Wondering what to bring to the beach with a toddler? Take a look at these beach essentials for toddlers — a collection of must have beach items for your next vacation. Bringing toddlers to the beach isn't always an easy feat. The first time I brought my twins to the beach, one of them cried for 20 minutes straight while the other had to poop in the public restroom. Snacks fall straight into the wet sand, beach towels never seem to stay clean, and naps are unpredictable. You might imagine your toddler darting off the one second you looked away, or dread coming home with sand in every … [Read more...]
Looking for Games for 2 Year Olds? Here Are Our Top Picks
Take a look at our top picks of games for 2 year olds you can play at home! Includes board games and educational and learning activities that are age-appropriate for your toddler. As a first-time mom, I quickly learned that there's never one "right" way to play a game. Whereas other kids loved sitting in the playground swing, my then-toddler would complain any time I tried to sit him on one. It turns out, his perfect game was standing on the ground, pulling a swing, letting it go, and watching it sway back and forth. Kids can turn any existing game into one that suits them better. … [Read more...]
Top Gifts for Expectant Dads That Are Cool
Looking for cool gifts for expectant dads? Take a look at these best new gift ideas for your dad to be, perfect for expectant fathers. Dads have raised the ante with the role of fatherhood. While I've seen plenty of dads at park outings, I'm seeing more and more of them taking an active role in the daily routine. On Facebook, my dad friends post blurbs about helping kids with homework or taking them to doctor's appointments. In my own home, my husband isn't merely the occasional babysitter and instead feeds, bathes, and regularly engages with our kids. And my brother—long-known for … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
Top Black and White Toys Your Baby Will See Best
Did you know that newborn babies can see high-contrast colors like black and white best? Find the most-loved black and white baby toys for your baby here! I had heard that a baby's eyesight isn't fully developed once they're born. This makes sense, since seeing isn't exactly as important to a baby's survival as, say, sucking or crying. And what is important for babies to see—their mother's breast to feed, or her face to feel safe—are all within arm's length. Still, that only means that newborns especially can see high-contrast images best. And no two colors show a starker contrast than … [Read more...]
Want the Best Transition Sippy Cup? Start with These Options
Want to transition your baby from bottle to sippy cup, or your toddler from sippy to regular cup? Take a look at these options for the best transition sippy cup. From messes to your baby's outright rejection, it's not always easy to transition him into using a sippy cup. Maybe the one you tried keeps spilling, or your baby still prefers his bottle over the cup. Perhaps the one you have makes the liquid come out too fast, or he pushes the spout out of his mouth. It doesn't help when you're so over using bottles (and cleaning the zillion bottle parts). You might even be looking for the … [Read more...]
Best Building Toys to Nurture Creative Play
Looking for the best building toys to inspire and nurture creativity? Check out these toys and gift ideas that encourage out-of-the-box thinking for toddlers, preschoolers and older children! "Wow, I got a lot of building toys!" my son exclaimed after opening his Christmas gifts. I wasn't surprised. Since he was a toddler, he's been curious about how things work and loves to build intricate structures from toys and even household items. Over the years, he's played with some of the best building toys, from classic sets to construction to the new and innovative. I'm a huge fan of … [Read more...]
7 Baby Products I Wish I Had Known About
It's not too late for you! Discover the 7 baby products I wish I had known about that would've made caring for my baby much easier. Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links, which means I will earn a commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase. As a child, my relatives and I would go on road trips where you'd find my cousins and me sitting in the trunk of a hatchback playing cards or hand games. Let's just say that many drastic changes have happened over the last few decades (ahem... car seats!). But even these short years since my twins were babies have seen many … [Read more...]