When to Start Your Baby on Baby Food?

The World Health Organization still recommends, that you breast feed your baby for up to two years. For many women this is not always possible, so discuss your options with your pediatrician. Usually, solids can be introduced between the ages of 4 to 6 months, when most babies are developed enough for their first taste of solids. Signs that your baby is ready for baby foods; is when your baby loses the extrusion reflex that is needed for sucking a breast; your baby can sit with some help, and hold their head and neck up well; the birth weight has doubled, and after the bottle or breast-feeding your baby cries for more.

4 to 6 months is when your baby's digestive system can handle solid food, and, possible allergies. Your baby may reject the texture of baby foods, if you wait until your baby is too much older than 6 months. Also, at 6 months, your baby's natural stores of iron begins to deplete, and iron-fortified cereal grains will help replace this loss. The iron in breast milk is more readily absorbed, even though, there is more iron in formula than breast milk.

Usually, the first baby food given is a cereal grain. The most commonly used cereal grains world-wide are wheat, barley, oats, rye, durum, spelt, triticale (a hybrid of wheat and rye), rice, corn, sorghum, quinoa, millet, buckwheat, fonio, amaranth, teff, kaniwa, einkom, emmer and kamut. Grind or process the grain to a powdery consistency before adding milk, formula or water. If you can, buy an iron-fortified single-grain cereal like rice, oatmeal or barley.

Give the same cereal for 3 to 4 days to see if there are any allergies. Allergic reactions can cause hives, a rash, or more serious reactions such as swelling or breathing problems. The more serious symptoms need immediate attention from a hospital or physician. Repeat this procedure for other cereals that you might try. Mix 1 Tbsp. cereal grain with 4 to 5 Tbsp. liquid (breast milk, formula, or water), and heat until warm to touch.

If you have a microwave, mix ¼ cup cereal grain with ¼ to ½ cup unheated liquid; warm at medium(50% power) for 15 to 30 seconds, stir, and test the temperature (microwave ovens can cause hot spots) before feeding. Invest in the spoons designed for your baby's smaller mouth. Keep a record of what you have given to your baby and when. Depending on how many cereal grains you try, gradually, start adding fruits or vegetables, one at a time for 3 to 4 days each; green beans, peas, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, apples, bananas, peaches, pears, prunes or whatever is available in your area.

To learn the likes and dislikes of your baby, do some trial and error; mix and match of cereal grains, fruits and vegetables. Steam or cook then puree or mash and add a little liquid until you have a gruel like consistency. Fix enough baby food at 2 to 3 ounces per serving 2 to 3 times daily to last 3 to 4 days, which would add up to a total of 24 ounces, and refrigerate or freeze.

Many experts say it doesn't really matter whether liquid or solid comes first in a meal. At bedtime the comfort of milk at the end of a meal might be preferred. Some mothers give the milk first then give the baby food as a treat. Others, try to have a set schedule of giving milk or formula at certain times of the day in between the baby food feedings. Just be flexible, and develop a routine that works best for you and your baby.

Be ready for an experience to remember, and a little, or a big mess. The way your baby opens their little mouth wide open, and lifts up their little chin is worthy of unlimited photo's, video or posting sessions!

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Pacifier Use or Not? That Is the Question

There are many different opinions about the use of pacifiers out there. I find myself somewhere in the middle of two somewhat opposing sides. One side feels that pacifiers interfere with breastfeeding and cause nipple confusion in the newborn and are strongly against them. The other side uses pacifiers at the drop of a hat to soothe a fussy infant. Here is my middle of the road viewpoint on the subject.

Newborns have a very strong suck reflex. Infants suck first to eat (survival instinct in full force) and secondly to soothe and calm themselves. Many a breastfeeding mom has felt like a human pacifier and struggled with wanting to soothe their baby and the problems that arise (i.e. sore, cracked and sometimes bleeding nipples) with constant nursing. Even though It is natural for a newborn to want to nurse very frequently, sometimes even every hour, there should also should be periods where the infant is sleeping quietly and calmly for 2-3 hours at a time.

Infants can sometimes have difficulty soothing themselves. If the infant has been fed and is nursing well and just still seems fussy, a pacifier is a good choice to help them calm and get to sleep. Pacifiers should not be used as the first line of defense for a crying baby. Find out what is wrong first. If he is hungry, don't use a pacifier to keep him calm until you can feed him. If he is always offered breastfeeding first, he will usually not develop nipple confusion. Try swaddling him first before you introduce the pacifier. Many times the swaddling alone will calm him.

