Your baby waking early in the morning or from a nap can throw your day off. Adjust these 3 simple things, and help stop your baby from rising too soon. It's one thing to celebrate your baby finally putting herself to sleep, but what do you do when she wakes up early? You've tried moving bedtime back to as late as 10pm with no luck—she's still up by 5am. Sometimes she's ready to get up for the day, while other times she clearly still needs more sleep. To make things worse, her early wake-ups are throwing off her naps, making her cranky long before she's supposed to sleep. You've tried … [Read more...]
Stranger Anxiety in Toddlers: 5 Things Every Parent Should Know
Stranger anxiety in toddlers is not always a bad thing. Here’s what you need to know to help toddlers when they’re afraid of strangers. "Let's meet up for lunch," I told a friend. My husband, toddler and I were in her area, and we wanted her to finally meet the little guy. Except the minute he saw her, he cried. And I mean cried. He turned his body away from her and wrapped his arms around my neck. Even when he finally settled down, he never warmed up or showed his cheerful and friendly personality. Suffice to say, I felt horrible. Nothing about my friend would've warranted a reaction … [Read more...]
How to Survive the 3 Month Old Sleep Regression
The 3 month old sleep regression can be challenging. Get practical solutions to help get your baby back on track quickly. You almost jinxed yourself. Just when your baby started sleeping well, her sleep seems to have gone downhill the same day she turned 3 months old. She went from being an awesome sleeper to waking up every two hours, and naps have also become a battle. You almost can't believe that just a few short weeks ago, you were telling others how she was able to sleep a good five to seven hours straight at night. Sure, she'd still wake up for a nighttime feed, but at least you'd … [Read more...]
The Key to Helping Your Child Stop Crying at School
Drop off time with a child who is suddenly crying at school is heart-wrenching. Follow these simple best practices for tear-free school days. "Come meet your new friends!" my son's preschool teacher said. But instead, he stood in place, head hung low, his eyes pointed straight to the ground. We had just enrolled him into a new school—or school, period, because he had never gone before—and nothing was more heartbreaking than seeing him realize his new reality. Because isn't that just the worst feeling? Maybe your daughter was fine the first few days of school, but now cries when you … [Read more...]
How to Respond when Your 3 Year Old Won’t Stay in Bed
Your 3 year old won’t stay in bed? You aren’t alone! Get practical and helpful tips for when your child suddenly won’t sleep alone. Independence can come at a price, don't you think? For instance, your 3 year old's newfound ability to get in and out of bed usually means he's getting out more than staying in. In fact, he gets up some 12 times a night, over and over. If you drop his afternoon nap, he can hardly stay awake past 5pm. But if he does take a nap, he won't go to bed until past 10pm. You may have tried putting him back in bed like you heard you should do, but eventually gave up … [Read more...]
The Ultimate Newborn Shopping List for Expecting Moms [2019]
Are you a first-time mom? Make sure to use this helpful newborn shopping list to grab essential things you need for the baby, especially for the first 3 months. You might say that I take lists to a whole new level. I have the typical chore lists, grocery lists, to-do lists, and recipe lists. I also have a "front door" list of things I need before stepping out of the house, a list of library books to borrow, and even a "fun things to do" list for when I'm looking for, well... things to do that are fun. And this started even before becoming a mom. So when my husband and I were … [Read more...]
Baby Wakes Up Every Hour? Must-Know Tips for Parents
No parent enjoys getting up when their baby is waking up at night. No worries—if your baby wakes up every hour, get her sleeping in no time with these tips. The past few weeks had been brutal. Not only did my baby not know how to fall asleep on his own consistently, he'd also flip onto his tummy... and not know what to do. The result? My husband and I were up every hour to flip him over, or rock him to sleep. Sadly, I wish I could say that my baby waking up frequently was a new development. But since his newborn days, my little guy was never the best sleeper. I dreaded looking at the … [Read more...]
How to Potty Train a Toddler (Without the Power Struggles)
Learning how to potty train a toddler can be challenging. Take out the guesswork with these easy potty training tips, tricks, and methods to follow. The first time my toddler peed in the potty, I had no idea how to clean it up. As in, I didn't even know I was supposed to flush the pee down the toilet (don't ask where I ended up disposing it). I had been so nonchalant about potty training, only going so far as at least buying a potty. But I was pretty clueless about how to actually start potty training, so that when my toddler actually peed a few drops into the potty, I didn't know what … [Read more...]