Daddy Magic: Tantrum? Change the Subject

Toddlers have two-second attention spans.

They are smiling at you and then... boom... they're staring at the guy walking by then... boom... they see a puppy then... boom... a car drives by.

This short attention span can be used to your advantage when it comes to tantrums.

My two-year-old hates getting strapped into the car. If you've had a two-year-old, you probably know that they can get pretty wild. So today ours was running around the car while I was trying to put our one-year-old into the car.

She loves to climb around in the car, but you're guaranteeing a tantrum then, because when you strap her in you're taking her from something she loves to something she hates. It's a guaranteed tantrum. However, I realized it was safer to have her climb around inside the car than run around outside of it.

So I opened the passenger door and asked her to climb in. She gleefully agreed. It was nice for me, because I peacefully put our baby into the carseat, got the baby bag (backpack) into the car, and got ready for our toddler.

I knew she was going to throw a tantrum, so I started a little early. I asked her to get into her seat. She refused. I then had her say yes to me instead (that's a great discipline we've already established). I asked her again, and so she sat on her seat and started playing with her buckles. I walked around the car to her side.

That's when she knew it was time, and she bolted away from her chair. I was ready, and I caught her arm. She started throwing a tantrum. I asked her nicely to get strapped in. She reluctantly agreed and sat in the chair.

I then started getting the straps around her arms. She slinked to the floor and started throwing another tantrum. I asked her again. I helped her to her feet and asked for her to get ready again. She agreed, and we put her in the seat. She started complaining again.

So I started changing the subject. I asked her where the buckle fastened. I asked her how it work. She showed me. I asked her about her Elmo toy, and she showed me how that worked too.


You're kid probably won't be that easy to distract the first few times. Mine wasn't either. However, if you read my post about the anatomy of a tantrum, you know that they aren't going to keep doing it for very long if they know that it's only going to make their life worse.

Anatomy of a tantrum:
http://daddymagic.blogspot.com/2007/10/daddy-magic-anatomy-of-tantrum.html


That's the way it is with our daughter. Sure, she'll say no and start to throw a tantrum.

But then I ask her to do something. She knows that if she doesn't obey, then discipline will keep coming until she does. That's why she's easily distracted. She knows throwing a tantrum isn't effective. It only makes things worse for her.

A child who only throws a tantrum for a few mere seconds? Now that's Daddy Magic!



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TheAnimationEmpire update:

Do you have a bucket full of cheese?

Daddy Magic: Leave the Tantrum

So let's get into some more specifics about the tantrum. We established that discipline is necessary. If you're in the room and you can hear or feel the tantrum, then the tantrum is a success. You have to make it a failure to get it to stop.

For me, a tantrum means, "I want to go to bed." So I usually start there. "You're crying. Are you ready to go to bed?" She says, "No." "Oh, but you're still crying. Let's go to bed. If you stop crying then you won't have to go to bed." If she stops. That's good. If she doesn't, she goes to bed. She always stops. She never has to go to bed. Sure, she had to learn it, but it didn't take long.

There are two times where that won't work. First, it's not going to work if you're driving somewhere. That's why she goes in the car before anything else. I put her in the car, and then she throws a tantrum (she doesn't like to be strapped in). First, I try distractions, by getting her to help me (more on that later). If that doesn't work, that's fine. I leave her in the car to scream while I get the rest of the stuff and keep packing the car. We can't hear her. It's futile, so it usually only lasts a few seconds. Why scream your head off if you have no audience?

How about when you're at the store? Try distractions. If it doesn't work, go for discipline, which, unfortunately, might mean it's time for you to leave the store. However, there are forms of discipline you can use in the store as well. More on that later.

The other time it won't work is if she can climb out of bed, open the door, and walk out of the room. We put discipline on that too, so she doesn't do that. However, if you haven't taught your toddler to stay in the room (and toddler-proofed it) then you're going to need to bite the bullet and put that baby proof door handle on the inside. Lock your kid in. If she can escape, she won't be miserable. She needs to learn that a tantrum will steadily make life miserable for the rest of her life. The sooner she stops, the sooner her misery stops.

Sure, you can still hear the tantrum if you leave him in the room (that way you know if the scream is from pain or something else). But it should be faint so that it doesn't bother you. Too loud? Turn on the radio so it's not loud. Go to another room. Allow yourself to hear it faint enough so that you can monitor it without it bothering you.

You don't care. The tantrum not going to last because you don't care. When the child stops, give it a few minutes and then reward him by letting him out, hugging him, and telling him why he had a time out.

It's said you should always love your child and explain to your child after the discipline is done. That's when they're paying attention.

Leaving a tantrum behind so that it doesn't affect you? Now that's Daddy Magic!



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Daddy Magic: The Anatomy of the Tantrum

This one is devoted to Queen Bug.

I have a two-year old as well. Tantrums come with the age. The trick is to minimize them, shorten them, and make sure they don't last.

We use thousands of tactics to do this, but the best learned lesson is to understand why the tantrum exists.

We vote for a president because we see it being tallied on our TVs. We want to do what we can to put the right person in office. Likewise, we put together a resume, portfolio, and interview because we want the job. If we knew that we wouldn't get the job and that the interview would do no good, we wouldn't take the interview.

Why would you ever try to do something if it was futile? We wouldn't. Sure, we might start doing it, but as soon as we remember and realize that it's pointless, we'd stop.

That's it. That's the secret.

You have to convince your toddler that their tantrum is futile. The only reason why you do anything is because you know that it works. That's the tantrum. The child knows that throwing a tantrum will yield results.

So that's the first step. You need to figure out what you're giving the child. You might just let the child scream until he is done. I have some relatives who did that. It wasn't really helping much. One time, the child was screaming when a police officer walked up and told the child to stop and to respect the parent. The child went silent. A stranger acting on authority was discipline to that child. That's not the attention the child wanted.

My child screams when we put her in the car. She doesn't want to be there. Sometimes I'll take something away from her or take her out of the room. She throws a tantrum.

I immediately discipline her and distract her. It doesn't take long for her to stop. Why?

Because we have a history. Her life is going to steadily get worse until she stops. If she doesn't stop, she's going to be stuck in bed for the rest of her life with periodic spankings and no one anywhere near her to even know that she's screaming. It sounds like torture, and it is. That's why it never has to happen. =^)

The moment you look at your child in a tantrum when you are not engaging in discipline you just gave in to your child's tantrum. The moment that you stay in the ear shot of your child and he knows you can hear him or feel his tantrum if he's flailing at you, your child's tantrum is succeeding. He may not only want his way. He may just settle for making your life miserable with noises and physical actions. That's fine by him. If you allow that, then you are telling him that tantrums are okay.

