Raising a child is hard work, and no amount of advice or preparation can change that. Preparation and knowledge can have an effect, though, on the results that hard parenting work brings. A helpful tip at the right time can make the parenting process much easier. Continue reading to get a few tips that might solve some child-rearing problems.A critical parenting tip is to never allow a toddler to be near water, unattended. Bathtubs, pools, lakes and any other areas of significant water, can pose extreme danger to small children. By ensuring that young kids are never alone in such settings, the risk of accidental drowning can be drastically lowered.Develop patience when dealing with a breastfeed baby who is trying to learn how to use a bottle. Breastfeeding comes naturally to them and bottle feeding doesn't. Make it a gradual process for the baby so that they are ready to transition when you are. It won't happen overnight so stay calm and just keep trying.Do not spank your child, no matter what they may have done wrong. Spanking actually has a negative effect on your child. Counselling could cause him or her to fear you and when they get older, they will think that hitting is okay. In the long run, spanking can cause a child to become violent.Having a picky eat can be very difficult at times. Make sure you are offering them plenty of different foods. Also make sure to serve their favorite foods often as long as they are healthy. Have them at least try one bite before they decide not to have any of it.Even if your sick child begins to show signs of feeling better after a few days of antibiotics, you should follow the doctor's orders exactly and finish the course of therapy. If your child does not finish the entire dosing plan, weakened bacteria may remain in his or system and become resistant to the antibiotics.Make sure your swings and mobiles use plugs over batteries. When you have twins you are using two of everything and that will include double the batteries. Save yourself the extra cost by only buying or registering for items that you can plug in so that you won't have to take out a mortgage for batteries.Use your smart phone as a baby monitor. If you are visiting someone's home or you are on vacation and do not have your monitor, you can download an application that will let your phone function as a monitor. If the baby makes a noise, your phone will call a number that you put into the application.Use your smart phone to soothe your baby with noise. You can download a white noise application and then place the phone near your child. This is particularly useful if you are going for a walk or if your child is riding in the car. You do not have to use white noise; there are a wide range of other calming sounds available.Using win/win negotiating strategies to help resolve the every day disputes that often arise between siblings can go a long way to help reduce fighting. When children quarrel, focus on trying to help them see that there is a solution that will get everyone's needs met. Ask for their suggestions first and then offer more of your own.Be sure to discipline with love. If you take the time to correct your child's actions they are sure to develop into the person that you desire them to be. Set rules and stick to them and be sure to discipline your child immediately when they break the rules that you have set for them.Encourage your kids to participate in extra-curricular activities like sports and clubs. This will encourage the child to be more social and to make friends, which they will most likely take with them into adulthood. As importantly, if your children are involved with positive activities, they are less likely to get in trouble.Having children is natural, but that doesn't mean you automatically know everything about parenting. Talking with other parents about your experiences is something that commonly happens and is welcomed. Children can be tough to deal with, so as a parent, you want gain as much knowledge from other people who have gone through this experience. Useful tips on parenting can come from anywhere, but they are always helpful.