Coconut Oil for Newborns? What You Need to Know

Whether you are a first time mom or a fifteenth time mom, I am sure that we can all agree that doing what is best (and safe) for our babies is our number one priority. Right? Right. It gets hard, though!!! Knowing what is best (and safe) for our babies used to be easier, I’m sure. Today, though, there are thousands and thousands of products marketed to babies, specifically newborns, out there to choose from. Do we buy this brand or that brand? Do we go this way or that way? Do we test this or try that? As a mom, I just want a one size fits all approach to my baby’s health. That’s why, mothers reading this right now, I’m here to talk about coconut oil.

Yeah, you read that right. I’m here to talk about the magic that is coconut oil. Have you heard about it yet? Aside from breast milk, coconut oil treats everything.  Continue reading →

Posted on by Desiree Jones 0

Words of Encouragement for Children

As an adult, I have realized that there are certain words of encouragement from my childhood that come to mind from time to time. These phrases are said in the voices of my grandparents and my parents. Their influence has shaped who I am today as a professional woman, wife, and mom. I call them my pillars because they have held me up since I was a little girl.

As I look at my children, I desire for them to have a solid ground to stand on as they grow and develop. I want them to have similar phrases, statements, and words that come to mind regularly when they begin to feel discouraged, lonely, or even at the best of times in their lives. What our children hear over and over again will stick with them. Words have power and seep slowly down into our hearts and become beliefs. Continue reading →

Posted on by Amy A. Sylvestre 0

Best Car Seats for Small Cars

2015 was a milestone year for me.  Granted, it was a milestone many people reach before I did.  In 2015 I bought my Ford Focus.  I was so proud, I felt like I had made it. Now, I realize most people buy a car before they are 27 but I had never needed one before. When I was in high school my older brother was happy to drive me places (I know I am super lucky to have a brother like that) and he would jump at any excuse to get behind the wheel of his car.  When he couldn’t be my chauffeur, I would carpool with friends. Then I went to college and grad school where there was public transportation.

In 2013, I moved to New York and I relied on the subway or the bus along with what seemed like every single person in Manhattan.  When I moved back home I couldn’t put it off any longer…I needed a car. After a ton of research and a few test drives, I bought my Ford Focus and I fell in love with it. It was a great deal and has all of the bells and whistles. Sunroof, leather seats, navigation, the works. But, its blessing is also its curse…it is a very small car. I am talking ‘barely fits an adult in the back seat’ small. So, in 2016 when I got pregnant the search for the best car seats for small cars was on. Continue reading →

Posted on by Angelina 0

Are Baby Walkers Safe?

Is there anything cuter than a baby that’s just learning to stand and walk? I mean, honestly. Their chubby little legs are wobbling under the weight of their chubby little bodies and they’re so happy because they’re so proud of themselves!

My baby started standing at 8 months, taking a step here and there at 9 months, and full on walking by 10 months. I’m, literally, chuckling to myself picturing the time my daughter stood up for the first time by herself. She was ready to zoom but those little legs weren’t working the way she wanted them to, yet! It must have been super frustrating. When I first put her in a baby walker, she was beside herself with joy! Her baby walker ended up being a lifesaver, but before I bought one I really wanted to make sure it was safe. Continue reading →

Posted on by Desiree Jones 0

The Best Infant Baby Tents

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 →

Posted on by Amy A. Sylvestre 0

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 →

Posted on by Amy A. Sylvestre 0

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 →

Posted on by Aris 0

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 →

Posted on by Angelina 0

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 →

Posted on by Amy A. Sylvestre 0

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 →

Posted on by Angelina 0