The only way to stop a tantrum is to constantly take steps to making his life worse. It's discipline. It won't take him long to learn. When he learns that he has nothing to gain and everything to lose, he'll begin to pull back.

That's the essence of the tantrum. That's how it works. You have to be more stubborn than your child if you want him to learn.

Now that's Daddy Magic.


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Daddy Magic: The Pacifier Clip

The pacifier clip is something that attaches to your pacifier. The other end clips to your baby's clothing. You can find these at any baby store.

Some babies don't really need this. However, some babies spit out their pacifiers.

If you find yourself picking up a pacifier off the floor a few times each day, then it's time to go get a pacifier clip.

Save yourself the trouble of picking up that pacifier all day.

This is especially good for sleeping. When you go in at 2 in the morning to put the pacifier back in your baby's mouth and get her to fall asleep again, you want to find the pacifier. You'll always find it when you have it clipped to your baby. Otherwise, it may be under the crib, in a blanket, or anywhere in the room. You don't want to loose pacifiers, and you don't want your baby screaming while you search for it.

That's Daddy Magic!

Note: When your baby is a toddler, she will pull off the clip and fling it even further. That's when you know it's time to stop using the clip.






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Daddy Magic: Wrap a blanket over your baby's hand

There is a difficult stage in teaching your baby to sleep. That's when he is getting too strong for the swaddle.

He breaks out of the swaddle.

Unfortunately, he's also too young to have developed hand coordination. As a result, he pulls his pacifier out of his own mouth. So he's screaming at 5 in the morning, because he broke out of his swaddle and pulled his pacifier out of his mouth.

What do you do?

Wrap a blanket over his hand that is pulling out his pacifier. For our daughter, it has been her left hand. He won't be able to pull out his pacifier. You can also accomplish this by putting a blanket barrier on his neck so that he can't get his hand up to his mouth. Another method is to use the pacifiers without the handle at the end (one brand is hollow so you can stick your finger in them and pump the pacifier in his mouth; another brand has a knob at the end). Another method is using mittens or those baby shirts where the sleeves have built-in mittens to cover your baby's hands.

Use any one of these methods to survive this transition and get some sleep! You and your baby need your sleep!

Get sleep? That's Daddy Magic!!!







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Daddy Magic: Pray with your child

It's important to pray with your child every day! When your child is a baby, you will be praying over your child.

I recommend doing this every night when you put your child to bed.

By doing this when your child is an infant, you will build a habit for the rest of your life.


Now, this only makes sense to pray to our Lord, Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can truly answer our prayers.


What to pray for:

(1) For God to put events in your child's life that will draw her to Him

(2) For God to put people in your child's life that will draw her to Him

(3) For the salvation of your child and her friends

(4) That your child will have mentors who will draw her to God

(5) That your child will have friends who will draw her to God

(6) That your child will have friends and mentees who she will draw to God

(7) That your child will server God with her life

(8) That your child will give financially to God

(9) That your child will love others

(10) That your child will share with others

(11) That your child will have God's peace and patience

(12) That your child will endure and persevere for God's glory

(13) That your child will obey you, according to the Will of God

(14) That your child will obey God

(15) That your child will repent from her sins

(16) That your child will lead Bible studies

(17) That your child will passionately love God

(18) That God will provide for your child's needs so that she can serve Him fully

(19) Health of your child - so that she can honor God with her life

(20) Countenance and mood of your child - that she will reflect Christ's attitude

(21) That she will get a lot of rest in her naps and in her sleep - so that she can honor God with a loving countenance



Why you should pray:

(1) It is God's Will for you to pray corporately

(2) You are putting God before yourself and your child

(3) She will learn the importance of prayer

(4) She will see how high you value the things you pray for

(5) She will pursue the things you pray for

(6) You will renew your focus on the things you are praying for

(7) Because you love your child




Give it a try! If you are not a Christian, learn about the God who created us! Google Jesus Christ! This is the best thing for your child's life... forever.


Is this Daddy Magic? No, it's more like a practice that God has required of us since the first creature walked on Earth.







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Daddy Magic: There are a lot of techniques in parenting

There are a lot of techniques in parenting.

If you're a parent, you're already figuring this out. You could get lost in our site, reading about all the different techniques. However, many parents don't know that there are a lot of techniques and most people who hear me talk about the latest techniques are surprised about how much thought I (and others) put into parenting.

It usually starts with me talking about a new technique I developed like patting your baby to sleep (http://daddymagic.blogspot.com/2007/03/daddy-magic-pat-your-baby-to-sleep.html), running with your baby (http://daddymagic.blogspot.com/2007/02/daddy-magic-run-with-your-baby.html), using "Don't Touch" (http://daddymagic.blogspot.com/2007/02/daddy-magic-instead-of-stop-use-dont.html) or teaching your baby how to smile (http://daddymagic.blogspot.com/2007/02/daddy-magic-smile-for-your-baby.html).

Then the person is suprised about how much thought we put into the techniques.

My typical response is, "Not every parent does put this much thought into parenting. That explains all the undisciplined kids that are running around."

This past week I was telling someone that you have to teach a child everything: how to sleep, how to burp, how to suck on a pacifier... everything! Then he suggested that you don't have to teach a baby how to smile. Well, I told him that's not the case. Sure, a baby's first smile comes from farting (a welcome release), but for a baby to be smiling often requires training.

Our babies smile a lot because we trained them to:
http://daddymagic.blogspot.com/2007/02/daddy-magic-smile-for-your-baby.html

So, yes, there are a lot of parenting techniques, and you can find them here at Daddy Magic.




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Daddy Magic: Mix cereal with formula

This is a classic tip. When your baby is eating more, mix some of the baby cereal with your formula.

This way your baby continues to eat more and be healthy, but you aren't buying more formula or having to pump more.

This is also a good way to get your baby used to solids sooner.

Now that's Daddy Magic.





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Daddy Magic: How to get your baby used to the Swaddle

How do you get your baby used to the swaddle?

This is my third post that is ONLY on the swaddle!!!

Why three? I'll tell you why! I keep coming across people who throw their hands up in the air and say, "Our baby doesn't like the swaddle!"

Of course not! Teach him to like it!

Click here to learn why you should do it:

http://daddymagic.blogspot.com/2007/01/daddy-magic-get-your-baby-used-to.html



Here's how to get her used to the swaddle:

(1) Hold your baby tight to you.

(2) Make sure the swaddle is tight!

(3) Use two blankets if you need to.

(4) Use larger blankets if you need to.

(5) Pump the pacifier in her mouth.

(6) Hold her sideways.

(7) Bounce her. Use your full body motion from your toes to your ankles to your knees to your hips to your spine to your elbows to your wrists.

(8) Run with her if you have to.


