The ultimate pregnancy to-do list: First trimester (prt 1)

Use this list to keep on track with all your first-trimester tasks, from making sure you're really pregnant to lining up a caregiver and creating a baby budget. And don't worry about checking off every item – just use this as a helpful guide.

Activities for your first trimester

Make sure you're really pregnant

Most home pregnancy tests can accurately detect pregnancy in the week after your period is normally due – two weeks after you ovulate. If the test shows a negative or a faintly positive result, wait another few days or a week and try again if you still haven't gotten your period

The ultimate pregnancy to-do list

                                                 Pregnancy To-Do for Every Trimester

During pregnancy, a miracle unfolds inside you. Your baby's growing, your body's changing, and your hormones are surging, and in many ways you're just along for the ride. But there are plenty of things you can do to make your journey as safe and enjoyable as possible and to prepare for what's to come.

10 things you should never say to ur kids (prt 3)

8. "Be careful."

Saying this while your child is balancing on the monkey bars at the playground actually makes it more likely that he'll fall. "Your words distract him from what he's doing, so he loses focus," says Deborah Carlisle Solomon, author of Baby Knows Best. If you're feeling anxious, move close to spot him in case he takes a tumble, being as still and quiet as you can.

10 things you should never say to your kids (prt 2)

5. "I'm on a diet."

Watching your weight? Keep it to yourself. If your child sees you stepping on the scale every day and hears you talk about being "fat," she may develop an unhealthy body image, says Marc S. Jacobson, M.D., professor of pediatrics and epidemiology at Nassau University Medical Center, in East Meadow, New York. It's better to say, "I'm eating healthy because I like the way it makes me feel." Take the same tack with working out. "I need to exercise" can sound like a complaint, but "It's beautiful outside -- I'm going to take a walk" may inspire her to join you.

10 things you should never say to your kids (prt 1)

You probably wouldn't use old-school phrases like "Wait until your father gets home" or "I wish you were more like your sister" with your kids. But there are lots of less obvious ones that you should avoid, for their sake and yours.

1. "Great Job."

Research has shown that tossing out a generic phrase like "Good girl" or "Way to go" every time your child masters a skill makes her dependent on your affirmation rather than her own motivation, says Parents advisor Jenn Berman, Psy.D., author ofThe A to Z Guide to Raising Happy, Confident Kids. Save the kudos for when they're truly warranted, and be as specific as you can. Instead of "Super game," say, "That was a nice assist. I like how you looked for your teammate."

How to get your child to stop using diapers (prt 3)

Have patience!

 parents should understand that this is a time-consuming process, with many regressions that can often be frustrating. Most parents complain that their child who had been off diapers for several weeks went back to using them, leaving them frustrated. The first point here is not to get frustrated but continue trying to train your child.

Secondly, ask yourself and be true in your answer, as to why this regression occurred. Many times, the answer is because there are diapers in the house. Many parents feel the need to have a few diapers at home for stepping out or regression days and this is probably the root cause of your child’s attachment.

how to get your child to stop using diapers (part 2)

Is your baby ready?

If you were to ask me, then I would agree with the second group as it would save you the hassles of getting into the potty training battle with your child. It is very important that your child is ready for the transition. Like the children all over the world, Singaporean toddlers too are prone to view everything as a power struggle and if you were to force something on them that they do not like, they act like a little rebel. The key here is not to make an issue out of the entire thing as it can backfire and you will have a worse situation at hand.