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 Green Walnut Archive
My 5-year-old has an alter ego; she considers herself to be a bunny at times. At first, I thought her double identity was a scapegoat for any mischief-making, but she’s also takes credit for the good stuff, too. No matter what Bunny does, she helps to put a smile on my imaginative little girl–and that makes me happy, too. For kids with a voracious appetite for the make-believe comes Pebble, a standout line of organic, handmade plush. The quality alone blows me away (no cheap, carnival-style stuffed prizes here). Think beautifully crafted knit and crocheted toys that are soft to the touch, and even gentle enough for a baby’s sensitive skin. Among the collection’s assortment are organic blankets and rattles made from brightly colored cotton, [&hellip
As much we love to spotlight those big-ticket items on the top of every wish list, we also like to pay fair tribute to the smaller guys: those companies that fuel kids’ imaginations and give us yet another reason to wish we were little again. Urban Canvas is one of our latest favorites. They make eco-friendly toys fashioned out of recycled and reusable cardboard, including trains, buildings and even bugs. We love their Build 52 Playing Cards, a full deck of blank (save for standard numbers and letters) cards that kids can design and customize to their hearts’ content…and then use to assemble their own house of cards (thanks to their interconnecting edges). Not only is this toy a cool craft, but it lets kids [&hellip
The weekend is upon us, and that means I’ll have more time to read uninterrupted…as if! With a break from the frenetic routine of getting kids off to school, shuttling them to activities, tackling homework, dinner, bath and bed, I make a point of squeezing in some reading before heading off to Dreamland. Because I’m already a full-time bespectacled gal, I don’t need to seek out a pair of reading glasses. But since plenty of friends have been donning a pair during book group, I know that stylish specs are just as important as a fetching pair of shoes (or so I’ve been told). If you’re someone who likes to make more environmentally-friendly purchases, then we’ve found the glasses line for you. Eynack‘s line of [&hellip
Tis the season of baby showers, christenings and any other gift-giving occasion to welcome a new arrival. If you’ve been invited to a bris, baptism or first birthday bash and are coming up empty-handed on your quest for the perfect present , consider the latest trend in gift-giving: subscriptions. We’re not talking Highlights magazine here, but rather a boxed mail-order delivery. Googaro features an assortment of carefully selected baby gifts (think: your own personal baby store shopper) that are eco-friendly and BPA-free. The selections include toys, books, snacks and other items, and are tailored to specific age ranges: 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 1-2 years and 2-3 years. Subscriptions are available on a monthly basis at $35 a pop, or you can place a one-time order. [&hellip
Well, the Royal Baby is finally out of the hospital and settled in his new home. Even though we still don’t have any official word of his given name, that doesn’t mean the business of taking care of baby is put on hold–and that includes diaper changing. Like any new father, handling his first diaper change is a rite of passage, and according to Kate, Prince William has successfully completed his initiation into Nappyville. While we imagine this task will soon be relegated to the royal staff (if it hasn’t already), might we suggest a calming accompaniment to this regular routine? The Organic Pharmacy’s Nappy Balm is a princely panacea to the universal diaper rash. Made with soothing ingredients like lavender and evening primrose, this [&hellip
After an enjoyable afternoon at the beach yesterday, my girls were more than thrilled at the prospect of a pre-dinner time bath. Washing off the salty, sticky remains of the day was the perfect way to cap off a fun day spent digging in the sand, splashing in the frothy surf and covering each other with seaweed (not exactly a day at the spa, even if the elements were the same). As they tracked a truckload of sand upstairs, I knew an early bath would be inevitable and for them, cause for jubilee. Truth be told, fresh from the bath is when I like my kids the best. They smell so sweet, it’s hard to imagine these devilish creatures could change their tune in a [&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
With just about two weeks until school lets out, I am faced with the inevitable truth that my kids will soon be home with me, and I will be tasked with what I like to call a “Herculean feat”: keeping them entertained, while not killing each other. Sure, they’ll be doing some camp time here and there, but with plenty of down time on the calendar, it’s a ripe opportunity for them to do something that’s productive and that doesn’t have to follow a set schedule. Ah, the beauty of unstructured time!…What is that, anyway? After hearing so much about ‘brain drain’ and ‘summer slide,’ I figure it’s my job as a parent to keep them intellectually challenged and mentally engaged even when they’re not [&hellip
A friend who was recently traveling with her kids wondered what snacks she could pack that would keep them full without having to resort to her usual stash of Goldfish and apple sauce cups. If you’ve bagged one too many cheddar bunnies and cheese strings in your day, it’s time to check out a new kid-friendly treat that’s as fun to say as it is to eat. Squoosh is a line of organic pureed fruit and veggies in a portable pouch. The all-natural snacks are the brainchild of a fellow mom who wanted to offer her kids nutritious snacks while on the go, but did not want to sacrifice taste for the sake of convenience. Each of the four fruity combinations — BeetBerry, OrangeBango, SquabbleBerry [&hellip