Bottom line: Get her used to the swaddle! Read the link above to learn why you should do this. Embrace the Daddy Magic.





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Baby Magic: Get Your Baby to Eat

Get your baby to eat!!!

Your baby will probably be drinking from a bottle, but he may be nursing.

I realized that I need to write this one when I saw someone throw their hands up in frustration. The baby was having a fit. She was so upset, that she wouldn't eat, even though she was upset because she was hungry!

Think about it! She was so hungry, that she was too upset to eat! Imagine that!

Well, that is pretty common.


Here's what to do:

(1) Hold him tight. Give him that important stability. It will help calm him down.

(2) Bounce with him. Walk him around. Make him feel like he's on a bungy cord, but he's still tight in your arms. Run with him if you have to.

(3) Put the bottle in his mouth. Hold it there until he recognizes that he has access to his food.

(4) Pump the bottle in his mouth: in and out until he grabs on and starts sucking.


Using this method, I got the baby to start eating in less than 20 seconds, when her mother had just spent several minutes.

This works. This is Daddy Magic!





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Daddy Magic: Touch Your Baby!!!

Touch your baby! Start from day one. Touch your infant. Touch his hands, his feet, his legs, his arms, his neck, his chest, his stomach, his face, and his head. Touch him gently and playfully.

Touch your infant!

Touch your baby!

Touch your toddler! When you get more toward the toddler age, your touches should be more like tickles on the sides, neck, and feet/toes. Also touch his hands, his arms, his neck, his face, and his head. Give him hugs! Teach him how to hug.

Tickle your toddler! Tickles count.

Why? Why touch your child?


Do it for these reasons:

(1) Teach him how to hug. By getting him comfortable with affection, he will learn how to show affection to others. It starts with physical touch, but it will extend to compassionate acts as he grows.

(2) He will learn that his parents love him. He will learn this much more affectively and quickly than any other method. Do you love him? Tell him.

(3) He will be healthy. That's right. Touching your child stimulates the blood cells so that he is able to fight off sickness and viruses. This is especially vital in the younger stages.


Love your child! Touch your child! That's Daddy Magic.





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Baby Magic: Gently Rub your Toddler's Temple

Gently rub your toddler's temple to get him to fall asleep.

You can also do this with your baby, but it will be magic with your toddler. Instead concentrate on patting your baby and pumping his pacifier. Use this with your baby as something else to try.

But definitely do this with your toddler! Why a toddler? I think it works best with your toddler because he is used to you touching him, especially in this fashion. He knows you. He understand the gentle touch. It sooths him.

Gently rub his temple and "Shh" him so that he calms down. Again, you don't need to wait for him to fall asleep. Just get him to calm down. He will learn to fall asleep. As a toddler, you should have already taught him this. But if you haven't, then you should begin teaching him how to get himself to fall asleep once he is calm.

That's Daddy Magic.





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Daddy Magic: Turn on your Fan

Turn on your fan to lull your baby to sleep! This is also great for your toddler and infant.

Some babies sleep better than others. We have one baby who slept better as an infant and a baby. Our toddler had more trouble at every stage. Babies are different. That's life.

However, we've learned to turn on the fan. Make sure your fan makes noise, because that is about 80% of the point. The hushing sound is magical! Turn it on the lowest mode, as long as it is loud enough. It's as if you were nearby your baby, hushing him. "Shhh!" Constantly. All night long.

That's great! Why? Because you don't need to do it! Go to sleep instead. =^)

This is a great technique to be used with patting your baby, the pacifier, and the swaddle (see other posts).

The fan will be your biggest fan. That's Daddy Magic!




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Daddy Magic: Pat Your Baby to Sleep

I've mentioned this before, but I use this almost exclusively in the current stage of my baby's growth. So I want to go in depth on this topic:

Pat your baby to sleep!

This is an excellent alternative to swaying and tightly holding your baby.

With one hand, hold your baby's pacifier and pump it gently. Get him to suck on it. I would also use a "Shh" sound or run a noisy fan. This also works much better if your child is in a tight swaddle (see other posts on swaddling your baby).

With one hand you are stabilizing and pumping the pacifier (you can stop pumping as your baby takes over and sucks on it).

With your other hand pat your baby on his stomach/chest. It is best in the middle of his stomach/chest (about the rib cage) but this depends on the size of your hand and baby.

Pat the baby sternly. Don't pat him gently, but if he's making noise or your pat is making noise, then you're probably doing it too hard. =^)

Pat the baby very quickly, depending on how quickly your baby is breathing. At least match the speed of your baby's breath, but you should probably pat faster than that.

Do this for 30 seconds. Count them in your head. Then slow down your pace a little. Your baby's breathing should slow down and match your pace. If his breath doesn't slow down to match it. Go back to the original speed and try again. Honestly, you should persevere through this and keep trying until it works. The reason is because you're training your baby to respond to this type of soothing. He will learn, and it will get easier. Persevere!

So, you slowed down your pace. He will slow down his breathing to match it. Count another 30 seconds. Then slow down your pace again. Count another 30 seconds. Your pace should be much slower. He must match this pace. If he doesn't go back to your second pace. Try again until he slows down with you.

After he successfully slows down to the third pace, stop. You may want to have a fourth pace, but I only use three (if you use too many stages this will take too long, which is against the point of this technique). If he is still breathing quickly and heavily, continue patting him, find his pace, and start there. Try again until he is breathing calmly.

Once he is breathing calmly and sucking on the pacifier, leave. He'll fall asleep. You are only calming him down so that he can put himself to sleep. You are not putting him to sleep. You are teaching him how to do that himself.

Here's why you should do this technique:

(1) It's faster. Like 5 times faster than rocking or bouncing him to sleep.

(2) It's quieter. If you begin pumping his pacifier and patting him speedily, he will be quiet as you vigorously pat him and pump his pacifier. You are in control.

(3) You are teaching him to put himself to sleep. You are teaching him to let you sleep through the night. You are enabling him to do the work for you! He will learn to fall asleep without you, as long as he is calm. If you rock him to sleep, you are teaching him to cry until you come rock him to sleep.

This also works with toddlers, but if you teach your baby this discipline, you won't need to teach him when he is a toddler.

The point is to gradually ween your baby off of the patting and thus, stop (do it less and less). You teach your baby how to sleep through... Baby Steps!!!

This method needs to be used sparingly and in conjunction with the "tough love" method of letting your child cry through the night (see specifics on that in another article).


Pure Daddy Magic!




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Daddy Magic: Use Time-Outs for Tantrums

Some parents are willing to do a little discipline with time-outs. I've heard of parents who limit their time-outs to a few minutes.

