Blog Topic: Parenting
Sleepy Anyone?
I read recently that new mothers lose between 400 and 750 hours of sleep during the first year of their child’s life.That is 7 to 14 hours a week!!Not even considering that the sleep you do get is often interrupted and scattered throughout the day.My children are so close together that I often... Read Article
Oh The Clothes!!!
Everyone loves baby cloths, whether they are parents, grand parents, aunts, uncles or just know someone having a bay. And why not; baby cloths are completely adorable. However, once you become a parent the closet is in constant need of supervision and organization.
It starts at the baby... Read Article
Forgetting The Pains Of The Past
If you are pregnant now or if childbirth is a not so distant memory surely you can vividly recall the pains of pregnancy.You may recollect “morning sickness” that did not leave when the morning was over.For many the torture takes place at night, interrupting your sleep.These nighttime... Read Article
Beyond Baby Proofing
It is common knowledge, even to those without children, that you have to baby-proof your home.It is imperative that you place breakables out of reach and take measures to prevent toddlers from hurting themselves by taking measures such as plug protectors and cabinet locks.
What people sometimes... Read Article
Road Trip With Baby
Summer is just around the corner and for many that means family vacations or visits to far away relatives. This can be an almost daunting task for new parents. There are a few things you can do to help make the family road trip a little easier on everyone.
Traveling with and infant can, in some... Read Article
How To Celebrate Your First Mothers Day
If this is your first year as the mother being celebrated, these following tips should help make your day even more special and memorable. Motherhood is one of the hardest responsibilities that women have. It is also the lowest paying and least appreciated. Therefore, one day a year, we get... Read Article
Time To Go “night Night”
Bedtime routines can help a baby to get to bed easier. Knowing what to expect will help your child to relax and realize what is expected of them and when. The sooner and more consistent your routine is the better luck you will have. I have also found this system helpful for nap times, although I have... Read Article
Busy Momma
Your days are packed full of things to do especially when you have kids. Avoid wasted time by finding your family rhythm and establishing some routines to help keep things moving along and buy you a few more minutes and a few less things forgotten. I have made many trips back home because I forgot... Read Article
Mom’s #1 Tool
Is Baby feeling grumpy? Is your toddler feeling restless? Are your kids just annoying each other? Now is the perfect time to break out Mom’s #1 Secret tool: distraction. No matter the reason for the undesirable behavior distraction can help. When dealing with toddlers and babies it is more... Read Article
When Is The Right Time To Start Baby On Solid Food?
In most cases, parents will have to decide this depending on the child. Your baby may give you signals that he or she wants to try something new in their diet however.
There will come a time when you feel like all baby wants to do is eat. Baby will not be full after feeding, and... Read Article
Brain Development And Learning
From the first moments after the birth of your child, it will become perfectly clear that you are the center of his or her whole universe. While that realization may be exhilarating and give you a sense of confidence, it may also be very frightening. To know that this tiny being depends solely upon... Read Article
“doodle Doo Dada”
When your child is learning to talk it is a very serious milestone. However, it does not have to be serious all the time. Kids love the sound of rhymes and enjoy mimicking animal sounds. You may notice that some of your child’s first words are “moo” and “quack”.
Baby Bath Time
Giving your newborn a bath can sometimes be a little tricky. That delicate little bundle can be slippery when wet and full of surprises. Some children love bath time and others want to convince the neighbors that you are trying to drown them. Here are a couple tips to help make bath time a little... Read Article
Stop Crying Please!!
There are many reasons you baby may be crying and none of them are just to irritate you. Many parents find a mental checklist helps them to get to the root of the cry and help to calm baby down.
Is she hungry? That one is easy, it is dinner time.
Is her diaper dirty? Another easy solution. However... Read Article
Baby Gear
Every year more and more new baby accessories flood the market. Some are worth the money, some simply frivolous. There are a few accessories that your mother would have loved to have owned when you were a child. Here is the short list of items I don’t know how anyone could live without.
By... Read Article
Another Sleepless Night
Even if you are blessed and your child does not have colic you can still expect a few sleepless nights. Babies do not know what to do or how to communicate when they don’t feel well so they cry and cry and then they cry some more. Nothing can make you feel more helpless or exhausted than another... Read Article
Checkup Time
Taking your child to the doctor can be nerve-wracking and stressful leading in many cases to breakdowns and long crying jags. It can also be difficult for your child. The doctor will take a long critical look at your child and ask lots of questions to decide if your child’s development is on... Read Article
You Reap What You Sow….Especially When You Are Talking To A Toddler
After spending months talking to your child without knowing for sure if your child understands a word you are saying it is exciting when you can finally understand a few syllables. Usually the first words are simple like mama, dada, and baba. Finally around one year and a half or so your child learns... Read Article
One, Two, Three Or More
How do you know when your family is complete? How many children is enough for you? How many is too many? This is a very individual decision. When I was scheduling my third c-section I was asked repeatedly if I wanted to have a Tubal Ligation also. I was shocked at this question. How could I decide... Read Article
Dad, Now Is The Time
Yes, Dad it is time to step up your game. Your child’s homecoming can be overwhelming for everyone involved. Not only are you getting used to having a baby in the house, mom is also recovering from childbirth or surgery. Along with lack of sleep, hormone changes and newborn duties, there is... Read Article
Parenting Advice
Have you ever gotten advice from a friend or family member, which although given with the best intentions, was just wrong? The art of raising children has changed an awful lot since we were babies. So many things that were common then, seem simply ridiculous to us. On the other hand, though, there... Read Article
The Inevitable Nickname
Regardless of how carefully and specifically you choose your child’s name it will at some point get changed or substituted for another name no matter how much kicking and screaming you do. This all too common occurrence can happen in several ways at different times in their life.