Studies have been done that show a correlation with pacifier use and lowering the incidence of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)**. Some think that it's a good idea to not introduce a pacifier until 2-3 weeks after birth so that breastfeeding is well established. I agree with this as long as you don't have an extremely fussy and irritable baby on your hands. Sucking is one of Dr. Harvy Karp's 5 "s" that helps tremendously in the calming of a colicky baby.

Here are my recommendations for pacifier usage in a nutshell:

1. Always offer feeding first if infant is hungry.

2. Do not use a pacifier to soothe prior to a feeding

3. Swaddle first, then use a pacifier if the infant has not calmed

4. Limit pacifier use to soothing before sleep. Don't keep putting it back in the infant's mouth during sleep. Don't use a pacifier while the infant is playing or otherwise occupied.

5. Wean the infant off of the pacifier before 12 months (earlier if you can).

I believe that if you follow these general guidelines, there are no detrimental effects of pacifier usage. These guidelines are of course, my opinion. I would love to hear how others feel about pacifier use. How do you feel?

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Understanding the Different Kinds of Diaper Bags

Every mother knows that a good diaper bag is one of the must-have items if you want to keep your sanity while taking care of a baby. Just imagine how life would be if you had to leave the house with your child and you don't have a diaper bag to carry all the items she will need.

Therefore, it goes without saying that buying an adequate bag should be included in your to-do list as you prepare for your baby's birth. For some women, buying a diaper bag may seem like a no-brainer. After all, how complicated could it be? Most are basically the same anyway so you can just pick randomly and you can be done, right? Unfortunately, it's not that easy.

There are several different factors that you can to consider when choosing a bag. For instance, you have to figure out which size you need. You should also check whether it has enough pockets and compartments, which would be essential to keeping your baby's stuff organized while you travel.

You should also check the durability of the fabric used, and whether it is easy enough to clean. You might also want to look for optional features like matching changing pads, metal feet for when you have to put the bag down on the floor, stroller straps, built-in bottle heating devices, and so on. Last but not the least is that you have to pick a diaper bag that looks good, unless you don't mind carrying around an unsightly piece of luggage wherever you go with your baby.

Before you go out in search of some diaper bags, it would be helpful to know that these bags come in a few different kinds. If you think that all diaper bags look the same, they you're in for a nice surprise. These days, bags come in all shape and sizes, and the four most popular types are the tote bag, the messenger bag, the satchel bag, the hobo bag, and the backpack.

Tote Bag Tote bags are possibly the most popular diaper bags these days because they have a very simple and sensible design. On the average, they are also the largest, making them perfect for long trips outside the house. Totes have multiple pockets and compartments to keep the spacious interior well organized. Women are the ones usually seen carrying a tote because they are usually considered too feminine by most dads.

Messenger Bag When it comes to diaper bags for dads, messenger bags are definitely the bestsellers. They are definitely not girly and most of them don't even look like diaper bags, unless you look at the contents. Messengers are also great because while you carry them diagonally across your body, the weight of the bag is balanced evenly to different body parts, minimizing the pressure on your shoulders.

Satchel Bag Satchel bags are slightly similar in form to tote bags but they usually have much longer straps. Instead of being carried over one shoulder like a tote bag, these satchels can also be worn diagonally across the body like a messenger. However, there are also satchels with short straps like totes. These bags are designed mostly for women.

Hobo Bag Hobo bags are another type of large bag that comes in many stylish designs. In fact, these bags are a favorite of many Hollywood celebrity moms today. Hobo bags typically come in machine-washable fabric for easy cleaning. Some of the best hobos that you can find these days are those that are included in the Bumble Collection.

Backpack Backpacks are another type of bag that is rapidly growing in popularity in recent years, among both women and men. It's actually rather surprising why these bags were not created sooner because they really make a lot of sense. By freeing your hands, they enable you to attend to your baby or run after your toddler without too much hassle. Also, if the backpack straps are thickly padded, they are very convenient for balancing the weight across your back and shoulders.

Aside from these categories, there are also other types of diaper bags that you can choose from. Also, a new kind of trend these days is the convertible diaper bag, which can easily switch from one type of bag to another with the simple switching of a strap or two. Some of the most popular convertible bags are those that can be changed from a backpack to a messenger bag and vice versa.

