• The Healthy Walnut Archive

    Does it feel like you’ll never sleep again? If you’re a new parent, you know that feeling all too well, unfortunately. Forget money; sleep deprivation is the root of all evil. You’re short tempered, can hardly remember how to brush your teeth (that is, if you get around to brushing your teeth) and oh, did we mention you snap easily? Fear no more…help is on the way. Smooth Parenting, an NYC-based sleep consultancy, is offering a FREE teleclass to help your baby–and you–get some shuteye. Mark your calendar for Thursday, September 16 at 7:30 pm EST and find out the 7 strategies for helping your little one sleep/nap without having to cry it out. To register, click on the Smooth Parenting link. In a Nutshell: [&hellip

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    When my daughter returns to school next week, I’ll be cringing in anticipation over the sign of the first virus she picks up. Yes, it’s inevitable as turkey on Thanksgiving…but I don’t relish the thought of her losing her lunch all over the floor, if you know what I mean. My sister, who happens to be an internist, has drilled the B.R.A.T. method for curing an upset stomach–Bananas, Applesauce, Rice and Toast repertoire we’ve come to know and love. But when you have extra picky eaters like we do at my house, it helps to have another more palatable solution on hand. Organic B.R.A.T. drinks are a convenient way to ease upset tummies back into the land of the living. These feel better drinks come [&hellip

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    My 2-year-old takes to her Thomas the Tank Engine toothpaste like a fish takes to water. Too bad brushing her teeth is more like pulling teeth. She spends more of her time sucking on the bristles than anything else. And since her last few baby teeth appear to be coming in, gnawing on her toothbrush has taken on even greater pleasure. How I wish we’d gotten our hands–and her mouth–on the NUK Healthy Start sooner. The training toothbrush set has everything you need to get started practicing good oral hygiene: a cleaning trainer to gently massage and soothe her achy gums, a brushing trainer for cleaning her teeth, and a protective ring that limitsĀ  just how far she can push the brush into her mouth. [&hellip

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    If it’s true that kids eat what they make, then I’m making an effort to get my 6-year-old on the right track. This afternoon, we made homemade meatballs and this summer, we’ll be reaping the benefit of fresh vegetables from our garden. If you had ‘gardening with the kids’ on your to-do list and realize that you may not get around to it, then consider a short-cut. Amber’s Garden Ready-to-Plant Vegetable Garden Mats are the next best thing to gardening from scratch, and require minimal effort. These mats already have the seeds “planted” in them–simply place in a sunny spot, cover with top soil and add water. You may begin to see veggies sprout in as little as 3-5 days and, if you take proper [&hellip

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    If there is ever a season for wipes, it’s summer. Think ice pop-stained faced, sticky sunscreen lotion fingers (those are yours), sandy feet…you get the picture. Not that you need an excuse, but sometimes I think about just how many wipes I go through that don’t involve diaper changes, and I feel pangs of mommy guilt. With Jackson Reece Soothing Herbal Baby Wipes, I can breathe a bit easier. This brand is better for the environment because it’s biodegradable and made with organic ingredients that are free of alcohol, chlorine and other harsh substances. In a pinch, these wipes are great as a cooling balm for sunburned skin–an inevitable summertime occurrence. Yes, that mommy guilt can follow me everywhere… In a Nutshell: If you’re making [&hellip

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    My 6-year-old has her annual check-up in a few weeks, and I know it’ll be hellish. Forget the nurse telling her that checking her blood pressure is like “getting a hug;” she’s too smart for that. And to this day, taking her temperature is still a big deal that requires a 5-minute explanation (and still she’s not buying it). Maybe that why I’m in awe over the Safety 1st ProGrade No Touch Thermometer, a minimally invasive medicine cabinet must-have. It doesn’t have to be put in her ear or her backside (heaven forbid–remember those?), but rather above her forehead and it gives a reading in a mere second. How do you know you’re doing it correctly? There’s an indicator that flashes and beeps when the [&hellip

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    There’s no denying it: Your child will undoubtedly get thirsty at some point today. And we all know how much kids prefer to get hyped up on sugary sweet libations than the stuff that does a body good. Well, how about the stuff that does a brain good? The folks at Wat-Aah! are on to something. This line of water that contains no sugar, calories or coloring is smartly packaged in four functional varieties–bones, brain, energy and body–designed to not only quench thirsts, but satisfy the nagging “why do I have to drink water?” query. We love that it comes in a cup holder-friendly, whopping 16.9-oz. recyclable bottle–perfect for the car ride to soccer practice. In a Nutshell: You can lead a kid to water, [&hellip

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    When my older daughter’s first teeth came in, I was a bit perplexed by how to clean them properly. Using my bare finger? Yuck! That strange-looking rubber thimble with bristles that came in her grooming kit? No, thanks…MAM has come out with an adorable first teeth cleaner that will make the experience pleasant for the both of you. The Oral Care Rabbit is a bunny-shaped soft cloth that gets the job done–and distracts your baby enough to get it done quickly and effectively. Just slip your index finger inside one of the bunny’s ears and brush away. You can either wet it as you would a washcloth, or keep it dry. And if your little bunny happens to be teething, you can try massaging her [&hellip

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