Example One... Read Article
After Baby Comes Home
A friend of mine just became a dad for the first time, and his excitement and astonishment has infected me with a bit of nostalgia. It’s been awhile, but I do remember the early days and nights spent with my babies.
I remember the amazement of holding a real live... Read Article
Battling Constipation
Constipation is a common problem for babies and toddlers. This problem can be a little difficult to identify but can cause major discomfort to your child. It can cause tummy aches, irritability and fussiness. I have even seen increased problems in reflux and spitting up during particularly difficult... Read Article
Building Family Traditions
There are many family traditions that you may have experienced as a child. Some may continue on while others fade. Now that you have a child of your own it is time to think about starting some traditions of your own. These don’t have to be as elaborate as hiking through the snowy mountains to cut... Read Article
Christmas Craziness
Likely you are knee-deep in planning all of your Christmas activities just about now. The difference this year is that you have a new baby to worry about and along with that comes new concerns. Will all of this Christmas rush be too much excitement for her to handle? How will you possibly get all... Read Article
Milestones
Forget the laundry, forget the dishes, and order a pizza….. There is nothing I would rather do than to spend hours staring and studying every little movement and wiggle of this precious bundle. This is how many mothers and fathers spend much of their time as new parents. It is great, but can... Read Article
Parenting Is A Full Time Job.
Parenting is more than just a full time job.
Making the choice to be a stay at home parent is not always an easy one. For many people, it is not even an option. Two incomes are simply necessary for survival. Parents, who would love the chance to be at home with their children... Read Article
Getting To Know Your Child’s Sleep Preferences
Every person has a way of sleeping that suits their individual preferences. Whether those preferences are environmental or positional, you are most comfortable and can get the best sleep when everything is just the way you like it. Some people like to snuggle, some want the room pitch black and others... Read Article
He Listens?
Having a one-year old around the house is fun and frustrating. It is filled with days of discovering and mastering new things. It is also filled with a million “don’t touch that”, “that is not a toy”, and “the dog is not for chewing on”. You speak and your... Read Article
Newborn Necessities
Shopping for the expected baby
Baby things are so adorable, and so expensive. Which of the many newborn accessories do you really need? It can be an adventure, trying to make sure that you will have everything that your new baby will need. You will however end up with a lot of items... Read Article
Trick Or Treat
Trick or Treat!
In our family, Halloween is waited for with more anticipation than even Christmas. My girls are dedicated trick or treaters through and through. There is just something about this day that is a child’s fantasy come true.
· You get... Read Article
Outsmarted By A One Year Old
I received a frantic call late one evening from my sister-in-law, “Did the twins leave their binkies (blankets) at your house?” Sure enough, there they were sitting on the chair in the living room. Two soft little blankets, one blue and one pink, which the twins never left their house... Read Article
Talking Poop Over Dinner
Having a baby changes everything. It is so cliché but it is also true. Your focus is suddenly turned to this completely helpless, adorable, heart-stealing infant. You shop for tiny outfits, make sure every person that touches your infant washes their hands first and you have suddenly become... Read Article
Reading Really Is Fundamental
So when is the right time to start reading to your child? Before they can talk? Before they start school? Actually, before... Read Article
Which Is Harder To Handle, Big Kids Or Little Ones?
Which are harder to handle, big kids or little kids?
As the mother of both, I can only tell you that each age group has good days and bad. Getting through the bad times is a whole easier if you try to remember the good days. And sometimes, you are going to have to try really hard. LOL
My oldest... Read Article
Choosing And Finding High Quality Child Care
Locating and choosing high-quality childcare is the most imperative interest that working parents have. The care children receive will play a significant part in a child's wellbeing and development. Parents need to bear in mind a range of factors when deciding who should care for their child. There... Read Article
Learning And Growing, Parents Do It Too
Parents learn and grow along with and because of their children. First time parents tend to be extremely meticulous about everything and veteran parents learn to let the small things go. It is perfectly healthy to wash bottles in the dishwasher, it is ok to let your baby sleep in your room, and babies... Read Article