Most people learn how to become a parent only after they have children of their own. If that on-the-job training has some holes in it, have a look at this article and take some of its advice. Intuition and information should go hand and hand when parenting.

Avoid disrupting your small child’s eating and sleeping routines when you are traveling. Small children and babies can get stressed out on the road. However, if you follow their normal bedtime ritual no matter where you are, they are likely to have no problems sleeping.

TIP! Of course, you should spend time with your kids, but you also need time for you. This allows you the keep your own identity, as well as that of being a parent.

As a parent, you know how important it is to spend time with your child, but it is equally important to have some time to yourself. This allows you to retain your individuality along with your identity as a parent.

Parents must be careful not to apply too much pressure when children reach their teenage years and get ready to pick a college. Teenagers don’t like to feel like they are controlled by you, and may often do completely the opposite.

Toddlers and infants should never be given soda, regular OR diet. Stay with drinks that have a lot of nutrients, such as sugar-free juice, water, or milk.

TIP! It is common for preschoolers to resist transitioning. Switching abruptly from one task to another can often be very stressful and result in melt-downs.

As a parent, it is important to remember to take care of yourself also. Regardless of your schedule or agenda, take a break and relax for a few minutes when you can. Sometimes taking a break is the best solution to keep things pleasant for you and your child.

To keep your child from becoming bored with his or her toys, put some away periodically or shift some to the bottom of his or her toy box. Children can become uninterested in a toy quickly, unless it’s a favorite. Your toddler will regain interest in their toys if they are different every day and this will make it so you don’t have to buy as many.

If you are soon to become a stepmother or stepfather, you must understand that it may take time for your stepchild to accept your new role. It is natural if they feel resentment toward you over the fact that their mom and dad are no longer together. By taking it slow and not rushing a relationship, your stepchild and you will slowly learn to get along with each other.

TIP! When it comes to choosing a college, parents must never place undue pressure on their teens. When teenagers feel pressured and controlled, they will often times rebel and do the opposite of what they are supposed to.

As the tips in the above article has shown, there is a lot more to child-rearing than simply just trying to go with the flow. You can consciously choose to use the advice laid out here to be a better parent; when dealing with some of the raising a child issues you face, use the information described here.