Now that you understand the main differences between the various types of bags, you are now better equipped to pick the diaper bag that will work best for you and that will help you the most in caring for your baby.

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Basic Potty Training Guide

Parents look forward to the switch from changing soiled diapers to that joyful time when the baby uses the potty. The age varies however, in developing countries, learning the trick happens even after a few weeks from age, in the United States however, and other developed countries, the process takes place later, at 12-24 months, with some children wearing diapers up to ages 3 and 4. Whichever the case, it is up to the parent to keep an eye out for the telltale signs.

Infant Potty Training

In East Africa, Asia and mainland China, potty training commences at infancy (0-12 months). The constant interaction the parents have with the infants encourages early spotting of the telltale signs. Here the process is quiet simple. At 3-6 months, the parent will hold the baby over the potty, or sink, and as the baby eliminates, make a characteristic gesture or sound. This is mostly followed by a reward of some kind. The baby learns to associate this sound or gesture with a bathroom break. Most will often hold till the guardian makes such a gesture. this can help the child to develop restraint or better still,voice out intent to go to the bathroom.

Though this is not what most people consider conventional potty training, it has a number of benefits. The baby learns quite fast, avoids the diaper infections, and is more settled on the potty since they haven't learnt to crawl or walk yet.

Potty Training for Young Toddlers

Potty training for toddlers in the United States starts at 12-24 months. However, depending on the child's maturity and development, this presents a number of problems.

Toddlers at this age find it extremely difficult to break the diaper habit. Secondly, due to the found joys of crawling and walking, the children may be too frisky to sit still for even few minutes.

However, this has its benefits too. The need to please adults, a trait common in children at this age, and developed mental capability makes the whole potty training process easier.

Signs the Baby Is Ready

There are tell-tale signs that the baby is ready for the potty. These include;

• A developed curiosity to the bathroom, potty or items resembling such items. • An improved awareness to bowel movement and urine. • Acute discomfort when wet or soiled • Improved vocabulary especially with words like ″poop″ and ″peepee″. This shows a desire to be changed or just sit on the potty for fun. Before venturing out to buy the potty, the parent should plan the whole potty training process first. The decisions to make include • how to initiate the process • how to deal with failure or accidents • signs to back off

Patience and flexibility is vital for this activity. Just like walking, the baby may show wrong signs or develop interest later. Success will not necessarily assume a linear gradient. The child may take off late, earlier or start successfully then regress at later stages. However, don't wait for the baby to passively show the signs, this leads to late potty training which may delay other developmental milestones. Many of the signs can be taught or encouraged. The earlier, the better.

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10 Things You Need in Your Swim Bag

Summer is on the way! Trips to the beach are back in the mix of cheap, fun things to do with your kids. To get you ready, I've put together this handy list of things you'll need in your swim bag.

Swim nappy. If you have a baby, toddler, or child with disabilities, you'll probably be using a swim nappy, especially if you're going to a pool. Most public swimming pools require children to wear a swim nappy if they're not toilet trained. Many also offer disposable swim nappies for sale if you've forgotten to bring one. But why spend the extra money if you don't have to? Even if you're not a regular cloth nappy user, a reusable swim nappy is a great option for saving money and containing any accidents. Sunscreen. Especially if you're fair skinned like I am, you'll want to protect yourself from the sun. You can take your pick between all-natural sunscreens or conventional sunscreens. The right sunscreen is the one that works for your own skin. Most chemical sunscreens are not recommended during pregnancy & breastfeeding. Zinc oxide is a natural substance that many experts agree is safe at any stage of life. Water. This is a MUST. You can't drink the salt water without becoming more dehydrated, and you can't drink pool water because it's chlorinated. Bring your own spring or tap water to keep yourself hydrated. Snacks. This prevents you having to run off to buy food if you get hungry, and dragging the kids along with you to do so if you're the only adult. Fruit is great - it's tasty, doesn't spoil quickly, and has a high water content. Tip: take the messier fruits to the beach (peaches, nectarines, watermelon) and wash off the juices in the water! Sun hat. Again, the fair skinned won't want to forget these. I really like the ones made by Christine at Wispy Threads. Beach toys. What's a trip to the beach without a beach ball? Tip: deflate it when you go home to save space in the bag, then inflate again next trip. My son has a beach set with a sandcastle mould, train mould, shovel, rake, and watering can. Or use whatever water toys your kids like. The possibilities are endless. First aid kit. You don't need to buy a fancy one - just put a few things together in a Ziploc bag or plastic container. Things like bandages, antiseptic ointment and/or wipes, and tweezers are a few things you might find helpful. Towels. This is probably a no-brainer, but easy to forget! They're not just for drying yourself off - they're great for lying on at the beach if you don't want sand getting into every crevice. Wet bag. When you're finished swimming, you'll need something to carry your wet items home. Enter the wet bag - a bag made from laminated fabric to store wet items without leaking onto the rest of your things. At Little Para Pants we stock Bonnibuns wet bags - which are also great if you're a regular cloth user. They'll hold about 6 modern cloth nappies, or wet swimming gear for a family of four. Money for ice cream. I grew up overseas, but my Aussie husband says it's a very Australian thing to get ice cream after going to the beach. It's not surprising, then, that all the beaches I've been to in Adelaide have ice cream shops close by! And you can use it as an incentive if the kids don't want to leave. 'Who wants ice cream?' 'MEEEEEE!'

