Damage to baby cribs can easily happen through every day use resulting in minor bumps and dings. To be sure that baby cribs work properly and look great for years to come, follow these uncomplicated maintenance tips.
Screws and bolts from your baby's crib can loosen from daily use. This can make the crib unstable or even malfunction. To keep crib hardware tight, check each bolt and screw once a month but do not over tighten since that can damage wood as well.
We already discussed that dings and chips can occur on even the newest of baby cribs. When touching those areas up, be sure to use a 100% non-toxic paint in a color that matches for the best blending. This job is best done when the crib can be taken outdoors to keep fumes away from baby as well.
If you see that your baby is teething and chewing on some of the crib rails you should consider adding a plastic guard to the crib. This will allow baby to safely chew on the rail without risking slivers or other injuries from damaged wood.
Mobiles are a great way to entertain small babies. They give an element of visual stimulation to an area that baby is in often and could become rather boring. Since mobiles are suspended out of baby’s reach, they are safe until baby commences sitting up. At that point mobiles should be abstracted from the crib space.
Babies are fragile; that is no secret. To keep baby as safe as possible keep all thick bedding, pillows and stuffed animals out of baby’s crib. These things can pose a suffocation risk while baby is asleep, but can be fun play things when baby is awake and supervised.
To keep baby safe from a moving or falling accidental injury make sure that all moving parts are locked whenever baby is in the crib. This includes casters and the drop rail. Double checking is worth skipping a trip to the emergency room.
Sometimes families pass cribs down through the ages and across siblings. This is a great way to use and love a family heirloom, but never use a crib that was owned by someone you don’t know. Baby cribs from unknown sources could hide potential dangers and put your baby at risk.
Double check to see if your baby's crib was involved in a recall to ensure that there are no safety concerns with your little one's sleep space. A great place to start is at the US Consumer Product Safety Commission at
Cribs are designed to lower the mattress as your baby grows to keep them within the crib and prevent crawling out. Follow your instincts, manufacturers’ recommendations, and your doctor’s advice on when to lower the crib mattress for the greatest safety.
Babies are naturally curious, so keep all dangly things away from baby’s crib. This includes curtains, blind cords, dresser runners, lamp cords, lights, and anything else baby could reach out, grab and pull on top of him or herself.
Mickey Pro
Journey to Discovery
Wooden Childrens Furniture Facts
Wooden childrens furniture isn't just made from one type of wood, there are several different types used by different companies. For example, there is pine and oak and maple, but wood variety goes beyond that into engineered, veneers, and hardwood solids.
Engineered wood is manmade boards. These boards can be a combining of different types of wood and adhesives pressed together to make a solid piece of board. Plywood, veneers, and particle board are included in this category. Hardwood solids are planks cut from trees and have a natural grain; sometimes these are called solid wood and can be from hardwoods or softwoods. Veneers are thin sheets of wood that are glued onto engineered woods to look like solid woods. To distinguish veneers from solid woods, check the ends of the boards; real boards will show the fibrous ends of the wood but veneer will show the grain.
Beech wood and birch are both hardwoods that are used often in the making of childrens furniture. Birch wood has a tight grain with a white color that accepts stain very well. Beech wood is long fibered, tightly grained, and light colored which makes it equivalent to birch and it takes a stain as well. Beech wood's long fibers make it great for bending and it is often seen in chairs and stools. New Zealand Pine is a soft wood from New Zealand that is similar to pine grown elsewhere, but has fewer knots, which makes a smoother piece of children's furniture.
South Shore furniture makes a few of its pieces out of engineered wood. This is because of the excellent durability and long life of engineered woods. With laminates or veneers to make them a beautiful piece to add to any room and an easily repaired looked for minor nicks and bumps. Because of the strength and durability of this furniture, South Shore is a great addition to children's rooms.
Young America by Stanley offers gorgeous and unique furniture collections that will definitely please children, teens and adults. From natural woods that create a sense of peace and tranquility in a space to veneers that add a modern twist to some traditional pieces. The problem isn't finding something that works; it is making up your mind which one to take home.
