| How to Take a Baby to the Beach Posted: 05 Jul 2017 05:00 PM PDT Taking your baby to the beach to play in the sand, explore the tide, and discover all the new sights and sounds of the ocean can be a wonderful experience for you and your family. It is important to plan ahead, however, to make sure that you keep your baby safe and comfortable. If you protect your little one from the sun, keep liquids and snacks on hand, and stay by their side while they are near the water, you can have a carefree and fun day at the beach with your baby. EditPacking the Right Equipment - Take some large towels and a blanket. Spread out a large blanket or towel to give your baby a spot to play, eat, and crawl around. You may wish to pack a few extra towels so you will have a dry, sand-free towel for your baby to use.[1]
- Pack an umbrella. Using a large beach umbrella is a great way to shield your baby from the heat and the sun's harmful rays. Make sure to use a light-colored umbrella that will reflect the heat. This space will provide a cozy, shady area for your baby to play in the sand.
- Take along a smaller umbrella that you can easily clip onto your baby's stroller.[2]
- Bring water and snacks. Pack a cooler with your baby's favorite snacks and drinks. Bring along bottled milk, water, or juice to keep your baby well-hydrated throughout the day.[3] Opt to take some portable, pureed baby food packets so your baby can enjoy an easy snack. Take along healthy finger foods like carrots, bananas, or pieces of cheese if your little one is eating solid foods.[4]
- Find a shady spot that isn't in a windy area to breastfeed your child at the beach.[5]
- Bring clean, lukewarm water to the beach with you. This will be useful to use as a rinse if your baby gets sand in their mouth or eyes.[6]
- Carry a change of clothes and extra diapers. Your baby's clothes will be sandy and damp after a day at the beach, and you may go through more diapers than usual to keep their bottom dry. Pack an extra pair of clothes to keep your baby dry and clean on the way home, and store extra diapers in your diaper bag.
- Inflate a small baby pool. A small inflatable pool can be a useful tool for a day at the beach with your baby. The pool can serve as a safe playpen for your little one, or it can be a great space to take a nap. Make sure you do not leave your child alone even though your baby may be in a safe confinement.[7]
- Have some plastic beach toys on hand. Your little one may be too enthralled with the ocean and the sand to pay attention to toys, but bring along a few just in case. Bring some brightly colored plastic beach buckets and baby-friendly toy shovels so they can dig in the sand. Bring along their favorite plastic truck or ball that they push around over the sand dunes.
- Avoid bringing stuffed animals and toys that squeak. Sand may get stuck in the plush toy's fabric, and a squeaker may suck some sand inside the toy.
EditProtecting Your Baby from the Sun - Use sunscreen on a baby who is older than six months. Liberally apply sunscreen on your baby if they are older than six months. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that has at least an SPF of 30.[8] Use a sunscreen that contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to avoid irritating your baby's skin.[9]
- You can use sunscreen on a baby that is younger than six months, but do not apply is as frequently. Only apply it to exposed skin, and try to keep their arms, legs, feet, and face protected from the sun with clothing. The chemicals in the sunscreen may irritate their sensitive skin.[10]
- Don't use products that contain insect repellent.[11]
- Apply sunscreen every two hours. Sunscreen can wear off after a few hours, so be sure to reapply it every two hours. If your baby has been in the water or has been perspiring, apply the sunscreen more frequently.[12]
- Stay out of the sun in the late morning and afternoon. The sun's ultraviolet rays are the strongest and can do the most damage between 10 AM and 4 PM. During this time, keep your baby in the shade as much as possible, or plan to visit the beach outside of these hours.[13]
- Cover your baby's arms and legs. Make sure your baby's arms and legs are completely covered to protect them from the sun's harmful rays. Dress them in lightweight, light-colored clothing. Lighter colors like white, yellow, or light blue will help reflect the heat to keep your baby's skin cooler.