What else would you add to this list?

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Scrabble Strategy: Learning Words That Start With Q

Ever since the game Scrabble went online, more and more people have started playing the game. And while the game is inherently fun, especially for word aficionados, it can be frustrating for some as building words out of random letters isn't exactly easy. Of course, the object of playing the game IS to have fun. But winning is also a good motivation to keep on playing. For those who consider themselves in need of a performance boost when it comes to their Scrabble game, one of the best strategies to accomplish that is to add more words to your vocabulary. Now, learning new words is kind of a big task to undertake. Where would you start? Some would say that you need to learn all the 2-letter Scrabble words because it will enable you to build parallel words. Others would suggest 7-letter Scrabble words because it will aid you in forming more bingos. In my opinion, the ones that you should first focus on are the words that start with Q.

The letter Q causes most Scrabble players to quake in fear. This is because most of us only know a handful of words starting with Q and almost all of them require a U. If asked to come up with a Q-word that doesn't have a U, a lot of us, Scrabble pros aside, would be unable to think of any word off the top of our head. And should we be unlucky enough to draw that particular letter, most of us would probably leave it alone until we end up drawing the letter U. Now, playing with 6 tiles on your rack instead of 7 severely limits your gameplay because your options are limited. Some of us would even go so far as saving other letters because we plan to use them along with the Q. This kind of play will make any player lose potentially high scoring moves because he or she is only building words with what's left.

Another reason why words starting with Q are the best words to start learning is that a Q should never be left on your rack especially if the game is nearing the end. If you are ever unfortunate enough to have that Q on your rack when someone finishes off all his or her tiles, you will be penalized with a deduction of 20 points from your score. This greatly increases your chances of losing the game. Thus, the letter Q is a letter that should be played quickly and without qualm.

The last reason why these Q words are so important is that they have a high value attached to them. Playing a word that starts with Q allows you to potentially earn a high score while avoiding the risk of incurring any of the problems mentioned above. Of course, the side benefit of simply improving your vocabulary in general is also a great factor. After all, how many people do you know that can spout off numerous words that start with Q without straining their brain? Quack, quick, quad... It can cause quite a quandary.

So, if you're ever looking to improve your Scrabble game by increasing your vocabulary, I'd say you're better off with words that start with Q.

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The First Steps to Painting: Tips and Services Provided by Painting Contractors

When a painting job is required, for either the exterior or interior of a house, follow these steps and you will find the job will go as smoothly as the paint flows from your brush.

Deciding What to Paint

The first step to any remodeling or decorating of a home or business is deciding what you want the place to look like. This can be as hard as deciding where to put or remove walls or as easy as changing the color of a room or the exterior of a building. If all your walls are in place, then it's time to decide on paint.

Many older homes may have wallpaper which can be difficult to paint over. First off, it is hard to paint over certain types of wallpaper due to the adhesive used to put it up. Sometimes painting over the paper leads to bubbles in the wallpaper and in the paint over top of it. Other times, painting may cause the paper to come down altogether. It is always a good idea to ask a professional for house painting tips if you aren't sure how to remove the wallpaper. Of course, if the wallpaper is stuck directly to the wallboard, removing it may damage the wallboard, itself. If you decide to paint over the wallpaper, you may find that you can see the seams of the paper or even the design through your paint. If you are planning to do it yourself, try painting a test area toward the bottom of your wall, preferably over a seam, with primer. Otherwise, many painting contractors will take care of wallpaper removal for you.