Argington Furniture takes birch and plays up its natural beauty. Argington is using the lovely grain of the birch tree to create simple, modern children's furniture that is as strong as it is beautiful. Once you have picked out which bed is for you, complete your bedroom with the matching dresser, side table, and toy box.
Berg tends to highlight the flexibility of beech wood in their products. The Enterprise designed shelves and their unique shape add flair to any child's room. These shelves are available in a wide variety of stains to show off the unique grain of the beech wood.
From beds to changing trays to dressers, DaVinci has showcased New Zealand Pine in ways that other companies only dream of doing. Each piece is master crafted and finished to best show off its lines which can range from light oaks to dark cherries. When looking for beauty, durability and sustainability in one piece, DaVinci has your children's furniture.
Mickey Pro
Engineered wood is manmade boards. These boards can be a combining of different types of wood and adhesives pressed together to make a solid piece of board. Plywood, veneers, and particle board are included in this category. Hardwood solids are planks cut from trees and have a natural grain; sometimes these are called solid wood and can be from hardwoods or softwoods. Veneers are thin sheets of wood that are glued onto engineered woods to look like solid woods. To distinguish veneers from solid woods, check the ends of the boards; real boards will show the fibrous ends of the wood but veneer will show the grain.
Beech wood and birch are both hardwoods that are used often in the making of childrens furniture. Birch wood has a tight grain with a white color that accepts stain very well. Beech wood is long fibered, tightly grained, and light colored which makes it equivalent to birch and it takes a stain as well. Beech wood's long fibers make it great for bending and it is often seen in chairs and stools. New Zealand Pine is a soft wood from New Zealand that is similar to pine grown elsewhere, but has fewer knots, which makes a smoother piece of children's furniture.
South Shore furniture makes a few of its pieces out of engineered wood. This is because of the excellent durability and long life of engineered woods. With laminates or veneers to make them a beautiful piece to add to any room and an easily repaired looked for minor nicks and bumps. Because of the strength and durability of this furniture, South Shore is a great addition to children's rooms.
Young America by Stanley offers gorgeous and unique furniture collections that will definitely please children, teens and adults. From natural woods that create a sense of peace and tranquility in a space to veneers that add a modern twist to some traditional pieces. The problem isn't finding something that works; it is making up your mind which one to take home.
Argington Furniture takes birch and plays up its natural beauty. Argington is using the lovely grain of the birch tree to create simple, modern children's furniture that is as strong as it is beautiful. Once you have picked out which bed is for you, complete your bedroom with the matching dresser, side table, and toy box.
Berg tends to highlight the flexibility of beech wood in their products. The Enterprise designed shelves and their unique shape add flair to any child's room. These shelves are available in a wide variety of stains to show off the unique grain of the beech wood.
From beds to changing trays to dressers, DaVinci has showcased New Zealand Pine in ways that other companies only dream of doing. Each piece is master crafted and finished to best show off its lines which can range from light oaks to dark cherries. When looking for beauty, durability and sustainability in one piece, DaVinci has your children's furniture.
Mickey Pro
Kids Bedroom Furniture Placement for Feng Shui Design
Feng Shui in your child's room is to have a lot of fresh air. Fresh air helps make a room lighter, of course fresher, and just more comfortable. When we spend time in a stale space, we feel sluggish and slow, but add fresh air and we perk right up. The same is true for your child. If you reside in an area where the seasons are harsh, add oxygenating plants and aromatherapy scents to the space to help keep moods light and easy, even during the worst time of year.
Next, clear any clutter out of your youngster's space and help get the space organized. Clutter and disorganization are bad for the thought process and keep us feeling discombobulated. A clean, arranged space helps us think clearly and creatively. Get kids bedroom furniture that's developed to keep items organized. Use big hampers to keep dirty clothing off the floor. Put containers and shelves in the closet to organize toys, clothes, and footwear. Use desk drawers to keep homework and art supplies organized and in their space, and finally use below bed storage crates to hide away those items that are used only once in a while.
