Sleeping Should Be Easy

7 Simple (But Genius!) Ways to Stop Diaper Change Tantrums

Does your toddler throw diaper change tantrums? Learn what to do when your 2 year old fights diaper changes with these 7 simple—but genius—techniques. The diaper change tantrum—for any toddler mom who's already had it with diaper changes, adding tantrums to the mix is often a challenge. My kids would cry, kick, hit, and do anything they could to get away from changing their diapers. Sometimes they even seemed scared to have their diapers changed. And when you're trying to change a poop diaper, that often means an instant mess on your hands (literally and figuratively). I'd find myself frustrated when they'd fight diaper changes stubbornly, with no sign of their behavior letting up any time soon. If you're reading this, I'm certain you can relate. Maybe your toddler … Read More...

7 Reasons You’re Not Enjoying Motherhood

parenthood

Sad mom holding her baby, not enjoying motherhood

Finding yourself not enjoying motherhood? Discover the 7 reasons parenting has gotten you down about parenthood, and how to turn things around. "I want my old life back," I blurted to my husband in the middle of the night. I was shocked—then felt ashamed—to admit it out loud. It had been a few weeks since bringing my baby home, and I found myself yet again sleep-deprived with a wailing baby in my arms. I blamed it on the sleep deprivation, but I still felt horrible for not enjoying motherhood the way I thought I would. This was coming from the person who wanted to have a big family, who couldn't wait to welcome her little guy home. And while I eventually pulled myself through that newborn stage intact, the challenges continue. But what I'm learning now more than … Read More...

7 Game-Changing Ways to Respond to Your Argumentative Child

communication

Argumentative child with his arms crossed

Dealing with an argumentative child can be challenging for parents. Discover 7 game-changing ways to stop kids from constantly arguing about everything. "We're going to watch Ninjago today, because yesterday we watched Rowan Freemaker," my son announced. Usually he keeps good track of which show to watch and when, but on this particular day, he was wrong. "Actually, we watched Ninjago yesterday, so today we're watching Rowan Freemaker," I replied. His brothers seemed to remember and agreed that yes, we would be watching Rowan Freemaker instead. "No," he said, standing his ground. "Remember how..." and he continued to fill in the plot of the show, oblivious to the fact that he was recounting a different day. But despite any attempt to "prove" my point and all the … Read More...

6 Surefire Ways to Stop Feeling Like an Overwhelmed Mom

parenthood

An overwhelmed mom on the phone and feeding her baby

Overcome with all the responsibilities and emotions that come with motherhood? Stop feeling like an overwhelmed mom with these 6 fantastic tips. By: Amy Wruble It was a typical morning. As I ransacked the closet in search of a lost leotard, a toy cash register flew off the overstuffed shelves and crushed my toes. I tried to schedule a repairman for our broken stove, but the kids’ fighting was so loud, I couldn’t hear a word. Then my toddler spilled an entire box of cereal and I had to abandon the mess or risk being tardy for school. On this and many other days, I have felt like a seriously overwhelmed mom. 6 ways to stop feeling like an overwhelmed mom Whether you’ve got one kid or five, stay at home or work full time, every mom feels overwhelmed sometimes. Raising … Read More...

7 Secrets to Get an Overtired Baby to Finally Sleep

newborn

Wondering how to get an overtired baby to sleep? Discover what to do when your baby won't sleep or keeps waking up, and how to prevent being overtired to begin with. As a first-time mom, I figured babies would eventually fall asleep asleep when they got tired enough. That an internal clock I assumed they came equipped with would automatically help them fall and stay asleep as needed. But as many moms who've dealt with a tired baby can understand, that's not exactly the case. It turns out, babies still rely on us to help them sleep, avoid over-stimulation, and even keep track of time for them to sleep so they don't get too tired. Because the problem with being too tired is that, ironically, your baby will likely fight the sleep she needs. You'd think that not having … Read More...

Need a Toddler Schedule? 15 Examples That Will Actually Make Life Easier

family life

Toddler schedule: Little boy standing with his hands in his pockets

The toddler schedule. This is often the first place we look to when the kids are throwing us off. Maybe your child has been refusing naps or taking a long time to fall asleep. Or perhaps her behavior since the new baby arrived hasn't improved, but grown worse. Your child could also be starting preschool in a few months, prompting you to start her on a toddler schedule before then. Or maybe you've been struggling to find things to do now that your little one is a toddler. And still yet, you might be looking for a toddler schedule that doesn't leave your child overtired come bedtime after a long, exhausting afternoon. You may have tried playing with your current schedule to see if doing that helps, but nothing seems to solve the issue. And the ones you've found may not … Read More...

Unique Ways to Meet the Emotional Needs of Your Child

development

How to meet the emotional needs of a child: Mom and daughter hugging

Meeting the emotional needs of a child raises well-rounded, competent, and capable kids. Discover 7 unique ways to nurture your child's emotional needs. Less tantrums, more listening, getting along with others... every parent wants nearly the same things from their kids, things we think are rooted in their behavior. Want less tantrums? Simply put your foot down. And while these tips and tricks are the actions we take to course-correct, they stem from a deeper reason why kids behave that way in the first place. For instance, why do kids throw tantrums, and more important, why is it that showing empathy almost always squashes the tantrums immediately? As a first-time mom, I did all I could to give my son a good start in life, from researching how the brain works to setting … Read More...

How to Get Through the 2 Year Old Sleep Regression

sleeping

Tired little boy going through a 2 year old sleep regression

My toddler had been the perfect sleeper... until the dreaded 2 year old sleep regression. He'd go to sleep as he usually would, but in the middle of the night, would get out of bed, run to the door, and cry hysterically until I opened the door. But my going into their room only seemed to aggravate him even more, resulting in further kicking, screaming, even slapping. Other times, bedtime would already begin with terrible tantrums, and he'd refuse to go to bed. Any attempt to get him to sleep would be met with even more kicking and screaming. This seemed so unlike him—I had never seen him so totally out of control. The worst part was that I knew he was tired. We both were. The lack of sleep didn't help the fact that I still needed to get up the next day and go to … Read More...