- Opt for fabrics that have a tighter weave that will keep the sun from penetrating the clothing. Hold your baby's clothes up to a light. The tighter the weave, the less light will shine through it.
- Look for swimsuits or clothes that have sun protection built-in to the fabric.[14]
- Put a wide-brimmed hat on their head. It is important to keep your baby's head covered during a day at the beach. Even if they have hair, the top of their head can still burn.[15] Use a wide-brimmed hat to protect their heads and shield their eyes from the sun's glare.
EditKeeping Your Baby Safe in the Ocean - Avoid taking a newborn into the water. It is not recommended for babies under two months old to swim in lakes, rivers, pools, or oceans. A baby's immune system is very vulnerable during this time, and contaminated water may make them more likely to become sick.[16] To keep your newborn safe, keep them away from ocean water until they are over two months old.
- Check the temperature of the water. It is difficult for babies to regulate their body temperature, so be sure to check the water before your baby goes in. Use your best judgment to gauge the water's temperature. If the water seems quite cold to you, then it will feel very cold to your baby.[17]
- Take your baby out of the water if they begin to shiver or if their lips turn blue.
- If your baby is too cold, remove the wet swimming gear and wrap them in a warm, dry blanket or towel.[18]
- Dress your baby in a flotation device. Make sure your baby is wearing a flotation device at all times when they are near the water. Although it may be uncomfortable for your child at first, they will get used to it over time.[19] A wave could knock them over as you are holding on to them, or a current could pull them out. Make sure your baby will be able to keep their head above water at all times by placing them in a snug life jacket.
- Make sure the life jacket has head support and a strap between the legs. This strap will prevent the jacket from slipping off over the baby's head.[20]
- Find a calm spot to wade. Take your baby down to the tide to wade in a section that is calm and clean. Look to see that there are lifeguards nearby who can help or alert you if there are typically rough currents or waves in that area.[21] Your baby will enjoy watching the gentle tide roll in and will love exploring the new textures in a peaceful wading spot.
- Keep them at an arm's length at all times. While near the water, make sure you or another adult can easily get to your baby. Make sure they are at an arm's length away so that they can be easily reached if necessary.
- Stay in the shallow water. Even if your baby is taking swimming lessons, it can be dangerous to take them into deeper waters. You cannot see the bottom at many beaches, so it can be difficult to tell if and where the ocean floor drops off. Waves can splash salt water into your baby's mouth or eyes, causing discomfort. Stay in shallow waters where you can keep your footing.[22]
- Hold your baby securely while in the water. If you take your baby into the water, make sure that you are holding them safely and securely. Waves can be more powerful than they look.[23] Keep a close hold on your child so that the waves do not knock them over or push them under water.
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Clean Rubber Boots Posted: 05 Jul 2017 09:00 AM PDT Rubber boots are great for keeping your feet dry in wet weather. They're also the perfect footwear for outdoor work and farm activities. Cleaning the outside of your boots won't take much effort and can usually be done with only a garden hose. After cleaning the outside, you may notice the inside needs to be cleaned as well, which can be done with a rag and soap or a white vinegar cleaning solution. When your boots are clean, maintain them with things like automotive tire protectant and sun shields. EditCleansing the Outside - Wipe away light dirt and grime. If your boots aren't especially dirty, you can usually clean them easily with a damp cloth. To prevent dirtiness from building up on your boots and causing longer cleaning times, do this after each time you use your boots.[1]
- To increase the dirt fighting potential of your damp cloth, mix 1 tsp (5 ml) of dish soap with a ¼ gallon (1 L) of water. Douse your rag in this, and wipe down the boots.
- Wipe your boots from the top to the bottom. This way, you're less likely to cause dirt and grime to drip onto already cleaned parts of the boots.[2]
- Remove dirtiness with a hose. Take your boots to a suitable area in your yard and spray them thoroughly with water from a hose. It may take some time before the dirtiness loosens and comes off. After most of the dirtiness has been removed, wipe away any that remains with a damp cloth.[3]
- If you do not have a suitable place in your yard to do this, or if you do not have a yard, wash your boots in your bathtub or shower instead.