The final step is to decorate like a Feng Shui master. This does not necessarily mean blowing the family spending budget on expensive Feng Shui associated prints, but alternatively looking at your personal Feng Shui decorator: your child. Display art work they designed around the house. Use greens and blues in regions where quiet could prevail, such as bedrooms, and reds, yellows, and oranges in other rooms such as the cooking area or family room. Additionally hanging up your youngster's artwork shows them that you recognize their creativeness and boosts their self esteem.
Mickey Pro
Next, clear any clutter out of your youngster's space and help get the space organized. Clutter and disorganization are bad for the thought process and keep us feeling discombobulated. A clean, arranged space helps us think clearly and creatively. Get kids bedroom furniture that's developed to keep items organized. Use big hampers to keep dirty clothing off the floor. Put containers and shelves in the closet to organize toys, clothes, and footwear. Use desk drawers to keep homework and art supplies organized and in their space, and finally use below bed storage crates to hide away those items that are used only once in a while.
The final step is to decorate like a Feng Shui master. This does not necessarily mean blowing the family spending budget on expensive Feng Shui associated prints, but alternatively looking at your personal Feng Shui decorator: your child. Display art work they designed around the house. Use greens and blues in regions where quiet could prevail, such as bedrooms, and reds, yellows, and oranges in other rooms such as the cooking area or family room. Additionally hanging up your youngster's artwork shows them that you recognize their creativeness and boosts their self esteem.
Mickey Pro
The Insomnia Files
Insomnia is a generally defined as not getting enough sleep, or getting sleep that is not restful. About 30 percent of adults report some symptom of insomnia, and this lack of sleep affects the daytime activities of about 10 percent of adults. For a small percentage of adults, the insomnia lasts at least one month and is not necessarily tied to another sleep problem or complicating condition.
Categorizing Insomnia
Primary insomnia. Primary insomnia isn't caused by other known conditions, but this form of restlessness produces regular symptoms and usually responds to treatment.
Secondary insomnia. Secondary insomnia stems from other illnesses, either physical or psychiatric. Medication or other sleep disorders might also be at the root of this condition.
Categorizing insomnia by the duration of the condition includes:
Acute insomnia. Acute insomnia usually is caused by a temporary, outside event. Emotional trauma, a dramatic change in schedule, or some other disruption of your daily routine might trigger bouts of poor or disturbed sleep. If you can anticipate a break in routine that might bring about insomnia, like an upcoming trip, a doctor can help you plan for and prevent any potential loss of sleep.
Chronic insomnia. Chronic insomnia lasts anywhere between one to six months. People dealing with chronic insomnia lose sleep at least three times per week, and the condition can cause problems functioning during the day.
Insomnia Medication
A popular treatment for insomnia is medication. Drug treatment should be used only if the lack of sleep is affecting daytime activities and a health care provider has evaluated the cause of the insomnia and suggested changes to sleep habits.
Popular sleep medication includes:
* Sedative hypnotics. Hypnotics are prescription drugs and classified in two groups. Benzodiazepines, such as temazepam (Restoril) and triazolam (Halcion), are effective but have a risk of causing dependency. Non-benzodiazepines, such as zolpidem (Ambien) and eszopiclone (Lunesta), have a lower risk of dependency.
* Antihistamines. Antihistamines are usually sold over the counter as treatment for allergies, but some, such as doxylamine (Unisom), that cause drowsiness are marketed as sleeping aids. The evidence that they work is limited, but some reports suggest diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can be used for mild insomnia.
* Antipsychotics and antidepressants. Antidepressants and antipsychotics such as trazadone (Desyrel), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and thioridazine (Mellaril) have long been used to treat insomnia, but side effects and their possible effect on cardiac functioning limits their use.
* Melatonin receptor medication. Melatonin, a naturally occurring hormone sold as a nutritional supplement, does not appear to help primary insomnia, but might be of help with temporary disorders such as jet lag. Melatonin helps regulate your sleep cycle. A prescription medication called ramelteon (Rozerem) mimics the effects of melatonin and may be useful for people who have trouble falling asleep.
