You guys, I’m so excited. The eternal winter has finally ended and the warm weather is, officially, here to stay! I’m so ready for these warm days because it means soaking in that precious Vitamin D and spending my days by the pool. This year is particularly special, though. This summer, I’ll have a newborn. While I could freak out about the fact that I’ll now have two kids under 2.5, I’m deciding to be so excited about the fact that now I get to make summers special for my own kids! Newborns are extra, extra, extra vulnerable, though, so I went on a search for the best baby tents to keep my little one protected for the long days we’ll inevitably spend outside this year. Continue reading
What Do I Really Need in My Baby’s Nursery?
As a new or expecting parent, it can be extremely overwhelming trying to decide exactly what you will need for your baby. You could empty your bank account filling up your home with every cute item from the baby aisles or while shopping online. It seems like there are new baby items coming on the market all the time. As a new mom or dad, you might feel like you need to buy everything advertised to make it easier as you think about bringing your new baby home for the first time. But, how do you answer the question, “What do I really need in my baby’s nursery?”
As a mom, I have thought about this a lot and I have narrowed down which items I think are really necessary to complete your baby’s nursery. In the last five years, I have also had to move a lot so I have had to think simply when it came to my home including the baby’s nursery. I want my baby’s nursery to be functional, adorable, and not overly cluttered. Continue reading
The Best Baby Carrier: What You Need to Know
Okay, so I have a legitimate question for everyone reading this article: Is there anything better than baby snuggles? The simple act of a baby sleeping soundly on your chest is, I’m convinced, the answer to world peace. The world would be a much better place if everyone could just walk around with a sweet, sleeping, babe attached to the front of their bodies. I’m sure of it. That’s why I’m such a big advocate of baby wearing. I’m obsessed with it.
The benefits for everyone involved (which I’ll get into later on) are innumerable and, when you find the best baby carrier for your situation and body, it’s truly the most practical thing you can do with a newborn. Continue reading
Math Board Games For Kids and Why You Should Start Using Them Today
Math… a word that strikes fear into the hearts of not only kids but also adults. I’ll never forget when I was learning long division I literally thought to myself, “there is nothing harder than this!” I toiled for hours over each problem, racking my brain for solutions. I thought it was difficult and I thought it was boring. Surprisingly, math doesn’t have to be boring. Making any subject into a game will catch a child’s attention and trick them into learning. Math board games for kids is the perfect place to get started!
My parents used a similar method to teach spelling. I can remember when I was learning the word “brigadier.” I couldn’t correctly spell it to save my life. My parents had me play a game where frogs playing instruments taught spelling. Looking back, that game was ridiculous but it was because of that game that I learned how to spell that word, the one which mocked my command of the English language…brigadier. Continue reading
Night Time Toys for Toddlers
When it comes to parenting little ones, sleep is a big deal not only the children but also for the parents. Sleep challenges are not limited to when your child is an infant but can affect them at every stage including the toddler years.
Your little one can struggle to settle down, to fall asleep, and to stay asleep for the night. It is normal for your toddler to wake up in the night and not be able to go back to sleep without your help and attention.
Tantrums at bedtime can also occur during these young years when your toddler is battling separation anxiety or fear of the dark. There is no one solution for all sleep challenges with our children but creating bedtime routines can be extremely helpful to building healthy sleep habits for your toddlers. Continue reading
One Pregnant Mama’s Hunt for Sexy Maternity Swimwear
Spring may be hiding this year, but (if it knows what’s good for it) summer will be here before we know it. That means beach days galore! This year, I have the pleasure of being pregnant (I mean really pregnant like I’m due in the beginning of August pregnant) for the summer fun. Watch out whales in the sea, you’ve got some competition! Just kidding. I actually have never felt sexier in my skin than I do while pregnant. There’s just something about that ginormous growing belly that really gives me confidence in my curves. Crazy, right? Here’s my dilemma: flattering maternity clothes and, more specifically, maternity swimwear. Continue reading
Guest Post: Why Is Playful Parenting Important For You and Your Children?
Reading the Playful Parenting book by Lawrence J. Cohen truly widened and gave another dimension to the way I was looking at parenting.
Truth be told, the best way of resonating with someone, no matter if we are talking about a child in its infant stage or an adult, is to get on the same mental and intellectual level. And while it is impossible to ask from someone to get on the same level of intellect with a 4-year old child, we should give our best to find common ground with them. Continue reading
Best Remote Control Helicopters for Kids
If you could see my son’s room, you would know very quickly what his daddy does for a living. He is a news helicopter pilot in a major city. We have all types of toy helicopters that he loves to play with that he has gotten over the years. He has also received quite a few from family and friends because of his daddy’s career. We often joke that he has his own fleet of helicopters.
As he gets older, I know that this love of helicopters is only going to grow. It is so fun to see children use their imaginations with fun toys like remote control helicopters. He pretends that he is a rescue helicopter coming to save the day or he pretends that he is reporting the traffic like his daddy. Even though my husband flies real ones, he also enjoys interacting with our son with his toy helicopters. They fly them around the house and even outside. Continue reading
From Tween to Teen – Teen Boy Room Ideas
It’s probably hard to believe that your little boy has finally become a teenager. Their bedrooms need to evolve with them as they grow. After all, your son’s room isn’t reflective of the baby stage anymore. You’ve made updates to their room from baby to toddler, from toddler to school ager, and from school-ager to tween.
And, just like that, your “tween” became a “teen.” So, it’s time to update things yet again. If you are in need of teen boy room ideas, read on to gain some awesome tips and tricks for creating the perfect bedroom space for your growing young man. Continue reading
5 Things You Should Never Say To Your Child
If you are a new parent, you will be told to read and speak to your child from the day they are born and as often as you can.
As your child graduates from babyhood into toddlerhood, you will most likely find yourself talking to your child even more. Most of it will be things like, “No. Don’t put that in your mouth” or “Don’t hit others with your truck!” Occasionally, you will also find yourself saying positive things like, “I am so proud of you” and “I love you”.
We parents often have to remind ourselves to focus on the positive and not the negatives when bringing up our children. And gosh, that can be extremely difficult, especially if your toddler is experiencing the Terrible Twos or Threes. Continue reading