If you are looking for house painting ideas, or even for office painting ideas, there are many people on the web who are willing to share their successes; but as you think about what you're painting, try considering what will be going in the room or on the wall. You may decide that the orange which one person recommended will make your room look like an orange cream popsicle next to your orange and white bedding or that the purple office someone else suggested will look like a child's playroom with your furniture in it. Never be afraid to ask for paint color samples when you are looking for that perfect color. Try taping or pinning the sample to the wall and see if you can imagine the whole room in that color. Still can't decide? There are many painting contractors who will go through the design process with you. They won't tell you where to put everything, but they are professionals and often have a good sense of what colors will go well with the colors you already have in your furniture.

Consider Hiring a Painting Contractor

Professional Painting Contractors take a lot of the stress out of the process. Whether you're looking for interior painting or exterior painting, the professionals will have the painting tips for how to keep the unpainted areas clean and how to finish the job without drips running down your walls. They offer more services than most people are aware of and will get the job done quickly and efficiently.

Choosing a Painting Contractor

A search on Google will yield dozens of results for "painting contractors" in Jacksonville, alone. So how do you find the one that's right for you? The trick, in all honesty, is to shop around a bit. If you know how much space you have that needs to be painted and what color you want it painted, then the next step is to get quotes from the painting contractors in your area. Whether it's for a house or a business, the painting costs will vary from one company to another.

If you are choosing to remodel, you may find that you need to hire an electrician to move a socket or a plumber to fix the piping in the walls. In either of these cases, you are going to be left with holes in the walls which can be difficult to fix by yourself. Fortunately, some painting contractors also do drywall repair. On the outside of your building, if you find that weather or renovation has caused damages to the exterior, you may want to ask your contractor if they also do concrete or stucco repair as well.

Always be sure to check what business or house painting services the company provides before you hire them. You may find that company A is cheaper for painting, but company B is cheaper if you need them to repair your drywall. Also take a look at some places they have already painted! Many contractors nowadays are putting up a showcase of their work on their website. If you are impressed with what you see and they offer all the services you need, then they are a good company to consider for the job.

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3 Ways To Use Creativity With Your Autoresponder

Even though an autoresponder is a great tool for automating e-mail marketing it can be misused. For instance sending messages to people who haven't requested permission is not good business. Just because they filled out and submitted a form on your website doesn't mean you have permission to continuously send automated e-mail messages. You need to use creativity with your autoresponder to maintain the interest of your customers.

3 ways to use creativity with your autoresponder

1. Sign-up form

Here are some different ways to experiment with your sign-up form:

Fields

Most forms ask for name and e-mail address however you could try to just ask for the e-mail to see if more people will subscribe.

Design

Instead of using a simple design try different colors, arrows, pop-ups, lightbox, slide ins to see what works best. Ask your autoresponder service what types of HTML forms they have for you to use.

Placement

The placement of your opt in form makes a big difference how many people will subscribe. It's best to place your form near the top of your page so viewers will see it immediately. Try placing it on the left, right, within your content or end of your content to test which location is the most effective.

2. Content

Headlines

Each e-mail you send out requires a headline. If it's a boring headline people won't open the e-mail to read it. Experiment with different headlines to see which ones captivate your audience.

Messages

Since you don't really know what your length your audience prefers experiment with short and long e-mail messages. Some may prefer a paragraph or 2 where as others may want more meat in their content.

3. Delivery rate

The beauty of an autoresponder is once you load all your follow-up messages you can forget about it however success only comes with testing. For example instead of scheduling your messages 2 days apart try 3 days. Instead of creating only 7 follow-up messages create a longer sequence. By keeping in touch with your audience you have an opportunity to sell more products to them.

4. List segmentation

Segment your lists into prospects and customers because they are at different stages in the follow-up process. Prospects are those people who have expressed interest in your products but haven't purchased anything yet. Customers are people who have bought your products and may buy again. Create different lists for different products. If you have a product which appeals to all your lists use your autoresponder to broadcast a message to all of them.

