Family Life Archives - Sleeping Should Be Easy

When Does Breastfeeding Stop Hurting?

Mar 26, 2023

When does breastfeeding stop hurting and being painful? Many moms say THIS was the turning point that finally made nursing pleasant. No one told me how much breastfeeding would hurt, at least in the beginning. But for the first few days and weeks, I'd tense up when it was time to nurse, bracing myself for the inevitable pain I'd feel during and after. I even had a lactation consultant at the hospital check the baby's latch, and sure enough, it was fine. Only later did I finally hear that it can be painful in the beginning—that it was normal in fact. And yes, even if you're doing … [Read more...]

5 Reasons Your Newborn Is Constantly Hungry and Crying

Breastfeeding

Mar 25, 2023

Does your baby always act hungry and unsatisfied, even though he just ate? Learn 5 reasons your newborn is constantly hungry and crying. You knew babies ate often, but this much? Your baby eats, but then half an hour later, will start screaming and acting hungry, furiously sucking on his hand. Offering the pacifier doesn't help—he just spits it back out and keeps crying. He might settle down for 10 minutes but starts crying once again. Feeding seems to be the only thing to get him to stop, but you're he'll end up with a stomach ache (causing him to cry even more). You knew you'd be up … [Read more...]

Top Reasons to Rotate Toys (And How to Do It)

Family Life

Mar 22, 2023

Tired of the mess of toys, especially when your kids ignore or get bored with them? Learn how to rotate toys to make better use of them. Even for a self-proclaimed minimalist, I was getting overwhelmed with my kids' toys and books. We don't have too much storage space to dedicate to toys, much less a playroom where they would belong. Instead, we only have a few shelves, tables, closets, and of course their bedrooms to house the growing number of toys. I wanted to keep many of them since the kids hadn't outgrown them yet. But I also noticed there were toys they ignored or didn't even … [Read more...]

Want to Practice Minimalism with Kids? Focus on These 3 Key Areas

Family Life

Mar 17, 2023

Want to practice minimalism with kids, even with a large family? The best way is to start with these three key areas to keep your home—and life—clutterfree. I’m not sure of the exact moment I lost it. Maybe I had stepped on yet another building block, or possibly it was the sound of a loud toy with no off-switch. With three children, unsurprisingly, toys were everywhere. Regardless of which specific toy it was, I was done. I knew something had to change, and thus began my journey toward minimalism. Practicing minimalism with kids While I felt inspired to move toward a minimalist … [Read more...]

How to Help Your Child Cope with the Stomach Flu

Family Life

Mar 15, 2023

Is the stomach flu making its rounds in your home? Here's how to guard your kids against the stomach flu (and what to do if they catch it). My baby woke up and started with one vomit episode. I was hoping it was just extra spit-up—you know, from the milk and the food he ate. But he did it again... and again. To make things worse, he followed it up with some pretty explosive diarrhea-like poop. This was no ordinary diaper change—something was up. That's when I got the sinking feeling that told me, "Oh no, he has a stomach bug." How to help your child with the stomach flu The stomach … [Read more...]

20 Examples of a 2 Year Old Sleep Schedule

Routines and Schedules

Mar 11, 2023

Need a 2 year old sleep schedule to combat sleep regression? These daily schedules can help you reset your toddler's sleep once and for all! Once my toddler hit 2 years old, I had no idea how I ever managed to put him down for a nap three, four, and sometimes five times a day in the past. With only one nap to contend with in the toddler stage, our schedule got a lot less complicated and freed up our time much more. That said, I know all too well when a 2 year old sleep schedule goes out of whack, both for naps and the bedtime routine. Rather than sleeping right away in his crib, he … [Read more...]

How to Avoid Baby Clutter

Family Life

Mar 08, 2023

Whether you're expecting your first baby or not, your home doesn't have to be a mess. Learn practical ways to avoid baby clutter! My husband and I lived in a one-bedroom apartment when we were expecting our first child. We couldn't afford to let the baby items clutter our tiny space. Even now, three kids later, I learned that our home—and our lives—would never be the same. It's not unusual to see a toy banana, wooden trains, building blocks, a monster truck, dominoes, papers with drawings, and a ball—and that's only the coffee table in the living room. And a baby seems to need so … [Read more...]

What to Include in a Daily Schedule for 6 Year Old Kids

Little Kids

Mar 06, 2023

Need to create a daily schedule for a 6 year old at home? Learn what to include in your morning and after school routine for a smooth day! For one reason or another, you know that you need some sort of structure for your 6 year old. Maybe all she wants to do is play video games or watch television, scorning any chores or responsibilities you remind her to do. Perhaps she has trouble getting ready in the morning—she still needs your help putting on a shirt and needs multiple reminders to get her shoes on. And even though she's now in school for most of the day, that still doesn't make … [Read more...]

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