PARENTING PRIMER
Parental advice for energetic toddlers

• Properly install infant car seats

Associated Press

The toddler stage might be the most exciting for children. It's when they truly begin to explore the world.

While most parents find themselves marveling at their young explorers, the children's boundless curiosity and energy can take its toll on already-tired grown-ups. That, Tracy Hogg says, is when it's time for HELP.

Hogg, the author of "Secrets of the Baby Whisperer" and the new sequel "Secrets of the Baby Whisperer for Toddlers" (Ballantine), defines the principles of HELP as: holding yourself back, encouraging exploration, limiting and praising. She advises parents to ask these questions — and remember the answers — when they find themselves in sticky situations.

"Am I holding back, or have I been in my child's face, interfering, being too intrusive, rescuing before he needs my help?"

Remember that the H, or holding back, is for the purpose of observation, which is not the same as being detached, rejecting or ignoring your toddler.

"Have I encouraged my child to explore, or do I hover?"

There are many opportunities in a day for exploration, any number of which can be thwarted by a parent. Do you, for instance, do his puzzles instead of seeing if she can manage them on her own?

"Do I limit things, or allow things to go too far?"

Too much of anything is not usually good for toddlers. Do you give too many choices or allow too much stimulation? Do you wait too long before reining in tantrums?

"Do I praise appropriately, or do I overpraise?"

Do I use praise to reinforce specific acts of cooperation, kindness, or a behavior or a job well done?

Properly install infant car seats

To help new parents get off to a safe start, Graco Children's Products provides the following installation tips for infant car seats:

• Do your research before purchasing a car seat. Check for proper fit for your car.
• After making your selection, read your car seat and vehicle manuals to make sure you understand the mechanics of installing the seat. If the information isn't clear, call the automaker, the safety-seat manufacturer, or both.
• The safest place to install a car seat is in the center of the rear seat or in the center seat in a van or station wagon. Never place a rear-facing seat in the front seat of car equipped with an air bag.
• Check to make sure the seat is secure and resists side-to-side motion. To assure your seat is secure, place your hands on either side of the infant seat at the openings for the belt path and attempt to move the seat forward or side-to-side. If the seat still feels loose or if you can still move the car seat forward or sideways, kneel into the base or put your body weight into the seat and then secure it.
• Once the seat is installed, be sure you know how the baby's harness system works. The harness clip should be positioned at armpit level. To make sure that the harness straps are tight enough, make sure you can fit no more than an index finger between the straps and your infant's shoulders.