- For mud that just doesn't want to come off, combine 1 tsp (5 ml) of baking soda with ½ cup (237 ml) of warm water. Rub this onto the stubborn mud, wait 15 to 30 minutes, then rinse the solution and the mud free.[4]
- Brush difficult grime from the soles of your boots. Use caution when using a brush on your boots. Stiff bristle brushes, especially, can do damage to the boots or cause them to discolor. Use a soft bristle scrub brush to prevent damage. Avoid using a brush on the upper parts of the brush.
- Use moderate to light pressure when scrubbing. Failing to do so can cause premature wear on the rubber.
- Use an old toothbrush to get into the small grooves on the soles of your boots.[5]
- Erase scuff marks with oil. Over time, your rubber boots may have become scuffed, creating unsightly discoloration. Apply some oil, like olive oil, to a soft cloth. Rub the cloth on the scuff marks in a circular fashion to erase these.
- If the rag-oil technique didn't work on your scuff marks, try a normal gum eraser, like the kind you use for pencils. Apply this gently to scuff marks to make them disappear.[6]
- Air dry your boots. Air drying is the best way to dry rubber boots. Wipe away the moisture from cleaning them as best you can with a clean, dry rag. Then insert wads of newspaper into each boot. Wait a few hours, then remove the wet newspaper from the boots. If the boots are still wet, repeat this process.
- Newspaper will not only absorb moisture in your boots, it will also help them keep their shape.[7]
- Dry your boots quickly with a hair dryer, if necessary. If you need your boots for another excursion shortly after you've cleaned them, wipe away the water as best you can with a dry rag. Then aim a hair dryer set to "low" at the inside of each boot until they are dry.[8]
EditRefreshing the Inside - Mix a cleaning solution. Combine 1 tsp (5 ml) of dishwashing liquid with about a ¼ of a gallon (1 L) of hot water in a bucket. Agitate this with your hand or a stirring utensil to distribute the soap throughout the water. [9]
- Wipe the inside of the boot. Douse a clean rag in your cleaning solution. Use this to thoroughly wipe the inside of each boot. Do this several times, rinsing your rag regularly in the solution throughout the process. After that, use a wet, clean rag to wipe away the soap.[10]
- Eliminate bad odors from the inside of your boots. Take a spray bottle and fill it half with white vinegar and half with water. Liberally spray this solution on the inside of the boot. The acid in the vinegar should kill the bacteria and organisms causing the bad odor.[11]
EditMaintaining Your Boots - Protect the outside of your boots with tire protectant. You can protect the outer surface of your boots and add shine to them with an automotive tire protectant. These can be found at most general retailers, in the automotive section of big box stores, and at automotive stores.
- Apply tire protectant to your boots every six months to achieve the best results.[12]
- Shield your boots from light. Direct sunlight will cause the rubber of your boots to break down. When you're not wearing your boots, store them in a paper bag to shield them from the light.
- If you plan on drying your boots outside, do so in a place that doesn't receive direct sunlight.[13]
- Remove white marks from your boots. In humid or hot weather, your boots may develop white marks or a similar film, which is often called "blooming." This is caused by compounds in the rubber rising to the surface. This is completely natural and will not harm your boots. Remove this by using:
- A rag with a few drops of olive oil to wipe down your boots. Use a circular motion while wiping, and the marks should disappear.
- Specially designed rubber boot shining products or a boot buffer. These can be found at most general retailers and shoe stores.[14]
- Never use shoe polish on rubber boots. Doing so may cause damage to your boots.
