Sleeping Should Be Easy

7 Positive Parenting Skills All Moms Need to Have

Mom and her son playing: Parenting skills all parents should have

We've all questioned our parenting skills in one way or another. Maybe it was when your toddler was so upset he refused to get up off the floor and finally leave the park, or he wouldn't eat dinner but threw a fit instead. It feels like all you do is yell at your kids, because that's the only thing that seems to work. The worst is when they've finally fallen asleep from a long, draining day, and you're filled with remorse, wishing you could wake them up and apologize. All this, on top of managing your household, getting errands done and appointments scheduled... no wonder you're exhausted from it all. And if you're like most moms, you're starting to question your ability to handle everything on your plate. You don't want to be a "mean mom," but it sure feels like it … Read More...

What to Do When You Feel Like You’re Failing as a Parent

parenthood

Sad mom who feels like she's failing as a parent

It's the one thing I hear over and over, from moms everywhere: "I feel like I'm failing as a parent." We've all felt overwhelmed with the weight of parenthood, at one time or another. Where we feel like a failure as a wife and mother. When we feel frustrated and helpless, like we have no idea what we're doing. Maybe it's when we feel like we're doing something wrong, especially when we can't decide or don't know which direction to take. Other times we're scared how this is all going to turn out, at the rate we're going. And the reasons vary, too. Maybe you feel like you're failing as a parent when... You blame yourself for the attitude your kids have (which are only rubbing off on the younger ones) Your toddler's constant tantrums and tears make you feel … Read More...

One Easy Hack to Help Your Baby Sleep Longer at Night

infant

Want to help your baby sleep longer? Learn 3 ways to dreamfeed your baby and the best tips to make dreamfeeding work for you and your family. This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of MomCozy. All content and opinions expressed are my own. It's the sound every exhausted parent dreads: the cry of her baby at night. Maybe you'd just gone through your entire bedtime routine only for the baby to cry soon after. Or perhaps she wakes up in the middle of the night, expecting to be fed (never mind that you had just fed her). Your baby could even be sleeping in shorter and shorter cycles at night, waking more frequently. The hardest part? When nothing other than nursing soothes her back to sleep—even if you know she's not hungry. Trust me, I can relate. As a … Read More...

7 Proven Strategies to Handle Bedtime Tantrums

behavior

Little boy throwing toddler tantrums at bedtime

Dealing with toddler tantrums at bedtime isn't easy, especially when everyone loses sleep. Discover 7 strategies to end bedtime tantrums once and for all. Bedtime tantrums seem to come out of nowhere, don't they? Your child used to go to sleep so easily, but now dives into full-blown meltdowns at bedtime. He starts freaking out, kicking and screaming, despite nothing having changed in your routine at all. In fact, you have no idea what's causing toddler tantrums at bedtime, much less how to handle them. So, within the last few weeks, your "great sleeper" is suddenly not so great at sleeping anymore. Maybe he throws a huge fit when you leave the room after putting him to bed, or resists the bedtime routine, crying so hard he coughs and gags through it all. Other times, … Read More...

Baby Sign Language Pros and Cons: What You Need to Know

communication

Baby sign language pros and cons: Baby signing and smiling

Wondering whether to sign with your baby or toddler as a way to communicate? Take a look at these baby sign language pros and cons to better decide whether to teach your child baby sign language. By: Lane Rebelo If you’re a new parent, you’ve probably heard about baby sign language, but you might not be sure if it’s for you or not. You might have heard parents say things like "Baby sign language is amazing!" or perhaps you've heard others say, "It’s a waste of time." What’s a new parent to do? How do you decide if it’s worth the effort or if it's even right for your family? Baby sign language pros and cons I’ll be honest: signing with your baby does take effort to get things rolling. If you're on the fence and trying to decide if it's worth it, then this list of baby sign … Read More...

Toddler Climbing Out of the Crib? Easy Solutions to Help You

sleeping

Is your toddler climbing out of crib? Learn how to prevent climbing out and implement clever solutions to extend your child's crib-sleeping days, plus tips on how to transition into a bed, even if you're worried he's not ready just yet. It was the thud that told me my eldest had somehow managed to climb out of his crib and run screaming to the door. For another son, climbing out of the crib was subtler—I simply saw him standing outside of it after I had just put him in. And for the third? Well, I knew it was time to switch when I found him straddling the rail of the crib and declaring, "Mama look—horsey!" No matter the signal that your toddler is climbing out of the crib, every parent has that initial panic of, "Oh no, what do we do?!" We feel unprepared, especially … Read More...

Do You Make These Common Mistakes with Your Toddler Twins?

toddler

Long before my twins were born, I anticipated all the challenges: How do I feed them at the same time? What do I do if they're both crying? And one of the worries I was already anxious about was, How in the world do I manage toddler twins? Because we all know that the toddler stage isn't exactly smooth sailing, and that's just with one toddler. Personally, I much prefer the toddler stage over the newborn one, tantrums and all (sleep deprivation and I don't get along). But after three kids, two of them twins, I also know it doesn't always bring out the best in me. What makes the toddler stage especially challenging? Toddlers are wired to test their boundaries, all while they can't exactly communicate clearly. They're also learning to be more self-sufficient ("Me do it!") … Read More...

20 Easy Activities for Three Year Olds You Can Do Any Day

learn and discover

Little boy playing blocks: activities for three year olds

Looking for easy activities for three year olds? From crafts to outdoor activities, discover everyday, fun things to do with your child. If you're like me, you've found your child playing with the same toy, day after day. Or perhaps he's even blurted the dreaded, "I'm bored," leaving you wondering what else you can do. As much as I'm a fan of independent play, we can still do plenty to keep our kids engaged during the day. You may have even found yourself getting bored of the same activities or thinking of ways to switch things up. I've compiled my favorite activities for three year olds, the kind of play that are simple enough to do on a regular day without much fanfare. At the same time, these are also the activities that have been the most fun for all my kids, … Read More...