Limit your time-out to when your child calms down. If that happens in one minute, then great! What do you do when your child has been screaming for two hours? Simple, he falls asleep. You don't do anything.

Also, please note, this doesn't really happen. It may possibly happen once. I've never seen it. Your child stops, and he learns for next time. But if you go in, then you're teaching him that all he has to do is scream for five minutes, and you'll go in. If you aren't teaching him that, then he won't learn it.

The best problem to use time outs for is for fits. It teaches your child that if he throws a fit, he goes to his room until he calms down. I don't recommend it for anything else, because he won't be able to associate it. For example, if he throws his food on the ground and you discipline him by sending him in his room for a time-out, then he won't know why he got sent to his room. However, if you slap his hand and then comfort him, he will learn the lesson VERY quickly.

I've heard of people sending a child to a corner or to sit on a chair for a time-out. Depending on the child, this can be a reward. Instead, remove the child from human contact.

Time-outs can be pure magic. Daddy Magic.




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Daddy Magic: Hold your child after a spanking

Many people want to avoid discipline like spanking and hand-slapping.

If you do spank your child, then I'd recommend loving him and hugging him afterwards. It tells him that you care about him.

If you spank him without loving him afterward, then the spanking may confuse him.

You need to make it very simple so that he knows what he did wrong.


If you are avoiding spanking or hand-slaps, you're going to have to deal with a LOT of tantrums.
The easiest way to avoid this is to establish discipline as soon as the child is willfully doing wrong (tantrums count; see time-outs). It's a lot of work, but the riches are evident as they get older.

In fact, the riches are magic. Daddy Magic.




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Daddy Magic: Let people hold your baby!!!

What??? Are you crazy??? Let people hold your baby!!!

You think you're being protective, but do you know what you're doing to your child??? Everything you do is teaching your child something. By going around and always holding your child, not ever leaving your baby, and not letting other people hold your baby, you are teaching your baby one thing:

He is not safe in anyone else's arms and in anyone else's care.



That's right! You're teaching that to your baby!!!!

Do you know what that means? That means that you cannot have someone else watch your child. Your child will throw fits because the baby sitter isn't you. What if you have to go to the bathroom? You can't hand the baby to a friend. The baby trusts no one except for you! What about the other spouse? Is your spouse going to watch your baby sometime? It's not possible if the baby isn't used to it!


This is what happens when you are the only one who holds your baby:

1. The baby throws more tantrums because you can't always hold him.
2. The baby becomes a toddler who still throws tantrums.
3. The baby doesn't feel comfortable with your spouse.
4. The baby won't sleep as well unless you are holding him. He won't put himself to sleep.
5. You will have to wake up constantly or sleep with your baby in your bed. Either one will be bad for your marriage relationship and sex life.
6. You can't get away from your baby. You can't go out with your friends, go on a date with your spouse, or do anything, really.
7. Your baby won't trust people. He will throw tantrums in public places. Not good.
8. People think you are being a little uptight. Well, guess what? They are right. You are.


What to do:

1. This is hard to do (to trust others with something so precious), so do it from day 2 or 3. When visitors come to the hospital, let some of them (especially the ladies) Purell their hands and hold your newborn.
2. When you get to church, let a few people Purell their hands and hold your newborn.
3. When visitors or family comes over, let them Purell their hands and hold your newborn.
4. Let female trusted family members or female trusted friends watch your infant while you go out.


What this does:

1. Your baby will trust people. You are helping shape her personality.
2. Your baby will be interested in people. You are helping shape her personality.
3. Your baby will be comfortable around people.
4. Your baby will smile at people.
5. Your baby will be friendly to people.
6. Your baby will learn how to share much easier.
7. Your baby will not be as violent to other children.
8. Your baby will learn social skills much sooner.


These are all good things! These are Daddy Magic!




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Daddy Magic: Should you teach your child to trust people?

Should you teach your child to trust people?

YES!!!

Why would you want to, since people can do really bad things?

Well, not all people do. If you teach your child how to trust people, then your child will learn about trust, love, and contentment much sooner than the other children. It's worth it! Do it! The sooner your child will trust and love people the more it will shape his life.

The primary concern here is that this could lead to a stranger (or family or friend) doing an evil thing to your child. That could happen. However, you can mitigate that risk!

- Always watch your child.
- Only leave your child with a trusted friend.
- Only leave your child with a woman. About 95% of sexual abuse is by men.
- We leave our children in our church nursery, but we know them, and the men cannot watch children alone, they can't change diapers, and they can't take a child to the bathroom. Our church has already thought about all that.


Here's the thing, teach your child how to love everyone when you really can't communicate very well with your child. Once you can communicate with your child, teach him to be cautious and give him rules without giving him reasons until he's ready. This way you can teach your child to be loving and cautious. That's Daddy Magic!




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Daddy Magic: Smile for your baby!!!

Smile for your baby!

Who is the happiest baby in the room? Well, she's the one who is smiling and always in a good mood. How does that happen?

Well, have been smiling with your baby?

How do children learn anything? You do it with them and slowly teach them. It's the same thing with smiling.

It's simple, just smile with your baby. Smile all day with your baby. Smile for hours. Smile until your face falls off. Okay, those are exaggerations. Don't smile that much.

But you should smile so much that it hurts. You should smile every chance you get for extended periods of time. You should sacrifice your time and comfort to teach your baby one important thing:

How to smile

If you can teach your baby that, then you'll notice that your baby smiles more. A baby who smiles more, doesn't throw tantrums as often. A baby who smiles more is pleasant to be around. A baby who smiles more is the happiest baby in the room. She loves people. She trusts people.

Should your baby trust people? YES. More on that in another blog. This one is ONLY about smiling.

Play with your baby. Do a very slow version of peekaboo. Tickle him under his chin. Make soft sounds and sing. Whatever you do, always smile! Grin ear to ear whenever your face is in front of his face. He will learn how to smile.

Another thing will happen too. He will know that you love him. It is very important to teach your child how much you love him, and this is a wonderful way to do it.

Loving your baby is purely Daddy Magic.




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Daddy Magic: Pump the bottle

When feeding your baby, pump the bottle.

Bring it in and take it away. Repeat this until the baby sucks to resist it when you pull it out of his mouth. The earlier you teach him this, the better. You're teaching him how to eat healthy.

Be sure to stop when he stops drinking. Then burp him and return. If you feed him agressively, he will eat agressively and be healthy.

So far, this has worked like a charm for our two children. They both are very healthy eaters. This discipline you teach them carries over to their toddler food as well.

That's some sweet Daddy Magic.



Disclaimer

Daddy Magic: Chase your child

Nothing is more fun to a baby and toddler than a good chase. As soon as your child can crawl, you should be playing this with her.