Elizabeth Connor
Categorizing Insomnia
Primary insomnia. Primary insomnia isn't caused by other known conditions, but this form of restlessness produces regular symptoms and usually responds to treatment.
Secondary insomnia. Secondary insomnia stems from other illnesses, either physical or psychiatric. Medication or other sleep disorders might also be at the root of this condition.
Categorizing insomnia by the duration of the condition includes:
Acute insomnia. Acute insomnia usually is caused by a temporary, outside event. Emotional trauma, a dramatic change in schedule, or some other disruption of your daily routine might trigger bouts of poor or disturbed sleep. If you can anticipate a break in routine that might bring about insomnia, like an upcoming trip, a doctor can help you plan for and prevent any potential loss of sleep.
Chronic insomnia. Chronic insomnia lasts anywhere between one to six months. People dealing with chronic insomnia lose sleep at least three times per week, and the condition can cause problems functioning during the day.
Insomnia Medication
A popular treatment for insomnia is medication. Drug treatment should be used only if the lack of sleep is affecting daytime activities and a health care provider has evaluated the cause of the insomnia and suggested changes to sleep habits.
Popular sleep medication includes:
* Sedative hypnotics. Hypnotics are prescription drugs and classified in two groups. Benzodiazepines, such as temazepam (Restoril) and triazolam (Halcion), are effective but have a risk of causing dependency. Non-benzodiazepines, such as zolpidem (Ambien) and eszopiclone (Lunesta), have a lower risk of dependency.
* Antihistamines. Antihistamines are usually sold over the counter as treatment for allergies, but some, such as doxylamine (Unisom), that cause drowsiness are marketed as sleeping aids. The evidence that they work is limited, but some reports suggest diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can be used for mild insomnia.
* Antipsychotics and antidepressants. Antidepressants and antipsychotics such as trazadone (Desyrel), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and thioridazine (Mellaril) have long been used to treat insomnia, but side effects and their possible effect on cardiac functioning limits their use.
* Melatonin receptor medication. Melatonin, a naturally occurring hormone sold as a nutritional supplement, does not appear to help primary insomnia, but might be of help with temporary disorders such as jet lag. Melatonin helps regulate your sleep cycle. A prescription medication called ramelteon (Rozerem) mimics the effects of melatonin and may be useful for people who have trouble falling asleep.
Elizabeth Connor
Tips to Reset Your Internal Clock
With the help of a few sleep strategies, People with delayed sleep phase syndrome can regulate there sleeping pattern.
Each of us has an individual sleep schedule kept on track by our circadian rhythms, which is biological activity regulated by body temperature, sleep cycle, hormone secretion, and external factors like light and darkness. Our internal clock is located in a part of the brain called the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus.
“The ‘master’ circadian clock in the SCN receives light information from the retina in the eye, which sends the information to several parts of the brain, including the pineal gland, responsible for the release of melatonin,” says Rochelle Zozula, PhD, coordinator at Capital Health’s Center for Sleep Medicine in Hamilton, N.J. “Light will suppress the production of melatonin, which is directly involved in the process of sleep initiation.”
Sleep Schedule Variations
For some people, however, despite these physical and environmental cues, their internal clocks do not sync up with the world’s expectations. About 1 percent of adults have advanced sleep phase disorder — they go to bed early, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and wake up early, between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. While inconvenient, many can still function well within society.
Other people, however, are not so lucky. Estimates are that as many as 15 percent of teenagers and adults may experience the flip side of advanced sleep phase disorder — delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS).
10 Tips for Resetting Your Internal Clock
Fortunately, there are some things people with delayed sleep phase syndrome can do to help reset their biological clocks:
1. Schedule a doctor visit. See a doctor if your sleep schedule is interfering with job and other responsibilities.
2. Adjust your bedtime. Try slowly scaling back your bedtime until you are at the desired hour (often you may need help from a physician with this).
