Parenting Children

Bed time is a interesting time in this household. I really can’t complain too much my kids actually are good sleepers, besides my son nicknamed, The Rooster, waking up at the crack of dawn every day. Of course we have our bedtime rituals: brushing our teeth, singing a song and don’t forget to leave a closet light on! Out of the blue one day when my twins were three, they decided they were scared of the dark and needed the closet light on all night every night. The lights were too bright and it was terrible for my electric bill. Enter the MOBI portable rechargeable tykelight.

The tykelight is not a traditional night light, it has long lasting rechargeable batteries and a kid-friendly design. This lightweight, adorable light is perfect for my children. They can put it on their bed, or on their dresser at night. They use it in their tents during the day and they can carry it down the hallway to the bathroom in the night.
It comes in six fun colors and is the newest hit in my house! I love it because it illuminates up to 10 hours on a single charge! Choose from the bright or dim setting, depending on how much light your child will need.
It is also made from impact resistant plastic, so I know it is safe for my kids to handle.

I love the tykelight as much as my children. I think it will be great for camping trips and sleeping over grandma’s house. I have to admit I have been using the tykelight to nurse in the night, it is the perfect amount of light. At only $19.94, I also think it is our new “go to gift” for upcoming birthdays.

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Many parents these days are stepping back and taking a closer look at some of the traditional parenting gear we all use in our homes. We are looking to make sure the bottles we buy are BPA free, we are using homemade remedies for bee stings instead of reaching for the tube of who-knows-what. With the internet now in almost every home and the availability of information, we are questioning what are children’s toys are made of and demanding better. Here are some things you can make at home and never again have to question what ingredients are in them, plus they are better then store bought!

Baby Wipes
cut paper towels in half so you have two short rolls and remove the cardboard. Keep them in a airtight container (like an old baby wipe box or tupperware container), and pour the mixture over the paper towels. Put the lid back on the box and turn it upside down so the solution is absorbed.
2-1/4 cups water
1 tbsp baby oil
1 roll paper towels, cut in half
2 tbsp baby shampoo
make sure to mix gently

Baby Oil
4 ounces of oil (olive, almond, apricot, or sunflower)
5 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops orange essential oil

Pour your ingredients right into a bottle so you can easily pour, try using an old baby oil bottle. Just give a good shake to blend the oils and you’re all set.

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Believe me I know how hard it is to be inside with kids all day. New Jersey weather can be terrible sometimes and this winter was no different. It wasn’t snowy so we didn’t have that outdoor fun, but rainy and dreary. I have had to use my imagination when coming up with indoor fun without buying any other toys!

Stand outside a closed door in your home and ask your child to imagine what is behind that door. Is it a prehistoric land with dinosaurs? Is it a place where everyone can fly?

There is nothing better then a big box that can be a play house. Cut out little windows and maybe even a door. Let your child color or paint he outside of the “house”.

Give your child a deck of cards. Let them sort it by color, symbols or numbers. this is a great way to introduce math.

Put a blanket over a table or a couch to make a “tent”. This is also a great way to get kids to nap since they will nap easier in their play tent then in their beds!

Keep a box with old Halloween costumes for dress up play. When you clean out your old clothes or jewelry let your kids use it for dress up. Old hats, belts, jewelry or shirts are great for this. Have a fashion show or dress up for a tea party.

Let your child “paint” the sidewalk or driveaway with a paint brush and water. See how fast it evaporates in the sun.

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Dinner time or meal time can be hectic for any family. Getting kids to eat, getting everyone to sit down together and keeping children from fooling around are all hard tasks for my family. Today I am going to share with you some great tips for keeping mealtime sane and fun.

Make a placemat out of old mats. Cut them to size and cover with clear contact paper. This is great to get kids learning about our country or our world while waiting for dinner.

If your child has a friend over have them play “restaurant” and let them make their own snack. One of them can place their order and the other can “cook”. Little sandwiches or fruit skewers would be great.

Introduce new foods with ones your kids already like and call them “extras”. Make sure they try one new food a week.