There is a tendency to forget about your autoresponder messages after they have been set up. To increase their effectiveness look for ways to optimize them through testing and using your creativity.

Your customers will thank you.

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Mother and Father Know Best! Giving Teen Sitters Advice on Child Behavior

It seems like just yesterday you were soothing your child's temper tantrums. Now, she's a teen babysitter and she's coming to you for advice on handling unruly children. My, you think, how times have changed! On the up side, your teen now sees you as a valuable source of information. On the down side, she's experiencing one of the challenges of babysitting: managing negative behavior. What can you do to help her be successful?

First, take time to discuss the issue. Explain that children need extra patience and extra attention at certain times. Engage your teen in a discussion on positive ways to prevent problem behavior so he'll know how to deal with it when it arises. Suggest he use praise or creativity when trying to get a child's cooperation. Remind him that it's best to act quickly when it comes to problem behavior. The longer he allows it to continue, the harder it is to control.

However, combatting the problem never implies the use of force. Young teens should never be allowed to physically punish a child. You can stress a "A No Physical Punishment Rule" by emphasizing to your teen that no physical punishment means no spanking, no hitting, no slapping, no shaking, no pinching and no poking. Problem behavior is the hardest part of taking care of children-for adults as well as teen babysitters! Stress to your child that when she accepts the responsibility of babysitting, she accepts responsibility to be in control of the child's behavior and she must be able to control her own behavior as well.

Encourage your teen to discuss how to manage behavior with the parents before the babysitting job. He may feel uncomfortable bringing it up, but remind him that asking parents how they handle specific situations, such as how to get their child to go to bed, will show maturity and insight on his part. Explain to him that no one expects teen sitters to have all the answers! He should also discuss any problem behavior with the child's parents at the end of the job or call them the next day. You could even practice how he would ask the parents for help. Sometimes babysitters feel they won't be asked to babysit again if everything wasn't "perfect."

However, the possibility does exist that things might not go perfectly and your teen might need help in handling problem behavior. It's wise to consider appropriate ways to react to different scenarios, from major to minor. What if the child she's watching threatens someone with a weapon? What if the child needs rescue from a roof? What if the child threatens to harm himself? In situations where your teen feels physical harm may come to the child or to herself, she should always be instructed to call Emergency Services (911 or police).

What if there's a fight between children that your teen can't stop? If the situation is not potentially life-threatening but still serious, encourage your child to call you if he needs immediate assistance. Your teen should know to call for adult back-up anytime he feels out of control and needs to be relieved right away. He should also be encouraged to call you or the child's parents during the babysitting job if the child won't cooperate, has locked your teen out of the house or is generally out of control.

If your teen reports a problem to you, remember that you are her best resource. You may not have all the answers but you know how to get help. Encourage her to bring questions, issues, or problems to you for discussion as soon as possible after the babysitting job. As an adult, your judgment and life experiences are important to help your teen make decisions on how to handle situations. She will most likely report a problem concerning a child's behavior that she can't handle. Or she might tell you the parents asked her to do more than she was able to do. You can help your child learn to refuse future babysitting jobs with this family.

When your teen reports suspicion of abuse or neglect from the parent, you need to take it seriously. Be sure you ask appropriate questions. If there are obvious signs of physical harm, report it to the proper authorities. Most states have mandatory child abuse and neglect reporting. If you are not aware of the indicators of abuse or neglect that require reporting, you need to contact your local family and children's services, county welfare, or human services department.

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Colon Cancer Insurance Provides Safety Net For Expenses Not Covered by Standard Policy

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women. In 2009, The American Cancer Society estimated nearly 50,000 US-resident deaths were caused by rectal or colon cancer. Insurance plans of the standard variety are supposed to provide individuals with financial protection from the potentially heavy costs they might incur in the future. This includes the morbidity and mortality costs of having a dreaded disease.

Standard health insurance plans do not cover morbidity and mortality costs. The benefits can only be used for direct medical costs. According to the National Institutes of Health, the overall cost of cancer treatment is estimated to be over 228.1 billion dollars. Of this number, only 93.2 billion dollars are for direct medical costs. Simple math will uncover the truth: being insured does not guarantee one's financial protection from cancer.