Make sounds and slowly crawl toward her. You can growl, bark, hum the Jaws song, or make loud thumping sounds. When you catch her, give her a good tickling and an opportunity to get away.

Keep playing this with your child until you're tired of it. I have some relatives that the dad and mom both chase around their son. I know one guy that uses really deep and scary growls, and his son squeals with delight.

Have fun with it! This is Daddy Magic.




Disclaimer

Daddy Magic: Sign Language works!

Sign langauge works!

You might as well use real sign language, so that your child learns a valuable skill.

When teaching your toddler sign language, use the word and the sign at the same time. Some people think that the child will learn the sign instead of the word, but it helps the child learn the word and the sign better. Then the child can better remember how you communicate each specific topic.

Our toddler says the word and does the sign at the same time.

Some great signs to teach:

- More
- All Done
- Banana
- Cracker
- Cereal
- Milk
- Eat
- Drink
- Thank you
- Up

Now that my daughter can communicate a little, she walks around signing cracker.

I think a reason why they call it the "terrible twos" is that your child is frustrated because he can't communicate with you. Make the terrible two's easier on him and you by teaching him how to communicate.

You may tell him no if he asks for a cracker, but at least he's not frustrated that he can't communicate with you. Plus this makes eating a lot easier when he can communicate.



Now that's Daddy Magic!


But don't teach him stop! See this post for that:
http://daddymagic.blogspot.com/2007/02/daddy-magic-instead-of-stop-use-dont.html




Disclaimer

Daddy Magic: Instead of Stop, use Don't Touch

We don't use "Stop!" Many parents use Stop and use the sign language for "Stop." However, every time I've seen that, the child is learning how to tell parents how to stop. It's good to know what the child is thinking, but the child may not be thinking that if he didn't know he could communicate it to you.

Instead of "Stop," we use "Don't Touch." We sternly say, "Don't Touch" and wave our hand near the area she isn't allowed to touch. When she touches it, we slap her hand or foot that touched it. Eventually, we started saying "Don't Touch" less stearnly so she wouldn't think we were mad at her. However, the hand motion and words still worked.

Don't use Stop. You are teaching your child how to talk back before you can properly reason with him.

Instead, use "Don't Touch," say it firmly, slowly wave your hand next to the object, and enforce it by slapping his hand or foot. He will learn.

That's Daddy Magic.



Disclaimer

Daddy Magic: How to get your toddler to not stuff his face with food

Our toddler doesn't stuff her face with food. All her friends do.

Why is that? I actually stumbled on this one by accident.

I started handing her things (coasters mostly) to teach her how to share. I saw that a friend of mine was doing it, and his daughter knew how to share. So I started doing it when my daughter was younger.

This is what I did:

1. Hold out item #1 for her, "Would you like this?"
2. She takes it. "You're welcome."
3. Hold out item #2 for her, "Would you like this?"
4. She takes it. "You're welcome."
5. Repeat for about 10 items.
6. She now has the items in a pile next to her.
7. I hold out my hand, "May I have one, please?"
8. She didn't give it to me at first. I take one. "Thank you!" I sing-song the phrase and sign it.
9. I hold out my hand, "May I have one, please?"
10. Eventually she gets it and hands one to me. "Thank you!" I sing-song the phrase and use sign language to say "Thank you!" at the same time.
11. Once I have all 10 items, I hand them back to her, one at a time.
12. I did the back and forth process about three times every day. My wife got sick of constantly hearing, "May I have that please?" "Thank you!" "Would you like this?" "You're welcome!"

Eventually, a lot of cool things started happening:

1. My daughter learned how to share, beyond what was normal. When another toddler dropped his hat, she immediately picked it up and handed it to him. She constantly looks for her baby sister's pacifier, burp rag, and bottle, and hands those things to us or to her sister, because she knows those belong to her sister.
2. She learned how to be entertained with us doing a simple game of handing things. Even when she is with herself, she will be entertained by picking things up and making a pile.
3. She learned how to sign Thank You before all her older friends.
4. She learned how to say Thank You before all her older friends. The sing-song tone was catchy.
5. She began eating like this, only taking one thing at a time. All her friends stuff their faces. She eats sequentially. This allows us to give her smaller portions at a time so that we don't waste food.

All of those are very cool effects, but I still get people who are blown away by #5. I trained her on a habit that carried over into her eating habits.

Is it magic? It's Daddy Magic.

Disclaimer

Daddy Magic: The Pacifier is only for night time

The pacifier is only for night time!

Well, first you train your infant to love the pacifier. Then you slowly take it away from her. Only give it to her during naps and at night time. Only use it otherwise after you tried everything else.

Train your toddler to hand you the pacifier when she wakes up. Hand it to her when she goes to bed. You are teaching her that the pacifier is only for bed.


Why is this important?

1. You can get her to smile more.
2. She isn't walking around all the time with the pacifier.
3. You won't have to worry about her dropping it or losing it.
4. She will talk sooner because she is able to practice.
5. It will be easier to ween her off of it.
6. It teaches her discipline.
7. It teaches her obedience.

Pure Daddy Magic.

Disclaimer

Daddy Magic: The Toddler Tools

You need tools. Tools are good.

Take one of those snack containers with different departments. Not only are they good for portioning dried formula (for infants and babies), but you can bring a variety of easy-to-get-to snacks.

Bring the portable booster seat. That's an amazing tool!

Take an umbrella stroller. They are lighter weight and easy to haul.

Bring a Pack-and-Play. Teach your child to sleep in one so that your child can sleep anywhere!

Use a pacifier to help your child sleep at night.

Children love digital toys, like the cell phone or Mypod toys for toddlers. They have buttons, make noises, and they have visual stuff.




Disclaimer

Daddy Magic: Teach your baby how to fall asleep

I think a key that many people miss is that you need to teach your baby how to fall asleep.

Your baby doesn't learn anything on his own. You need to teach him how to fall asleep.

The first step to doing this is to lay him down to sleep in a swaddle, with a pacifier, when he is close to sleep, but not asleep. Lay him down when his eyes are half full. He may be more likely to cry sooner for the first few days. Endure this.

After he cries for five to fifteen minutes, try again. Make sure he has his swaddle and pacifier. Then rock him near sleep. And lay him down before he falls asleep. You'll only have to do this a few times.

Gradually lay him down sooner each time. Eventually you'll be able to lay him down, and he will be awake and content. He'll fall asleep on his own.

I know parents with toddlers who still can't fall asleep on their own. What--the???

Don't let this be you!!!! Embrace the Daddy Magic.




Disclaimer

Daddy Magic: Run with your baby

How do you get a baby to calm down instantly? Simple! Run with your baby!

That's right! This is even more effective if you are using the swaddle, side, and suck technique. Shh helps some too, but not as much.

