There is no one who knows sleep deprivation like a new parent. Back in the day, when my girls were infants, I was lucky if I could manage 3-4 hours a night in those first few months. (And anyone who told me to “nap when they nap” never offered to do come do my laundry or wash my dishes either.) What I also heard a lot about was the key to getting your baby to sleep better and longer, and that was swaddling. I admit to trying to following the steps that the hospital nurse had demonstrated, but by the time when we were settled in at home, it turned out I was all thumbs and I gave up shortly thereafter. Lucky for us, our [&hellip
The Safe Little Walnut Archive
Today marks our third snowfall of the season, and it’s not even Christmas! The very thought of getting through winter while traversing our local, windy roads with kids in tow gives me the shivers. Keeping them safe is my job as a parent, so I want to be sure I make the right decisions, and that includes keeping them buckled up in the right safety seats. Because my 9-year-old is on the petite side, she still rides on a booster seat, as does her 5-year-old sister. As you can imagine, being “almost double digits” means not wanting to feel like a little kid. But that doesn’t mean forgoing what’s important, like your life. Fortunately, some booster seat manufacturers recognize this desire for style, while still [&hellip
This Sunday marks the end of Daylight Savings Time, and not a moment too soon. I don’t know about you, but Halloween has left me a bit pooped out. (Show of hands: How many of your kids could barely make it to the bus stop this morning?) That extra hour of sleep will surely come in handy this weekend, especially after we all crash from the post trick-or-treating sugar high. As you find yourselves turning on the lights a bit earlier, consider stocking up on Cree LED bulbs. These energy-efficient light bulbs are long-lasting, shatter-proof and don’t contain any mercury (a big plus for households with young kids). And if you happen to be dining by candlelight this weekend, be sure to check out Yankee [&hellip
I continue to be amazed by design innovation in baby products. Not unlike the technology advances in smartphones, tablets and other devices, the look becomes sleeker, the products credit-card thin. Following in these footsteps is the latest in high chair design, Mima moon chair (distributed by Muak Baby) is getting lots of early buzz. We got wind of the product that everyone will be talking about at next month’s ABC Expo, and think it will quickly join the ranks of must-have baby gear. It’s one of those items that you can begin using right away: first as a newborn lounger (with a support pillow), next as a high chair for 6 months and up and then as a booster seat (simply by removing the upper [&hellip
Summer doesn’t officially begin until Friday, and we’re already off to a buggy start. I can play connect the dots on my 9-year-old’s upper arm, and my 5-year-old has a welt the size of a half-dollar. And that’s only from playing outside one afternoon. Since I definitely get a little kooky when the bugs come out in full force, I do my best to protect my girls from these pesky critters. Because many of the leading brands I’ve tried haven’t quite lived up to the hype, I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to try something new. And I’m really glad I did. Fairy Tales Bug Bandit is my go-to weapon in the battle of the bugs. This pesticide- and DEET-free natural bug repellent [&hellip
My 8-year-old has been taking swimming lessons this winter, and we’re hoping she’ll be able to doggy paddle by summer. One of the things about learning to swim that troubles her is going underwater. I too remember being a bit scared of that unknown (would a fish try to bite me?), but once I got past it, it was one of my favorite parts of being in the water. Well, even if your kid isn’t fearful of diving right in, but just wants to look cool when she’s 20,000 leagues under the sea, you’ll want to check out this summer’s coolest fashion accessory. Bling2O are not your average swimming goggles; these babies are spiced up with a little bit o’ bling to make your favorite [&hellip
Another bone-chilling day like this, and I may just have to hibernate. At this time of year here in the northeast, thoughts naturally turn to spring and warmer weather. Even if I can’t manage to escape the cold and head off to a seaside resort anytime soon (well, I can surely visit one in my mind…), I imagine there will plenty of peeps booking their sunny getaways right about now. For those of you heading out of town with the kiddies, I envy you…and urge you to cover up. As a mom who continues to fight skin cancer (three battle scars to prove it), I keep my girls protected from head to toe, especially when the summer sun strikes. While sunscreen is strongly recommended, it [&hellip
Today was my daughter’s end-of-school class breakfast, during which these rising third graders were treated to a feast of bagels, muffins, OJ and fresh fruit. Because one of her classmates has a gluten allergy, parties like these aren’t exactly cause for celebration. Rather than sample the homemade or store-bought treats supplied by the collective parent ensemble, this student must dip into his stash of wheat-free mini cupcakes that the school nurse stores for him. His mom tells me he’s gotten used to this routine by now, but that it wasn’t always easy. In fact, it was only earlier this month on Field Day that he wasn’t sure whether he could indulge in one of the parent-provided ice pops (after careful consideration of the packaging label, [&hellip
Some nights, no matter how hard I try, I just can not get comfortable. No matter how many times I fluff my pillow, adjust my blankets and shift positions, I’m not feeling relaxed and ready for sleep. Surely any adult is able to relate to this scenario at one time or another (but hopefully not too often!). Now, imagine being a newborn, fresh out of the womb and feeling particularly frustrated that mom’s loving touch is no longer available 24/7 (yes, even the most dedicated of moms must sleep sometimes!). If you’ve been “blessed” with an especially fussy baby, trying to find a way to soothe your little one can be an exhausting experience. For those who have tried swaddling without much success, we beg [&hellip
Does your kid give you a hard time about wearing his bike helmet? I can’t say I blame them. From the look of some of the helmets out there, I’m more in favor of the utilitarian models that ooze sturdiness over style (or lack thereof). Fortunately, with the new line of protective head gear from C-Preme, tweens won’t have to sacrifice fashion for function when biking around town. Designed for ages 10-12, KRASH helmets are the coolest thing we’ve seen in bike gear. From punk-inspired, spiky-head numbers, to cutey confectionery caps, there are plenty of choices for the most temperamental tween. And because the KRASH line is made from a soft, rubber-based materials, they’re as safe as they are slick. So, if you know any [&hellip