For people who are at risk of suffering from cancer of the rectum or colon, cancer insurance is recommended. As a type of supplemental insurance, cancer insurance can reinforce the financial protection provided by health insurance plans. Policyholders can use their cancer insurance coverage to pay for the hidden costs that underlie cancer costs, such as transportation charges, home care, and childcare incidentals. Cancer insurance benefits can also be used to cover lost income and experimental cancer treatments.

The risk of colorectal cancer increases with age; 91% of cases are diagnosed in individuals aged 50 and older. Many studies have also shown that certain inherited genetic mutations may also increase the risk of certain colorectal cancers.

How Can Product Liability Insurance Help You in Your Business?   Supplemental Medical Insurance - How it Makes a Difference in Your Perceived Security   Compelling Reasons to Take Out Income Protection   Overview Of Medicare Supplemental Insurance   Supplemental Medicare Insurance - Tips For Finding the Best Rates   3 Reasons You Should Consider Supplemental Cancer Insurance   

Supplemental Insurance - What is it and Why Do You Need It?

The best way to understand Supplemental Insurance is to explain what it isn't. It is not Major Medical. Major Medical Insurance really belongs to the provider, does it not? Doctor, nurses, hospitals, etc., all get paid by Major Medical when someone in a family gets hurt or sick. Supplemental Insurance Plans do just the opposite. These are plans that pays cash directly to the policyholder! And what would someone need money for if a family member were to get hurt or sick? Well, lets take a look: there are those out-of-pocket medical expenses, like deductibles, co-pays, beyond usual and customary or out-of-network charges. There may be travel, lodging or extra gas and food expenses. Besides that, there are still the every day living expenses: rent/mortgage, car payment, cell phone, credit card bills and the family still need to eat. Those expenses don't go away when someone gets hurt or sick. It's hard for families, especially if the breadwinner is on a diminished or loss of income. When an unexpected event happens to someone in their family, people worry about two things, how are they going to get better and how is this going to be paid for.

Supplemental Insurance allows people to choose plans that fit the needs of their family. The money received, in the form of a check, is theirs to do with as they see fit. Unlike an FSA (Flexed Spending Account), one does not have to qualify these expenses. Plans such as Accident, Hospitalization, Cancer and Critical Illness pay dependent on the diagnosis and what type of treatment was received. Cover the whole family: self, spouse, one-parent or two-parent family plans are optional.

Supplemental Plans are available on an individual basis, however, if they are offered through an employer, there is the added benefit of tax-savings. Most plans can be offered pre-tax, saving the employee as well as the employer money. (Pre-tax premiums lower the employers taxable payroll).

Disability is also often available on a supplemental basis. People insure their home, their car, perhaps even their boat or jewelry. Ones income is their most important asset. Without income, how will someone be able to pay for any of those other assets, yet many people do not consider Disability Insurance.

We are living in critical times. Many people are living paycheck to paycheck. Additional expenses could be devastating to a families well being. With Major Medical deductibles and co-pays on the rise as well as coverage diminishing, isn't it time to look into Supplemental Insurance?

How Can Product Liability Insurance Help You in Your Business?   Supplemental Medical Insurance - How it Makes a Difference in Your Perceived Security   Compelling Reasons to Take Out Income Protection   Overview Of Medicare Supplemental Insurance   Supplemental Medicare Insurance - Tips For Finding the Best Rates   3 Reasons You Should Consider Supplemental Cancer Insurance   

Should You Buy Earthquake Insurance?

Buying insurance can be frustrating because many people believe that they will never actually need to use it and are wasting their money. This is an especially popular belief when it comes to earthquake insurance for people living outside of areas that are prone to earthquakes such as California. If you have wondered do I need earthquake insurance, think about a few important factors before making the decision.

As with most things in life, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Each year in the United States, about five thousand earthquakes occur that are large enough to be felt. While it is true that most of them occur on the west coast, they have occurred in thirty-nine states since 1900 and have caused at least some damage in all fifty.

When it comes to the cost of earthquake insurance, there are different factors that contribute. For example, the age of the house as well as the building materials can have an effect. Older houses are more expensive to insure because newer homes have been built with stricter safety standards. In addition, a home built with brick instead of wood will be more expensive to insure because it is less flexible and more likely to collapse in the event of an earthquake.

If someone really decides that they do not need earthquake insurance, they should at least take steps to protect their home in the event of an earthquake. One important safety move is to remove any old or leaning trees that are close to the home. It is also a good idea to add metal roof ties and reinforce the walls of the home with plywood sheathing.