At dinner ask everyone for their “news”. Go around and tell your favorite part of the day or if something exciting happened that day. Make sure you listen to your children’s day. Make sure they listen to you also, listening to each other is an important skill to learn.

Be creative. Let your children chose what they want in their burrito, salad or sandwich, even if it does not sound good to you.

Teach manners at the table by using them. Tell them why it is important to say “please” and “thank you”.

What tips or tricks do you have for dinner time with your family?

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I try not to watch The Rachel Ray show but sometimes you are held hostage in front of the TV for hours while you nurse your baby. I was watching an interview with Leah Remini from The King of Queens. She comes off as a tough New Yorker but she let on that she is a pushover at home. Who is bossing her? Her four year old daughter, Sofia.

“I’m very consistent; I give in,” says Leah. She says that her daughter runs the house, and her. Her one problem is getting her daughter to give up the bottle. She gives her six or more bottles a night!Setting limits and having rules lets your children know you care for them as much as refilling that bottle at 3am. Get tough.
I know you can do it, just put a little New Yorker into it!

Leah Remini, parenitng, parenting children, moms, setting limits for kids

I am not sure if it is hanging out with their older cousins, hearing kids at the park or just because they are five, but my the back talk has started in our house. From saying “whatever” to us when we tell them it is time for bed or talking back to each other, it almost never ends. I have tried various solutions, read books and researched just what to do when my kids have something to say after I do and I have come up with the following tactics.

Make sure that you set limits and kids know what is not OK to say to you or another adult. When my kids talk back to me, I always let them know it is not acceptable and give them one warning. The next step is a time out. Once you set limits, you have to stick to them. If you give them 30 chances before they get a punishment then they know they can get away with it. Yes it is hard to stick with it but worth it, I promise.
Sometimes I ignore their behavior, it usually stops right away if I don’t acknowledge it. I have told them ” I don’t hear you when you ask that way” That usually gets them asking in a nicer manner.

I also try to acknowledge when they are mad at me or a situation. I tell them it is OK to be mad or upset with me or their sibling and that I understand their feelings. I really try not to be dismissive with them or their feelings.

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I was so happy when I finally didn’t have to carry a diaper bag anymore. No more lugging around a huge, heavy bag where I could never find what I was looking for. This time around I am more organized, and I only have to pack for one baby which is a lot easier! Here is a checklist for what you should carry for your new little one:

Diapers- of course! You probably want to stick on the safe side and carry at least 5 of these.

Wipes- again, you want to err on the side of caution. I always carry a lot for dirty diapers as well as sticky hands and faces.
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In honor of Earth Day we are trying to become more environmentally friendly in our home every day and we are stepping it up a notch today. We do what we can in this house and every month we are trying to do a little more. Educating our kids on Earth Day is one of the things we are doing. Here are some ideas for what you can do with your kids today:

When they are brushing their teeth, teach them to turn off the water while they are brushing. According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Water Sense program, Americans use an average of 170 gallons of water per day. Saving water will help your pocketbook too.

Plant a tree today. Teach your children to respect and preserve the wilderness and wildlife. Buy a bird feeder and bird bath, plant flowers that butterflies like and plant some organic vegetables or fruit. Don’t use pesticides on your lawn or garden.

Visit your local farm or recycling center and teach your kids where their food comes from and where their garbage goes. Make sure you recycle in your home and let your kids help you.

Learn online, check out www.localharvest.org, ams.usda.gov., epa.gov or fishandwildlife.org.
Also check out this website for Earth Day coloring pages.

Finally, get outdoors! Go hiking, camping or to a park. The best motivations for protecting the planet is to enjoy it. What is a better time than Earth Day?

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We are always searching for family things to do. We luckily live in an area of NJ where there are a ton of family friendly events but they are scarce in the winter. A great resource for families are museums. Your children will appreciate them in different ways as they grow and they are perfect for families with kids of varying age differences.