3. Do not nap. Even if you feel tired, napping can interfere with going to sleep at night.
4. Do not sleep in. Getting up at the same time every day is important in maintaining a functioning sleep schedule.
5. Be strict about your sleep schedule. Once you have reached a workable bedtime, don’t allow yourself to stray from it. Even one late night can ruin the progress you’ve made.
6. Try light therapy. Consider “bright-light therapy,” a timed exposure to bright light in the morning. This should be done under a doctor’s care, as light intensity, timing, duration, and distance from the light source all need to be specific.
7. Avoid night light. Avoid bright and outdoor light in the evening when possible.
8. Try melatonin with monitoring by a health professional. This therapy might help, but there could be side effects in some people as well as contraindications with other medications, both prescribed and over-the-counter, so work with your doctor on this strategy.
9. Avoid eating or exercising too close to bedtime. Also watch out for caffeine and nicotine, both of which are stimulants.
10. Set the mood. Finally, create a relaxing bedtime routine with a warm bath and relaxing music, for instance. Make sure your bed is comfortable, the room is dark, and the temperature is not too warm.
Kristen Stewart
Each of us has an individual sleep schedule kept on track by our circadian rhythms, which is biological activity regulated by body temperature, sleep cycle, hormone secretion, and external factors like light and darkness. Our internal clock is located in a part of the brain called the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus.
“The ‘master’ circadian clock in the SCN receives light information from the retina in the eye, which sends the information to several parts of the brain, including the pineal gland, responsible for the release of melatonin,” says Rochelle Zozula, PhD, coordinator at Capital Health’s Center for Sleep Medicine in Hamilton, N.J. “Light will suppress the production of melatonin, which is directly involved in the process of sleep initiation.”
Sleep Schedule Variations
For some people, however, despite these physical and environmental cues, their internal clocks do not sync up with the world’s expectations. About 1 percent of adults have advanced sleep phase disorder — they go to bed early, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and wake up early, between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. While inconvenient, many can still function well within society.
Other people, however, are not so lucky. Estimates are that as many as 15 percent of teenagers and adults may experience the flip side of advanced sleep phase disorder — delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS).
10 Tips for Resetting Your Internal Clock
Fortunately, there are some things people with delayed sleep phase syndrome can do to help reset their biological clocks:
1. Schedule a doctor visit. See a doctor if your sleep schedule is interfering with job and other responsibilities.
2. Adjust your bedtime. Try slowly scaling back your bedtime until you are at the desired hour (often you may need help from a physician with this).
3. Do not nap. Even if you feel tired, napping can interfere with going to sleep at night.
4. Do not sleep in. Getting up at the same time every day is important in maintaining a functioning sleep schedule.
5. Be strict about your sleep schedule. Once you have reached a workable bedtime, don’t allow yourself to stray from it. Even one late night can ruin the progress you’ve made.
6. Try light therapy. Consider “bright-light therapy,” a timed exposure to bright light in the morning. This should be done under a doctor’s care, as light intensity, timing, duration, and distance from the light source all need to be specific.
7. Avoid night light. Avoid bright and outdoor light in the evening when possible.
8. Try melatonin with monitoring by a health professional. This therapy might help, but there could be side effects in some people as well as contraindications with other medications, both prescribed and over-the-counter, so work with your doctor on this strategy.
9. Avoid eating or exercising too close to bedtime. Also watch out for caffeine and nicotine, both of which are stimulants.
10. Set the mood. Finally, create a relaxing bedtime routine with a warm bath and relaxing music, for instance. Make sure your bed is comfortable, the room is dark, and the temperature is not too warm.
Kristen Stewart
What would you do?
Twenty years from now
You will be more disappointed
By the things you didn't do
Than by the ones you did,
So throw off the bowlines,
Sail away from the safe harbor,
Catch the trade wins in your sails,
Explore
Dream
Discover
-Mark Twain
What would i do??? I still have a lot to accomplish, places to visit, adventures to experience... Stuff that when I'm 60 or when I retire I wont have a moment where I would say to my self... " I should have done that, when I still can"...