If you are wondering do I need earthquake insurance, think about how likely it is that an earthquake will occur in your area. Even if it is unlikely, think about the cost of repairing your home if an earthquake did occur. In many cases, the safest bet is to be prepared for any situation instead of rolling the dice and getting stuck with expensive damage.

How Can Product Liability Insurance Help You in Your Business?   Supplemental Medical Insurance - How it Makes a Difference in Your Perceived Security   Compelling Reasons to Take Out Income Protection   Overview Of Medicare Supplemental Insurance   Supplemental Medicare Insurance - Tips For Finding the Best Rates   

Why You Need Medigap Insurance

When your hair is gray and thinning and your health is not at its finest, you need to have medical insurance in order to cover medical bills. Physicians and pharmacists can charge you a lot from your medications or maintenance medicines. There are inevitable times when you get sick and need to be admitted to a hospital. However, after your admission, you will be shocked by how much you need to pay. There are gaps in your medical bill and your Medicare insurance and you wonder how you're going to bridge that space in between. That's where a Medicare supplement insurance or Medigap plan becomes valuable.

With medigap insurance, you won't have to worry about the payments because the insurance pays all of the bills you incur. In our daily tasks, we don't know when we will need emergency medical assistance. Most of the time, this will cost much. With medical supplement insurance, you won't have to feel anxious that you won't be able to pay the hospital for emergency services because you will have your Medigap to cover that for you.

People who have turned sixty all the more need to consider getting a medical supplement insurance so they will feel confident that they won't be having to spend so much in hospital bills. The only thing one should worry about is how to show love and care to the sick people who need it. One should not have to worry about money and especially not when life is on the line. But since this is an imperfect world, this sometimes cannot be helped even as one can be assured that there is a medical health insurance that fills the gap between Medicare coverage and an actual hospital bill.

So if you don't want to have to pay a large amount of money to your hospital, get a medical supplement insurance plan. Health matters most because life matters when you want to see your children growing and their children's children growing, if you get lucky enough. The good news about medical supplement insurance is, it does not cost much compared to a usual medical health insurance plan. So go ahead and get medical supplement insurance. It is beneficial for you especially if you or your family's life is involved. This way, you won't have to worry about hospital payments anymore.

How Can Product Liability Insurance Help You in Your Business?   Supplemental Medical Insurance - How it Makes a Difference in Your Perceived Security   Compelling Reasons to Take Out Income Protection   Overview Of Medicare Supplemental Insurance   

Medicare Supplement Plan N - A Great Alternative to Medicare Advantage

The new Medicare Supplement Plan N looks similar to Medicare Advantage Plans. Plan N looks like a Medicare Advantage plan in many ways, with co-payments to see the doctor, but with all the advantages of the traditional Medicare Supplements, such as no networks of doctor and hospitals.

Plan N looks like a Medicare Advantage plan, with co-payments to see the doctor, but with all the advantages of the traditional Medicare Supplements. The premiums are very reasonable, on par with many Advantage plans. There is a $20.00 co-payment (or 20%, whichever is less) to see a doctor - any doctor, a family doctor or specialist, with NO referral necessary (After you meet the Part B Deductible - $155.00 for 2010), and a $50.00 co-payment for the emergency room. After the co-pays, Plan N will pick up 100% of the Part B co-insurance, as well as cover the Part A deductible. Included in the "Basic Benefits" is a new hospice benefit, which has been added to all of the "Modernized" Medicare Supplements. This plan has ALL the advantages of the traditional Medicare Supplement. You can see any doctor or hospital in the United Sates, as long as they accept Medicare. No worrying if your doctor or hospital is still in the network, or if they decided to stop accepting Advantage Plans. Plan N also has the "Foreign Emergency Travel" benefit found in many other traditional Supplements, so if you travel outside the United States, you will be covered.

As always, you should consult a professional, to go over all the benefits, and help you find the best plan, at the best price, for your particular situation.

How Can Product Liability Insurance Help You in Your Business?   Supplemental Medical Insurance - How it Makes a Difference in Your Perceived Security   Compelling Reasons to Take Out Income Protection   Overview Of Medicare Supplemental Insurance   Supplemental Medicare Insurance - Tips For Finding the Best Rates   Athletes at Risk