Sleeping Should Be Easy

Baby Things to Buy Before Birth (Make Sure You Have These!)

Want to know what to buy before the baby is born? Here’s a checklist of the top baby things to buy before birth (includes pictures!). Every first-time mom has wondered what she really needs for the baby, the items we should buy now before the baby comes. You don't want to buy anything you'll barely use once the baby arrives... but you also want to avoid not having an item once you finally get home (solo store runs with a crying baby are no fun). Perhaps you've already crossed off most items on your registry list, but can't help but feel like you're forgetting something. Or maybe you're simply wondering what things been-there, done-that moms wished they had but didn't think to buy beforehand. Even once you have an idea of what to buy, you might not know just how many … Read More...

How to Get Kids to Listen Without Yelling and Losing Your Cool

little kids

Tired and guilty of yelling at your child to behave and follow instructions? Learn how to get kids to listen without yelling, and foster mutual respect instead. "Don't stand on your bed," I warned my son for what felt like the zillionth time. "You might fall and get hurt." Considering that he sleeps on the top bunk, this warning didn't come lightly. But sure enough, as soon as I started to leave, I turned around to peek in the room and found him standing once again. Every parent will remind her kids of the rules, only to turn around and find them doing exactly what you just told them not to. Maybe you asked them not to play in the muddy puddle or pluck the leaves from the plants. Next thing you know, they're covered in mud with a fistful of leaves in their hands. Or … Read More...

The Real Reasons Your 4 Year Old Won’t Poop on the Potty

family life

Worried because your stubborn 4 year old won’t poop on potty and is holding it instead? Discover the 6 likely reasons, and what you can do about it. Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links, which means I will earn a commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase. There's something about having an older toddler who still isn't completely potty trained. The reassurances that your 4 year old will "do it when he's ready" are starting to get old. And you start to worry that he's the only one who still needs a diaper to poop. Maybe your 4 year old even knows to pee in the potty, but even until now, refuses to do the same with poop. Or perhaps he did poop in the potty in the past, but for one reason or another, is now stubborn about not using it. He holds … Read More...

The Best Advice for New Parents (From Parents Who’ve Been There)

parenthood

The best advice for new parents: A mom with her baby

Are you a soon-to-be first-time mom? Discover the best tips and advice for new parents that no one talks about—from fellow parents who've been there. Tell anyone you're about to be a new mom, and you'll likely hear scores of parenting advice all over. The coworker who tells you it's okay to feel overwhelmed, the friend who warns you not to rock your baby. You'll hear about milestones to keep an eye on, and what those flaps on onesies are actually for. But sometimes, it's the absence of advice for new parents that's most startling. How no one tells you the intense and almost shameful feelings you have about wanting to have your old life back. That you'll lose your temper in a split second, all because your baby won't nap. Or how they take pictures of themselves smiling … Read More...

When to Stop Burping Your Baby

family life

Wondering what age you can stop burping a baby? Discover the signs and milestones that tell you when to stop burping a baby! It's the one task we've done from Day One: burping the baby. We know to hoist the baby over our shoulders or sit them on our laps to pat their backs. And for many babies, burping is necessary—otherwise, we're dealing with massive spit-up and cranky naps. But after a while, burping doesn't feel as urgent as it did a few months ago, leaving you wondering when to stop burping a baby. As a first-time mom, I honestly didn't know what age you stop burping a baby. It didn't help that I'd hear about moms who stopped within a few weeks, while others were still burping their one-year-olds. Maybe you haven't been burping your baby as often because she … Read More...

What to Do When Your 3 Month Old Won’t Nap

newborn

Your 3 month old won’t nap unless held, or can’t sleep in the crib or for longer than 30 minutes? Don’t worry: here are 6 secrets to get your baby to sleep! Naps had always been a nightmare, but after three months, it seemed to get even worse. Rocking my baby—especially on a yoga ball—would usually take five minutes before he'd get drowsy. But somewhere along the 3 month mark, even that didn't work. Not only would rocking take much longer than five minutes, but rocking seemed to get him even more upset. Of course, the longer he stayed awake, the crankier he got, which only extended the cycle even more. And forget about putting him down—he wouldn't settle for a nap if I wasn't bouncing or walking around. I envied parents who could at least sit still on the couch … Read More...

Easy Arts and Crafts for 1 Year Olds (No Complicated Instructions!)

learn and discover

A child painting and doing arts and crafts for 1 year olds

Looking for easy arts and crafts for 1 year olds? Check out the best activities for your toddler—without complicated instructions or messy clean up! Even when my son was an infant, I was already saving arts and crafts ideas on Pinterest. From puffy clouds out of cotton balls, to heart-shaped collages out of red card stock, I had grand ideas for projects I'd teach him. Unfortunately, he had his own agenda. Sure, "he" made a puffy cloud craft and a Valentine heart for his dad. But if he had his way, I knew he would rather spend the time pulling at the cotton balls or tossing the red pieces in the air (which he did). That's when I realized that the point of arts and crafts for 1 year olds isn't so much to create a finished product, as it is to encourage their curiosity. I … Read More...

Why Your Toddler Is Going Through the 1 Year Old Sleep Regression

sleeping

A child standing in his crib, crying because of the 1 year old sleep regression

Is your one year old fighting sleep suddenly? Learn why the 1 year old sleep regression happens, and how you can turn things around. One year old. An age that marks several milestones, from introducing cow's milk to washing their clothes with "regular" detergent. We call them "toddlers" and celebrate their first birthday. We can even give them honey from now on! But for many parents, this new turn also comes with the dreaded 1 year old sleep regression, catching many of us by surprise. It's when your toddler goes from being the perfect sleeper to waking up every night fighting sleep. When he won't go back to sleep unless you give him milk or rock him in your arms. Perhaps it's when you realize a whopping two hours have passed since you put him down... and he's still … Read More...