Run with your baby!

It's simple. Your baby is going to fall asleep when you're on the freeway. But the moment you stop at a traffic jam or stop for gas, what do you get? Crying!

Apply that lesson to your home!

If you are using too much up and down motion, then you'll notice that your baby is getting tense. His whole body will tense up, he'll bring his knees up, and his face will get tense. So, stop immediately when that happens!

However, you can hold your baby tightly and take off running down the hall. Instantly quiet baby! Do a few runs down the hall.

It will also give you some exercise. Use this method to calm down your baby, infant, or toddler. Your baby or infant will get closer to sleeping after a few runs.

This is pure magic. Daddy magic.




Disclaimer

Daddy Magic: Distract your baby while changing her diaper

If your baby is screaming while you change her diaper, then everyone hears it. It may wake up her siblings, your spouse, it may make you look bad to the guests/neighbors, and it certainly won't be a pleasant experience for your baby.

You need to distract her so that she doesn't dread having her diaper changed. There are several ways to do that:

- Hand her the diaper while you unbutton her clothes and open her diaper. Especially as a toddler, she will love trying to unwrap the edges of the diaper.

- Hand her anything, really. This could even be a shoe or sock. I liked to use a loose Velcro strap because it was attached to her changing table and wasn't going anywhere.

- Tickler her. When you lift up her shirt, poke her belly button and tickle her there, gently run your nails up her sides, gently rub her on the sides of her neck or at the top of her chest. Tickle her feet or her arm pits, or even barrage her with tickles. Always smile and laugh with her. Teach her how to be happy. When it isn't funny to her, stop and move on.

- Use hand motions in anticipation before you tickle. For example, raise your hands high up, make a falling sound, and then collapse your hands in a barrage of tickles on her. Or do the buzzing bee with your finger that attacks her belly button. The hand motion will also teach her how to communicate. My daughter has used the raise hands and a friend's daughter has used the moving finger in order to tell me that they want a barrage of tickles in that particular way. Very cute.

- Blow on her feet. My toddler blows in order to tell me that she wants me to blow on her feet. It's cute.

- Peek-a-boo. Always a classic, even with toddlers.

- Sing and dance. You may laugh at this, but your baby will stop crying and smile. Combine your dance steps with some peek-a-boo, moving your head around in quick movements, and maybe some tickles.

- Use a funny voice.

- Do things with your mouth: a pop, click your tongue, flutter your lips, make kazoo sounds, do the old Indian trick where you repeatedly clap your mouth, cup your hand over your mouth, whistle, smack your lips, etc.

- Snap your fingers or clap.

- Play Music. Sing along.



Disclaimer

Daddy Magic: Get your baby used to the Swaddle

I was with my wife this week and she asked a friend if she swaddled her baby. The response was that her baby doesn't like being swaddled.

News flash: YOUR BABY WILL NOT LIKE BEING SWADDLED!!!

You have to understand. Your baby will not like most all things written here in Daddy Magic. You've got to get your baby used to these things, which means causing discomfort to your baby.

Then why do it?


Keep your eyes on the prize:

(1) Happier baby (a baby who is content)

(2) Baby who sleeps through the night

(3) Healthier baby (a baby who sleeps longer is healthier)

(4) Healthier and happier mom (a mom who sleeps through the night)

(5) Better marriage (otherwise you'll be sleeping with the baby, no sex, no talking to your spouse in bed)




Disclaimer

Daddy Magic: How to burp your baby

Burping your baby can truly be an artform.

The burp is important for three primary reasons:

(1) The baby will avoid spitup

(2) The baby will avoid prolonged discomfort

(3) Your baby will be happier and healthier


Let's look at #3. Why would a successful burping methodlogy make a happier and healthier baby? The answer is actually a process of how the burping affects the countenance and health of your child:

(1) A baby who is burped quickly and easily will eat faster.

(2) Since the baby eats faster, the parent is much more likely to feed the baby more at each sitting.

(3) This allows you to feed the baby less often, on a schedule that looks like this: 4AM, 8AM, 12PM, 4PM, 8PM, 12AM, where you eventually drop off the 12AM feeding, followed by the 4AM feeding (so your baby sleeps for 12 hours at night).

(4) The more sleep your baby gets in one chunk, the happier your baby is, and the happier you are when you are around your baby. The baby sees that you are more happy, and she is more likely to be happy as well: you are teaching her how to be happy by example.


Now that you know that the burp is important, how do you burp a baby?


There are 5 core ingredients to successfully burping a baby:

(1) Position
(a) Vertical
(b) Vertical then to horizontal (on his back), then to vertical
(c) On his stomach, with his arms and knees placed under his body (this decreases SIDS)

(2) Patting - Firm and methodical patting on his back

(3) Movement - Up and down vertical movement that is methodical and fast, but subtle

(4) Time - It is often a waiting game. Sometimes the vertical positioning alone is all you need to do, and then you wait for three minutes. Patience is a virtue!

(5) Timing - Timing is important. You should be pumping the bottle in your baby's mouth. As soon as he isn't sucking on the bottle (when he has drank a lot), it means he is ready to burp. Immediately get him in position. Once done burping, if he hasn't finished his bottle, feed him some more until he is completely done. He should go through two "rounds" of burping. Each "round" of successful burping means two good burps, often right after each other.



Burping an infant:

Burping an infant is the classic form of burping.

(1) Place a burp rag on your shoulder.

(2) Put your baby over your shoulder so that her mouth is right over the rag.

(3) Firmly pat your baby on her back. You should do this a little harder than most people do at a regular tempo, but not too fast.

(4) After doing this for awhile, firmly rub your infant's back.

(5) If your baby is crying or is not burping after trying this method, try laying her down and then picking her back up for more. This adjustment in horizontal/vertical positioning will help her as she learns to use her digestive system.


On her stomach:

A good alternative for an infant or baby is to lay her on her stomach. Please do the following...

(1) Place your baby on a soft surface (maybe on a blanket that is on the carpeted floor; if you don't have dogs or crazy toddlers)

(2) Lay a burp cloth directly under her head.

(2) Place her arms under her chest. This will lessen the physical body pressure that she is putting on her diaphragm. This is important whenever placing your baby on her chest because of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). The #1 cause of SIDS is when babies sleep on their stomachs--they suffocate.

(3) Bend her knees so that her legs are also holding some of the pressure of her body's weight.

(4) Let her lay in this position for awhile and periodically move her gently back and forth, up and down, and move her legs around a bit. This may help relieve some of her gas pressure.

(5) If she is crying or if this method isn't working revert back to the infant method above or do the baby method below.


