Being outdoors absolutely provides the best activity outlets to kids when it comes to learning and fun! There’s just so much for them to explore and enjoy out in the open, thanks to the unending wonders of nature. At times, however, your little ones may not get to revel in the fun that they usually do outdoors. Whether it’s due to the scorching summer heat or the fact that you and your partner are both busy running some errands, there are days when your kids have to remain within the confines of your house. It’s during moments like these that you must involve your little ones in activities that not only keep them busy, but also help contribute to their overall development.
Tag Archives: baby
How to Sanitize and Store Your Baby Stuff
You may have noticed that I’ve been a bit absent, well I’ve been pack pack packin’ away. We move on Thursday and I’ve been busy! Since I’m preoccupied with moving, I’ve got a lovely guest post for you today. Enjoy! 🙂
You have probably noticed, that with the appearance of your baby, there is certainly a huge list of things to buy. All the baby equipment such as chairs, strollers as well as other tiny items need to be bought if you want to ensure the utmost comfort for your infant. However, you also need to be well informed on how to sanitize and to store all the baby stuff that you may want to preserve for your next baby.
Instead of throwing away all the items, you can preserve them in an immaculate condition, simply by taking into account the following tips.
You would probably say that there is a never-ending list of items that need to be sanitized and stored, but thanks to this article you will be able to make a list of all the basic baby stuff that you should clean and store in a safe and appropriate place.
Potty Training in a Weekend – Success!
If you recall, a week and a half (or so) ago, I had written that I was going to be venturing into the potty training territory with Emmett. I was SUUPER nervous, but he was showing signs that he was ready, and it’s not fair for me to hold him back because of my worries, or because I don’t want him to grow up. 😉
Since, it’s been about 13 days, I wanted to provide you with an update on how things are going. I’m sure you’ve all been dying to hear more about my son’s potty habits, right!? 😛 (PS: This is a long post, but I hope you’ll stick around.)
Did We Succeed?
In a word, YES! Emmett is officially potty trained, but please know that it was not easy.
We followed the method that Becky Mansfield writes about in her book, Potty Train in a Weekend. The book is great! She goes into incredible detail about things like how many potty chairs you should have (yes, you should probably have more than one, if you follow this method), which potty chairs she prefers, and then what to look for as you begin your journey.
Emmett’s my first child, so I was clueless, however, after reading Becky’s book, I felt VERY prepared.
So here’s how it went…
We started on a Friday… The second I heard Emmett start to stir in his room, I went in to get him up and out of his diaper. I plopped him on his little stand alone potty chair (we love this potty), and he kind of just sat there for maybe a minute, and stared at me. He knew it was a potty chair, but not what to really do in it.
After a bit of him sitting there, I declared it breakfast time. Now, he was bare bottomed all day, and actually in the book, she recommends them being completely naked. However, we live in Buffalo and it’s chilly, so he had a long sleeved, tight fitting shirt on, and warm socks. You need to be able to see when they start to pee, so that you can rush them onto the potty. This is critical on the first day!
Friday was hard. We couldn’t leave the house, because I needed to watch him, so that I could rush him to the potty as soon as he started to pee. We pulled out every possible toy we could think of.
By 11 am, he still hadn’t peed, in the potty or anywhere else. I was starting to think he was holding it in, or resisting potty training. (I was feeding him loads of fluids, too.) Around 11:30, I noticed him start to leak a bit, I picked him up and immediately put him on the potty and told him to “Go Pee.” He did it! He went pee pee on the potty!
This was our song after the first time peeing on the potty!!… Continue Reading
100+ Tips for Breastfeeding Success
Breastfeeding a newborn, can be one of the most difficult things that you do, but there has NEVER been something more worth it in your life!
In the beginning, you’re unsure of what you’re doing, your child knows what to do, but may not latch correctly, which can lead to painful, cracked nipples, or your child under-eating. However, there ARE ways to overcome this, and still have 100% success for you and for your child.