Natural history museums are the best to check out dinosaurs and most kids love dinosaurs. Some great museums are the American Museum of Natural History NY, NY (they have the only intact velociraptor skull!), Museum of L.A. County in California and the National Museum of Natural History Washington, D.C.
Art museums usually have great programs for kids to spark their interest in art. Check your local museum for children’s programs. Let them create their own art when you get home. If you hate the mess, (like I do) then let them paint outside or paint in your husband’s old t shirts. Have them recreate some of their favorite pieces of art they have just seen.

Our favorites are our local children’s museums. My kids never tire of visiting! They can pretend they are a news anchor, learn about electricity and animals and dance on a stage.
Some of the other museums that are cool are the Matchbox Museum in Newfield, NJ, Ripley’s Believe it Or Not Museum Orlando, FL and the World’s Largest Toy Museum Branson, MO.

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As I said in my previous post, I forgot so much from when my twins were newborns. I find myself rushing to their baby books to see when they lost their umbilical cord or how much they weighed at their first checkup. I also find myself asking my sister, who has an older son, when my kids should start activities. Here are some guidelines for when to start activities with your child.

Swimming lessons-You should sign up for swim lessons or mom & baby swim classes when you feel comfortable. Let your baby or child get used to splashing around in the water. At age four children usually have the cognitive ability to realize they are in trouble in the water and can do something about it or call for help.

Horseback riding- usually at age five children can have lessons.

Skateboarding and skating-ages seven to eight is good for these skills and they really should be supervised until maybe age 10, especially when in the street. Most “wheeled” injuries occur in children ages ten to fourteen.

Soccer- is the safest sport. Age six is a great age to start soccer although I know they offer it in my town for five year olds, and my kids will play when they are five and a half.

Dancing- I think you are never too young to start dancing and dance class for toddlers will only help with coordination and making friends. A mom and tot dance class is a great way for mom to burn off some calories while bonding with her child!

Kids love to play in water. If you are a parent, you know that already. we have even let our kids run around in their clothing in the rain. You are only young once and what is the harm of a little water? here are some ideas for fun with water for your kids:

-Squirt shaving cream into a disposable muffin tin. Add a couple of drops of food dye into each cup and stir. (only use a small amount, you don’t want a green kid after soaking for awhile!)
Let your kids paint themselves and the walls. Hose them and the walls down when everyone is done!

-Help your children build boats and rafts from craft sticks, Styrofoam blocks, aluminum trays, egg cartons, etc. Put your boats to float in a wading pool, sink, or bathtub.

-Pair off children and have them face their partner. Have the kids toss a water balloon to each other. Every time the balloon is caught the child that caught the balloon takes a step back. When they miss they usually get splattered with water.

-If you are having a sun shower break out the slip and slide, you don’t even need the hose!

-Play “tag” with the hose. Who ever gets “hit” with the spray of water from a hose or a water shooter is it.

-Use eyedroppers to drip watercolors on stiff clear plastic. Let the paint dry in the sun, then hang the art in a window.
With a Group

-Dig for worms outside, there will be plenty on a rainy day.

It wasn’t until a couple of months before I gave birth to our third baby that I thought about diapers. When I was pregnant with the twins, it wasn’t a thought, we would use disposables like everyone else did. Now we are trying to be more “green” and Earth friendly so I did decide to look into other options and share what I found out with all of you.

Cloth diapers- usually sells for about $1.25 per diaper which is more expensive up front but will save money in the long run. Of course there are more expensive ones that have pretty fabrics and are easier to put on with velcro instead of using pins. Those can run you up to $15.00 per diaper. Cloth diapers require more, care. The contents need to be dumped into a toilet and then put into a bucket waiting for wash day.
A little too “crunchy” for me.

Disposable diapers- These will run $.20-.25 per diaper but you can get them for as little as $.17 per diaper if you clip coupons, watch for sales and order online in bulk. They are the most time efficient to put on, take off and no washing! These are the most environmentally unfriendly because they end up in landfills and don’t break down for hundreds of years.

gDiapers- These are the newest and trendiest “cloth” diapers on the market. They are $27.00 for a starter kit and run $.37 each for replacement pads. They look like regular cloth diapers but they are flushable! A huge plus but make sure you have a good toilet, because these can be a plumbing “don’t”! They are the most expensive choice I found but the most earth friendly.