Burping a baby:

If you've gotten your infant used to burping, then you can get your baby to become an expert at burping. =^)

(1) Place your baby in a sitting position on one of your legs. Have him sit facing one of the sides, like sitting side-saddle on a horse.

(2) Place a burp cloth directly in front of him. Use that hand to hold his front and to hold the burp cloth in front of his mouth.

(3) With your other hand, steady his back.

(4) Move your leg up and down by rolling your foot upward and downward from your heel to your toes. Do this at a very fast but very subtle rate of movement. The slow and extreme movement would create more of a ship or airplane type of feeling, which is more likely to make your baby spit up.

(5) If your baby is crying (our first baby cried a lot during the burping process), sing/hum while you move your leg. Use a fast-paced western song. You will be surprised how babies are ready to listen to music and forget their discomfort.

(6) After doing this for awhile, stop your leg to see if just the vertical position will help her burp.

(7) After waiting, bend down and hug her with your burp rag arm, your neck, and your body. Use your hand at her back to firmly and methodically pat her (not too fast), just like you would if she was over your shoulder.

(8) Then go back to the "horsey ride."

(9) If she is still crying or isn't burping, try the infant or stomach methods above.


Persevere! You have to teach your baby how to burp, and once you do, it will get a lot easier. I'm adding this to the sleeping categories because a burping baby is an eating baby who is a sleeping baby.




Disclaimer

Daddy Magic: Sway - How to Gently Bounce your Baby to Sleep

The Second S of the 5 S's (Swaddle, Sway, Shh, Side, Suck) is Sway.

(The 5 S's are from The Happiest Baby on the Block. But these specifics are pure Daddy Magic...)

The act of "Sway" is gently bouncing your child to calm him down and lull him to sleep (or to just calm him down).

You can do this if he is in a baby carrier by rocking the carrier with your foot, by lifting the carrier up and lowering it back down (up and down), or by gently swinging the carrier back and forth.

You can do this in a shopping cart or stroller by pushing the cart, stroller, or baby carriage away from you and then pulling it back toward you (back and forth). This will help when walking or shopping.

And, when you are lulling your baby to sleep, you'll want to walk around (or stand) and bounce the baby on several levels of your body.

(1) You'll be bouncing off your heels. You'll roll upward to your toes. This creates a bouncing motion.

(2) Bend your legs to get more of a soft bounce as you move your body up and down.

(3) Lift your arms up and down as well. Let them act as a shock absorber to your body bouncing.


The end result is that your body movements will feel like a bungie cord (without the bungie drop). Your movements are fluid and relaxing. This will remind your infant of being in the womb where he was in fluid and body tissues that softened your harsh movements.

After doing this for awhile, if your baby is still not asleep, he will probably be calm enough where you can sit down. You can sit down in a rocker and use the rocker movements and your arm movements to lull your baby to sleep. Or you can sit on a bed or couch, lightly bounce your body on your seat, and bounce your arms. Eventually he will fall asleep.

Not only is this a great exercise for getting your baby to nap and go to sleep at night, but this is also good for calming your baby down from tantrums where you are only trying to get him to stop screaming. This can also be used to calm toddlers who are having tantrums.

If your toddler is having a tantrum, pick her up and console her! Don't let her cry in public! You are telling her that behavior is okay, and you're being rude to those around you! I had to do this the other day with an eating baby in my other arm (so the bottle was wedged under my neck). And I still picked up my toddler, bounced her, and calmed her down. So do it!!! Thanks. =^)



Disclaimer

Daddy Magic: The Importance of Playing

When my wife and I were taking the pregnancy and birthing class, they showed a video. In the video the dad was playing with his daughter. He was playing the little piggies where he would wiggle her toes. Well, after three rounds of that, he tried to move her on to a different game.

She didn't want to move on. She wanted to keep playing the same game. She wasn't sick of it. He was sick of it. He moved on. He didn't play it with her.

I think as parents we may justify not playing with our children with something like "I don't want to spoil my child," "We can't always play," "She needs to learn that you don't always get what you want," etc.


However, I think we miss the importance of playing:

(1) You are teaching your child how to smile. Notice how she smiles a lot more when you're playing with her? She'll keep that for the rest of her life.

(2) You are telling your child that you love him. A simple lesson, but this is important. He has been shown that somebody loves him and spends time with him. He will learn to do the same to others.



So the next time your child wants to play a game that you are bored with, you should ask yourself, who are you doing this for? For yourself, or for your child? You may even have to play Peek-a-boo for years. =^)



Disclaimer

Daddy Magic: Pray for your Baby before she is born

That's right. Pray for your baby before she is born.

If you don't have a relationship with Jesus Christ, you may also want to work on that. In addition, you'll need to make sure your prayers are from the perspective of what would benefit God, and not what would benefit you (but they often match up).

For example, you would pray, "Dear Lord, I pray for the health and safety of our baby so that he would grow up to serve you and honor you." It is the "so that" part that honors God. You'll also want to make sure your prayers are genuine and truly from your heart. You can't pull a fast one on God. =^)


Recommended Prayer Requests:

- Health and Safety of your unborn child (every single day)

- Health and Safety of the mother (every single day)

- That your child is Peaceful and Loves People (every single day)

- That your child Sleeps through the Night and gets lots of rest

- That your child Serves God

- That God places influences in her life to draw her near to him

- That you are filled with Peace when Raising your Child




Disclaimer

Daddy Magic: Keep your Baby Asleep for that 12 Hours

Try to keep your baby sleeping during the time you want her to be asleep. So, if you want your baby to sleep from 7:30 PM to 8:30 AM (currently what our toddler sleeps), then you'll want to feed your baby when you have to and push your night time feedings out. Then, when you still feed your baby, you simply feed her and put her back to bed. She doesn't get up until the 12 hour block is over.

For example, our infant wakes up at 5 AM for a feeding. I feed her and put her back to sleep. She doesn't get to be awake until 8 AM or so. That way she's used to being asleep for that 12 hour chunk. You keep moving her night time feedings apart until she's used to sleeping in that time period without eating.

Why do this? For yourself, your husband, your other children, and, most importantly, for your baby.

The happiest baby in the room is the healthiest baby in the room. The healthiest baby in the room is the one who gets the most sleep. Don't worry about over-sleeping. Consider that when they get closer to middle school. =^)

For now, just make sure they are as healthy and happy as possible -- that means lots of sleep.


Disclaimer

Daddy Magic: Keep your Baby Awake if You want to Sleep!

If you want your baby to sleep for 8-12 hours at night, you'll need to keep your baby awake during the day!!!

After that 12 hours (like from 8 PM to 8 AM), wake up your baby! Keep your baby awake. You'll want to do a short nap (10 AM to 11 AM) and a longer nap (1 PM, after lunch, for at least one hour, up at 4 PM for another feeding).