The BEST piece of advice that I can give you, is DO NOT GIVE UP! Yes, things may be difficult, and you might have times in the beginning where you are exhausted and want sleep, but don’t quit. It DOES get easier, and eventually, it is the most amazing time spent with your child. That time is just for you and your baby, no one else can have that… think about how special that is! Think of the bonds that will be built. 🙂
Side note: One thing, that I think is incredibly important to mention – My intention when writing this is not to criticize a mom who chose to formula feed, but to encourage those moms who are struggling with breastfeeding.
Potty Training in a Weekend
Morning everyone! This is going to be a pretty short post, but I wanted to share what’s on our agenda.
We’re starting potty training today!
You’re probably thinking, big woopdie-doo, people start potty training their toddlers all the time, right? Well, we’re going to be following a slightly different method with Emmett. (We’re always so nontraditional, aren’t we!?) Anyhoo – we’re going to be training him in 1 weekend, or rather 3 days, following the book from Becky Mansfield – Your Modern Family.
Celebrate the Holidays – NOT the Food
I was going to start this post by saying that the holidays are on their way, but let’s be real, they’re here. Thanksgiving is 3 days away, and Christmas is 30 or so days away – they’re definitely here!
This is a time of the year where people tend to let their bad habits come back into play and claim that they’ll start anew after the first of the year. I was typically one of those people, but I’m not this year. Nope! No way, no how! I thought since I’ve shared my journey with you, I’d take some time to explain how I plan on staying focused on my health this year.
I would say, nearly every year since I can remember has been spent telling myself that it’s okay to OVER indulge and gain a little weight, because the first of the year is right around the corner, and what better time to restart the weightloss journey than January one? Am I right?
This year, I decided to do something a little differently, technically A LOT differently for me. I plan on treating this time of the year the same way I do every other part of the year, when it comes to food. I’m not going to eat like it’s my last meal, or like I’ll never have the food again – I’m going to enjoy what I want, but in moderation.
Easier said than done, right?
Usually I would agree, but something is different for me, this time around. The other day, while celebrating early Thanksgiving with my family, I didn’t feel the normal pull of 2nd and 3rd helpings. And, I was even asked if I wanted more squash/potatoes/cranberry sauce/turkey, but I said no to all of it. I was full, I knew it, and my belly knew it. Instead, I spent the precious time with my family all together, laughing and not focusing on the food on the table or going in my mouth.
I imagine the experience was similar to how a naturally thin person would eat. I knew there was food in front of me, I knew I wanted to eat some of it, but I wasn’t concerned about the amount I’d eat. It was an amazing feeling!!
I can’t really pinpoint exactly what has caused this change in mindset, but what I can share are the many different things I am doing to better myself, and have a healthier relationship with food.
So far, in the last couple months I’ve…
- Read a couple different self-help books
- Started drinking Shakeology daily – I truly believe that this is a huge part of why my cravings are manageable.
- Stopped hating on myself constantly – I used to be so mean to myself, now, about 80% (I’m working on the other 20) of the time, I am kind and loving and am more accepting of my flaws.
- Started working out regularly – Any workout will really get you feeling better, but doing it regularly will change your entire mind.
- Actually listening to the complements that my husband gives me – Probably seems like an easy one, but it was actually pretty difficult. I just never saw what he did, I shut that part of me up and now listen to Seamus.
- Stopped worrying about whether I’ll ever have another Big Mac, slice of pizza, chicken fingers, etc., again – I tell myself that there will be another opportunity for these foods, but I have to really want them (except for the pizza, that I will splurge on, or make at home).
See… I’ve made a lot of changes! But, let me make one thing very clear, I am not 100% perfect with any of these areas. I still struggle with food, but since admitting and becoming more aware of my triggers, my bingeing and bad relationship with food has gotten much much better.
