of your work from being an understand and patient parent. There will be a number of challenges, and since children don’t come with an instruction manual it’s kind of hit or miss on some things but eventually you’ll get the hang of it and it is very much worth it.

Meet Your Parenting Duties Head On With These Tips was originally published on Spring