Which diapers do you use for your child?

diapers, diapering, gDaipers, cloth diapers, cloth diapering, parenting, parenting children, infants, babies

Sometimes I just get bored with sandwiches. Sometimes I just don’t have deli meats or bread in the house. (Hey, cut me some slack I just had a baby!) My kids get bored with sandwiches every day too, so I try to be creative and unique with lunches, or dinners for that matter, and give my kids variety and it gives them an opportunity to try new foods too! Here are some of our favorite ideas:

Veggies and dip. Put string beans in a hallowed out pepper, bake some pita to make your own pita “chips” and if your kids hate raw veggies cook and cool them first.
DIP
1 greek plain yogurt (7oz)
1 garlic clove, pressed
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2C mayo
1 tablespoon dill and mint chopped
1/2 cucumber
1 teaspoon lemon juice

To make:
Grate the peeled and seeded cucumber and squeeze dry in paper towel and add to bowl
Add the rest of the ingredients and combine
Serve with veggies

Try chicken salad or egg salad in a lettuce leaf instead of bread
Try hummus or guacamole (two of my kids favorites) instead of dips
Go pick your own at a local farm, your kids will be more likely to eat the veggies if they see where they are grown and pick them themselves!
Don’t forget about edamame, kids love these and you can even buy them chelled in teh frozen section of your grocery store

What are your favorite substitutes for sandwiches or traditional lunches?

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Today is World Autism Awareness Day. Now the autism rate is 1 in 150 births compared to 1 in 10,000 in 1983. The rate of autism in New Jersey bosy is 1 in 6, so you can see why I am scared. Does it have to do with the amount of vaccinations given, what is in the vaccines or the environment? I am not sure, scientists are not even sure, but something has to be done.

A new study in the April issue of Pediatrics, looked for early autistic behaviors, though not specifically for a diagnosis of autism, in premature infants who were born at a very low birth weight, about 3.3 pounds. It found that several factors associated with these early births were linked to a positive result on an autism screening test. They studied 91 babies who weighed less than 3 pounds at birth. MRIs were done on these infants around the time of their birth. At around 22 months, the researchers conducted an autism screening test, called the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers or M-CHAT.
Twenty-five percent of these toddlers tested positive on the M-CHAT, suggesting that they had an increased risk of developing autism. Factors included lower birth weight, lower gestational age, being male, having an abnormal MRI, being ill when delivered, an infection in the mother before birth, or the mother experienced hemorrhaging during labor and delivery.

Are you scared about autism with your children? What do you think the causes of autism are?

For more information on autism, check out this web site.

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This year we are dyeing eggs early because I can go into labor at any time and if I do not, I have a c-section scheduled for March 18th. I want to participate with them so we will do it this weekend. I always try to stay away from too much candy and junk for Easter. This year will be no different and we are trying to keep our Easter “green”. Here are some alternatives to candy and junk and some tips to be more Earth friendly for your Easter.

Say no to plastic grass. Grow your own. This is easy and looks great in a basket or for a table centerpiece. I have seen edible grass in Target that you can use as an alternative. Have your kids color or paint some paper and shred it for their baskets.

Use natural dyes for eggs. Boil your eggs in water with vinegar and one of these ingredients below, then let simmer for at least 15 minutes:

Purple grape juice (for lavender)
Red cabbage (for blue)
Spinach (for green)
Carrot tops, orange peels or lemon peels (for yellow)
Yellow onion skins (for orange)
Beets or cranberries (for pink)
Red onion skins (for red)

Skip the candy. If you have to use plastic eggs (we use the same ones every year) fill them with coins, almonds or raisins. Or you can just hide the dyed eggs.

Skip the toys. Instead maybe buy books, puzzles, outdoor chalk, phthalate free bath toys (bunnies or ducks are perfect) or bubbles (you can even make the bubbles yourself).

Here are some more ideas for Easter and Easter craft ideas. What do you give your children in their Easter baskets?

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