Sleeping Should Be Easy

Baby Waking Up Crying Hysterically? Everything You Need to Know

Worried because your baby wakes up crying hysterically all of a sudden? Take a look at common reasons why, as well as what to do when your baby is screaming uncontrollably. Is this normal? you wonder. Your baby is several months old by this point, but just in the last few days, she's been suddenly waking up crying. About once or twice a night, she flails her legs and screams her lungs out uncontrollably. Rocking and feeding seem to work a few times, but you're afraid she'll rely on these habits too much. It's breaking your heart, this inability to console her when she needs it the most. I've wondered the same myself when my baby would wake up crying hysterically. I went through the list of possibilities—Is this just his personality? Is he not well-rested?—before … Read More...

How to Survive a Pregnancy with a Toddler

pregnancy

Finding that you have no energy (or patience!) during your pregnancy with a toddler? Learn how to handle your child's behavior and tend to his needs, even if you're pregnant. As hard as a pregnancy can be (and in my case, a twin pregnancy), it only feels worse with a toddler in tow. Caring for a toddler was taking a toll on me during my second pregnancy, from dealing with his behavior to tending to his needs. As any toddler mom knows, kids that age don't exactly stay in one place, but they're also still not old enough to do most things themselves. I was so tired by the end of the day that I often found myself heading straight to bed once he was tucked in. Working full-time left me running low on time to spend with him as well as the energy to do so. I felt too tired to … Read More...

Working Mom Tips: Essential Rules to Stop Feeling Stressed

work

Feeling stressed with balancing work and home? Take a look at these 3 working mom tips that dive deeper into your mindset for more effective changes. The poor kid is growing up in chaos, I thought to myself about my son. For any working mom juggling the demands of both work and home, we've all felt guilty about the kind of life we're giving our kids. My home never seemed organized, from piling loads of laundry to the mess of toys in the living room. Meanwhile, my job still needed me to focus and concentrate, all while I barely got five hours of sleep the night before. Every day felt like a race: getting home with a crying baby in the car seat was a nightmare, and I was usually handling the early evenings solo until my husband came home. Weekends weren't much better, … Read More...

How to Stop Your Toddler Whining (Even When You’ve Tried Everything)

communication

Tired of your toddler whining and crying all the time? Learn how to deal with your child's behavior with these respectful but effective solutions. At some point, every mom asks herself, Is this behavior normal? Because it seems that your toddler complains about everything, even when she has no reason to. She throws a tantrum when she doesn't get the snack she wants or has a meltdown if you can't pick her up right then and there. No doubt about it: toddler whining can make the whole family miserable. It doesn't help when you've tried everything under the sun, but nothing seems to work. You've tried distracting her with toys, even your phone, but she still isn't happy. Making sure she's had a snack or even giving her medicine for teething doesn't do the trick. She's … Read More...

You Know You’re a Twin Mom When…

twins

Being a mom of twins is no easy task! Take a look at several things only a twin mom would understand, from a twin pregnancy to managing two toddlers. "I have good news..." my doctor began during my first sonogram. "...and even better news: you're having twins!" As difficult as the first seven weeks of my pregnancy had been, I never thought it was because I was carrying two. I figured it was the second pregnancy, or maybe I was carrying a girl this time. But the minute she said those words, I was thrust into life with twins. Suddenly I wasn't a "regular" singleton mom, nor would I have the typical family with two kids. Nope—I now belonged to the world of twins. It truly is a world of its own, almost like a club. You know you're a twin mom when... Twin moms share … Read More...

Consequences for Kids That Actually Work

behavior

Consequenes for kids: A little girl with her arms crossed pouting

Do you find that your consequences for kids don't always work? Take a look at the biggest mistake parents make, and how to apply consequences that respect your child AND curb challenging behavior, regardless of age. We've all felt that panic: trying to come up with a consequence fit for a child's behavior. Maybe your child tested your limits and you got upset. In trying to turn this chaos into a teachable moment, you scanned your brain for a good enough consequence... one that would get her to stop, to convince her this is serious, and that you've just about had it with her antics. You know, one that would teach her a lesson. Our consequences for kids have even become common language, whether the "time out" for the toddler or "getting grounded" for the teen. But... … Read More...

Children’s Books about Self Esteem

learn and discover

Liking themselves helps children feel happy and succeed in life. You can encourage confidence in your kids and improve how they see themselves by reading children's books about self esteem! "I LOVE YOU!" my son bellowed to himself in the mirror. I had to chuckle to myself—earlier that morning, I had told him how important it is to love yourself, to truly believe that you are an amazing person. And one of the ways to affirm that, I suggested, was to look yourself in the mirror and say, "I love you." You see, no one is immune to questioning their worth, kids included. A child could be the only one in his class who can't snap her fingers, or the last one to touch the wall in a game of race. Maybe he realizes that his twin brother is reading more words, or that he can't … Read More...

7 Things You Need to Do to Avoid Sibling Jealousy

family life

Two brothers drinking from cups: Tools to avoid sibling jealousy

Sibling jealousy over the new baby seems understandable, but what do you do when a few years have passed and your child is still jealous? Perhaps you're exhausted with your older child's jealousy and need for constant attention. Even when you were pregnant, he was already apprehensive about his baby brother's arrival. Just as you predicted, he didn't take to the new baby at all. Like many parents, you figured the stage would pass, but four years later, the bond you hoped to nurture is still buried beneath the sibling jealousy he feels. He behaves well in every other way, but when it comes to sibling rivalry, both kids are fighting for your time. Bathing, brushing their teeth, playing—these have all become precious moments with mom they clamor for. So, maybe you did … Read More...