EditThings You'll Need EditCleansing the Outside - Baking soda (optional; for stubborn mud)
- Bucket (optional)
- Dish soap (optional)
- Garden hose
- Gum eraser (optional; for scuff marks)
- Hair dryer (optional; for quick drying)
- Olive oil (optional; for scuff marks and white marks)
- Rags (clean)
EditRefreshing the Inside - Bucket
- Dish soap
- Spray bottle
- Water
- White vinegar
- Rags (clean)
EditMaintaining Your Boots - Automotive tire protectant
- Paper bags
- Olive oil
- Rubber boot polish (optional)
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Do a Fishtail Crown Braid Posted: 05 Jul 2017 01:00 AM PDT Thanks in part to Pinterest and Instagram, braided updos have become the ultimate bohemian accessory. If you've only mastered the traditional three-strand braid, however, you may be intimidated by the intricacy of these styles. Luckily, the fishtail crown braid is a style that looks much more complicated than it actually is. Even if you're a braiding novice, you can handle this style! Transform easy pigtail braids into a beautiful fishtail crown with just a few simple steps. EditDividing Your Hair - Spray your hair with dry shampoo or texturizing spray. Before you begin creating this hairstyle, it's helpful to add texture and grit with a spray. This is particularly important if have fine, silky hair that slips through finger easily. By adding a bit of texture to your hair, you'll make the braiding process easier and ensure your braid stays in place all day. Grab your spray of choice and spritz it through your hair, running your fingers through your hair to help distribute the product.
- Divide your hair into two sections. The easiest way to do this hairstyle is by creating two braided pigtails. First, part your hair straight down the middle. Then, gather your hair into two sections, one on either side of your head. Clip one pigtail out of the way as you start with the other.[1]
- Split one section into two strands. Before you begin braiding your hair, make sure you pull out any bangs or strands of hair in the front that you want to frame your face. Then, split the section of hair into two even pieces. Unlike a traditional three-strand braid, a fishtail braid is created with two strands.[2]
EditBraiding Your Hair - Grab a thin section of hair from the outer edge of one strand. Cross it over and join it with the opposite section of hair. Do the same thing on the opposite side: grab a small section of hair from the outer edge of the other strand, cross it over, and join it with the opposite section. Between each of these movements, you will only have those two original sections of hair. Make sure you hold these tightly so that the braid remains taut.[3]
- Braid the length of your hair. Continue crossing strands of hair and joining them with the opposite section. Before long, you will see the intricate-looking pattern forming. Hold the two sections tight and continue doing this until you have no hair left to braid.[4]
- Pull apart your braid and secure it. When you reach the end of your hair, hold the end in one hand firmly. With your other hand, gently pull apart the braid. In other words, pull on the edges of your braid to add volume and width to your braid. You want your finished fishtail braid to look big and loose, rather than tight and perfect. When you are satisfied with how it looks, secure the end with a clear elastic hair tie.[5]
- Do the exact same thing to the other half of your hair. Unclip the second section of hair on the other side of your head. Split this section into two pieces and begin fishtail braiding it. When you reach the end of your hair, loosen your braid with your fingers and secure it with a hair tie. You should now have two loose fishtail braid pigtails.[6]
EditCreating the Crown - Wrap one of your pigtails over your head. Once you are finished creating your two pigtails, it is time to create the crown. Lift up one of your pigtails – it doesn't matter which – and stretch it over your head like a headband. Use bobby pins to secure the end of the pigtail in place on the other side of your head.[7]
- Pin the second pigtail underneath your head. Once the first pigtail is pinned in place over the top of your head, it's time to complete the full crown. Take your second pigtail and wrap it underneath your head. In other words, the two pigtails will end up forming a full circle around your head – the "crown"! Like the first braid, pin this second braid in place with bobby pins.[8]
- Secure everything with hairspray. Once you have pinned your pigtails into place, use a handheld mirror to examine the back of your hairstyle. Make sure you like how everything looks, and re-pin your braids if necessary! Then, spritz your entire style with hairspray. This will help hold your braids in place as well as to reduce the chance of frizz and flyaways.
EditThings You'll Need - Hair clip
- Clear hair ties
- Bobby pins
- Hairspray
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