You will be more disappointed
By the things you didn't do
Than by the ones you did,
So throw off the bowlines,
Sail away from the safe harbor,
Catch the trade wins in your sails,
Explore
Dream
Discover
-Mark Twain
What would i do??? I still have a lot to accomplish, places to visit, adventures to experience... Stuff that when I'm 60 or when I retire I wont have a moment where I would say to my self... " I should have done that, when I still can"...
Power Nap
Power naps are good for brain health and, more specifically, memory recall. This may come as good news for chronically sleep-deprived teens and college students gearing up for the new school year.
Several new studies have emerged in recent months suggesting naps boost information retention and learning.
Earlier this year, a study conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, indicated that rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep may enhance creativity and problem-solving. Participants were given various puzzles in which they had to come up with a word that links three other seemingly unrelated words. They were then instructed to take a nap, after which they completed more puzzles. Those who experienced REM sleep were able to solve 40 percent more puzzles than they had before their naps, while those who rested without falling asleep or didn’t experience REM did slightly worse post-nap.
According to the paper’s lead author, this improvement suggests that during this sleep phase, information is moved from the hippocampus region of the brain – an area responsible for the formation of new memories – to the neocortex, which holds older memories and experiences. Once the information is in the neocortex, the brain is able to associate the new information with older information, which can result in increased ability to solve problems and develop new ideas.
Another study conducted at the University of California, Berkeley, further supports the link between napping and improved ability to learn and complete tasks. The study, announced in February, found that those who napped for 90 minutes between learning sessions improved their scores, while those who didn’t nap had worse scores.
High schoolers and college students should also take note: The same research team at Berkeley previously found that pulling an all-nighter decreases the ability to retain new information by nearly 40 percent, due to a shutdown of brain regions during sleep deprivation.
Squeeze In a Nap Whenever You Can
A 20-minute power nap is often enough to refresh your brain and body; this length is usually enough to leave me feeling rejuvenated without making an impact on my schedule.
If your calendar allows, naps between 60 and 90 minutes long have been shown to improve memory retention, as the above studies demonstrate. Naps of this length might be particularly helpful for students cramming for a test. However, keep in mind that anything longer than 90 minutes may affect your ability to sleep at night.
Keith L. Black, MD
Several new studies have emerged in recent months suggesting naps boost information retention and learning.
Earlier this year, a study conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, indicated that rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep may enhance creativity and problem-solving. Participants were given various puzzles in which they had to come up with a word that links three other seemingly unrelated words. They were then instructed to take a nap, after which they completed more puzzles. Those who experienced REM sleep were able to solve 40 percent more puzzles than they had before their naps, while those who rested without falling asleep or didn’t experience REM did slightly worse post-nap.
According to the paper’s lead author, this improvement suggests that during this sleep phase, information is moved from the hippocampus region of the brain – an area responsible for the formation of new memories – to the neocortex, which holds older memories and experiences. Once the information is in the neocortex, the brain is able to associate the new information with older information, which can result in increased ability to solve problems and develop new ideas.
Another study conducted at the University of California, Berkeley, further supports the link between napping and improved ability to learn and complete tasks. The study, announced in February, found that those who napped for 90 minutes between learning sessions improved their scores, while those who didn’t nap had worse scores.
High schoolers and college students should also take note: The same research team at Berkeley previously found that pulling an all-nighter decreases the ability to retain new information by nearly 40 percent, due to a shutdown of brain regions during sleep deprivation.
Squeeze In a Nap Whenever You Can
A 20-minute power nap is often enough to refresh your brain and body; this length is usually enough to leave me feeling rejuvenated without making an impact on my schedule.
If your calendar allows, naps between 60 and 90 minutes long have been shown to improve memory retention, as the above studies demonstrate. Naps of this length might be particularly helpful for students cramming for a test. However, keep in mind that anything longer than 90 minutes may affect your ability to sleep at night.
Keith L. Black, MD
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If Pictures Could Speak A Thousand Words
She discovered with great delight that one does not love one's children just because they are one's children but because of the friendship formed while raising them. ~frm.Love in the Time of Cholera