So yeah, I’m excited about this holiday season because it means lots of time with family, who I only see a few times a year. The food? Well, that’s just an added bonus!!
Curious to know more about my poor relationship with food? You can read all about my struggles with Binge Eating Disorder by clicking here.
Your turn!
Have you made any changes in regards to your eating or relationship with food? Or are you waiting until the new year to get started?
What’s your tried and true trick to help stave off the cravings?
Please share in the comments below!
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How to Choose the Best Diapers for Your Tot
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. Thank you for supporting my family!! #CollectiveBias
If you’re pregnant, you know that diapers are a given. There are a bunch of different options out there, you can go the cloth route, or any one of the disposable options that are available. I knew, when Emmett was born, that we would go with disposable, I commend those that use cloth diapers, but it just wasn’t for me.
We started with a name brand, but found it to be very pricey and no more effective that Wal-mart’s brand Parent’s Choice diapers. When we decided to give the Parent’s Choice diapers a try, I’ll admit to being skeptical. I had heard horror stories of how some store brand diapers didn’t work very well. However, I was pleasantly surprised! They fit Emmett’s little tush as well as any other diaper we tried, and they were (and continue to be) SUPER absorbent.
The true test for me was when we would take his diaper off after a nap and it would be full of pee, but his bottom would still feel dry. No one wants their baby or toddler sitting in a damp diaper, that’s what causes a diaper rash. There’s none of that with Parent’s Choice diapers.
Let me also let you in on a little secret – these diapers are so SO affordable!! Depending on the size of diaper your child wears, will determine how much you’re paying per diaper. But, as a for instance, Emmett currently wears a size 6, if you look at the graphic below, you will see that each diaper in a size 6 costs $0.26!! That’s kind of insane! Considering a competitor brand can cost $0.44 a piece. That’s almost double!! By switching to Parent’s Choice, we’re saving about $240 annually. That’s well worth the switch!!
And if you’re looking for the new and improved Parent’s Choice diapers, here are the Walmarts that carry them!!
How to Choose the Best Diapers for Your Tot
- Determine What Will Fit into Your Budget – Realistically, you’re going to be paying for diapers until your tot is at least two. Some toddlers will potty train early, but others will not. So, don’t get your heart set on a brand that is out of your price range, and you won’t want to pay ~$50 a month for 2 or 3 years.
- Try Several Different Brands – Once you’ve determined what you can afford, try different brands that fit in your budget. This will give you the opportunity to see what will fit around your cutie’s legs and waist. My advice is to get very small bags of each brand you try, you don’t want to waste money by buying too many and having none of them fit.
- Look for a Gap – Sure, when your baby is brand new, diapers may seem a little giant on them, but be sure to check around the legs, ESPECIALLY, to ensure little to no gapping. Blowouts are common in tiny babies, and I’m sure you’d rather avoid the mess coming out of the leg holes. 🙂
- Pay Attention to the Weight Guidelines – If you look at the packages of all Parent’s Choice diapers, they have the weight guidelines for each size of diaper. Remember, it is a guide, so your tot may not be ready to move up when they hit a specific weight, but in the same token, they may need to jump ahead early. Just make a mental note.
- Baby’s Comfort – If you’re noticing any red indentations around your baby or toddler’s waist or legs, it may mean that the current diaper you’re using is too tight or just doesn’t fit your child well. Don’t leave them to be uncomfortable, make the switch to a different brand.
I highly recommend you use these 5 tips when trying to ensure a diaper is a good fit for you child. However, before you go out and splurge on expensive diapers, I highly recommend you give Parent’s Choice a try.
Right now, you can use this coupon and get a discount on your next purchase of Parent’s Choice diapers. #BabyDiapersSavings
Your turn!
Have you ever tried Parent’s Choice diapers? If so, what are you thoughts?
How did you determine which brand of disposable diapers to go with, or if you use cloth, how did you choose that route?
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. Thank you for supporting my family!