So keep your baby awake when she is not scheduled to be napping! Otherwise, the schedule isn't going to work.


How to keep your baby awake:

(1) Take him out of the swaddle.

(2) Hold him upright or Lay him on a blanket on the ground (it's harder than a bed or your arms)

(3) Talk to him

(4) Play with him - touch him, move him around, dance with him, etc.



Disclaimer

Daddy Magic: How to Swaddle Your Baby

Swaddle - This is the most important one of the 5 S's.

You lay two blankets on the ground, on top of each other. Usually the larger blanket is under the smaller one. Both have to be bigger than the baby, but not too big.

Place your baby on the top blanket, so her head is at one of the points. Wrap one side of the top blanket over her, with that arm against her side. You wrap the blanket around her and under her on the other side.

Then you grab the bottom point of the blanket and pull that upward and on her other side. That will keep her feet in.

Next you pull the last side over her, trapping her other arm against her side. The flap goes over the other side, keeping that fold tighter. You wrap the flap under her. Basically, you just made a baby burrito. =^)

Do the same thing with the other blanket, still under her. Her arms will already be trapped under the first blanket. She will now be warm and secure.

Basically, you are recreating the environment of her mom's tummy (minus the sticky goo). She'll be reminded of that, comfortable, warm, and much more likely to fall asleep.

This will also help calm down your baby if he or she is throwing a tantrum.

Disclaimer

The 5 S's - How to get a baby to sleep and be happy

I don't know if you've seen the Happiest Baby on the Block material (we watched the DVD), but it includes the 5 S's:

1. Swaddle
2. Sway (Bounce)
3. Shh
4. Side
5. Suck

Using these five techniques, you'll be able to get your baby to be happy and to fall asleep. What are the techniques? I'll write about each technique individually.

Disclaimer

Daddy Magic: How to get your baby to sleep for 8 hours

The worse time for me to wake up and feed a baby is at midnight. I had to do that last night. It is the wose time for me because my wife and I go to sleep at 10 PM. That means I only got two hours of sleep. I'm really out of it after only two hours, and my wife has to kick me a few times to wake me up, just so I can hear the screaming baby. Oh, well. I signed up for the morning duty, and, this time it was 12 AM.

Usually our baby wakes up at 5 AM and I feed her while I work in my office. I get up at 4:30 AM, so this works very well for me.

Here's the point: Get your baby on a four-hour schedule and then cut out the midnight feeding! Here is what it looks like...


12 Midnight

4 AM

8 AM

12 Noon

4 PM

8 PM




Then you feed your baby more and more at those crucial times of 8 Pm and 4 AM. Get your baby used to eating more then and less at 12 Midnight. Wean your baby down until she drinks little to nothing at the midnight feeding. Then she'll sleep through that 8 hour block.

Another way to get your baby to sleep through that feeding, is, once you are on this schedule, simply don't wake up your baby to feed him at midnight. Feed him when he wakes up, and then feed him more. Then work to get your baby back on schedule that morning. Keep feeding him more at the 8 PM and 4 AM feedings. Eventually, you'll work him into an 8 hour block. This works! I have an infant who sleeps 9 hours and a toddler who sleeps 12 hours.

We had a lady in our church who got her infant on this schedule one week after birth!!!

It is possible! If you admit defeat now, then you'll never accomplish it.


Here's why you should accomplish it:

- Get more sleep for yourself
- Get more sleep to take better care of your children
- Have a healthier marriage with your spouse
- Allow your other children to get more sleep
- Help your infant be as healthy as possible: this requires long blocks of sleep!


Any questions?

Disclaimer

Daddy Magic Works!

The intro on the upper-right says, "Daddy Magic develops childcare techniques and shares them with the world. For competitive daddies: Daddy Magic is the process of raising the happiest baby and most respectful child in the room. For concerned mommies: Daddy Magic is the process of raising a happy and loving baby and child. Enjoy the magic! "

Does Daddy Magic work? Yes it does!!!

I've got two of the happiest and most loving and respectful children "in the room." What that means is that if your child is in the nursery, do the workers compliment your child's behavior? My wife and I get compliments every single time. When you walk past people in the grocery store, do they compliment how happy and peaceful your child is? My wife and I get compliments every single day.

They are comparing your children to all the other screaming, tantrum-throwing, loud-mouthed children that are around your children. Your children stand out. There's something different about them.

Daddy Magic works perfectly as an overall plan. But, as you'll notice, it isn't instant. It takes a lot of work and a lot of time. You have to really care about raising your child to be happy, respectful, and loving! Every day, all day, even when your child is crying at 2 AM. If you're ready for that type of commitment, then you came to the right place!


Disclaimer

Categories

These are the categories of Daddy Magic.

Intro is all the introductionary stuff. For example, this is an intro post.

Pregnancy is conception until birth.

Infants are brand-new babies.

Babies are when your baby can move around and do some of the following: smile, roll, rotate, sit up, crawl.

Toddlers are when your children can walk.

Kids are when your children go to kindergarten and on.

JH is grades 6-8.

HS is grades 9-12.

College is college (your kids are adults).

The categories:

• 1. Intro
• 2. Pregnancy - Difficulties
• 2. Pregnancy - Heart
• 3. Infants - Changing
• 3. Infants - Discipline
• 3. Infants - Eating
• 3. Infants - Heart
• 3. Infants - Playing
• 3. Infants - Resources
• 3. Infants - Sleeping
• 3. Infants - Tantrums
• 4. Babies - Changing
• 4. Babies - Discipline
• 4. Babies - Eating
• 4. Babies - Heart
• 4. Babies - Playing
• 4. Babies - Resources
• 4. Babies - Sleeping
• 4. Babies - Tantrums
• 5. Toddlers - Changing
• 5. Toddlers - Discipline
• 5. Toddlers - Eating
• 5. Toddlers - Heart
• 5. Toddlers - Playing
• 5. Toddlers - Resources
• 5. Toddlers - Sleeping
• 5. Toddlers - Talking
• 5. Toddlers - Tantrums
• 6. Kids - Eating
• 6. Kids - Changing
• 6. Kids - Discipline
• 6. Kids - Heart
• 6. Kids - Playing
• 6. Kids - Resources
• 6. Kids - Sleeping
• 6. Kids - Tantrums

The categories continue on for each age group. As you get older the categories change. I'll edit this post as I make those category changes.

Disclaimer

Disclaimer

Daddy Magic exists for your enjoyment. However, by reading this blog, you are acknowledging:

(1) These are merely suggestions; you don't have to follow them.

(2) You take full responsibility for your actions when you choose to follow these suggestions, whether you follow each suggestion in full or in part.