What Do I Get for Baby’s First Christmas?

Christmas is always a joyous time of year! There are so many wonderful things to look forward to amongst the hustle bustle. It’s made even more special when you are also celebrating Baby’s First Christmas!

So when you are trying to figure out how best to celebrate baby’s first Christmas, you surely contemplate what gifts to give. The reality is that your little one likely doesn’t understand what the season is all about, much less have the ability to open their own gifts. Here are some ideas to help celebrate baby’s first holidays without going overboard.

Pick a few great learning toys that you can unwrap with the baby. These are toys that you would likely get for them anyhow, so just wrap them up and make them that much more special for Christmas. Sure wrapping them up is more for you than them, but it’s a tradition that you just must practice.

Go to some local mom to mom sales and pick up a few stocking stuffers. You can get toys that are gently used at a fraction of the price. So if you want to get some gifts for baby to open but don’t want to spend a ton as they may be short lived, picking up some toys from a mom to mom sale may be a great way to give something to your little one.

Wrap up some new DVD’s and books. You can have quite a few things to open with your little one, and these are certainly items that will come in handy. If your baby is very little then this may be something useful down the road. Otherwise these can be used right away and be something that baby can enjoy the benefits of very quickly.

Look for sale items and stock up. I have been looking for sales on toys since October and have stocked up on some very nice items. I may not give them all at once because there’s so many toys that it could be overwhelming for my daughter. However I’ve got some great options and some nice gifts to wrap up, and I got each and every item on sale. It will never matter to her, but it helped with our Christmas shopping this year!

Baby’s First Christmas can be so much fun and with some shopping expertise and an eye for sale items, you can have plenty for them to open without spending a ton.

Planning Ahead for Dinner

It can be exhausting to hear the constant question–what’s for dinner? To help ease that a little preparation can go a long way. Planning ahead for your meals for the week can make your job as head chef of the household run much more smoothly.

If you’ve never visited a meal preparation place, then you can really fill up your freezer quickly with very little effort at all. These fantastic places allow you to either prep a bunch of meals yourself or order online and simply pick them up. All of the prep work and clean up is done for you, you walk away with a basket full of meals that you can easily pull out of the freezer and throw in the oven. These are well worth the money and take the stress off of you!

When you do cook, make extra and you will be surprised at how quickly your freezer fills up. If you make meatloaf, make an extra and freeze it. If you make spaghetti sauce, throw some extra in the freezer and it will come in handy in a bind. Prepping a little extra of whatever you’re cooking that evening can make your mealtime frenzy much easier to navigate through.

Shop ahead whenever possible. If you’re buying ground beef, buy it in larger quantities and freeze smaller portions in individual bags. This can then be used for meatballs, taco meat, or hamburgers. Get a larger package of chicken breasts and freeze these as individual portions. These can then be pulled out of the freezer and thrown into a casserole or simply grilled. Buying in larger quantities will also ensure tht you don’t have to run to the store as often.

With a little bit of preparation and a fair amount of planning ahead, you can make mealtime easy and enjoyable for the whole family. Never have to struggle to answer the question “what’s for dinner?” again.

Staying Home with Your Children

I always knew I wanted to be home with my children. I knew it would be a lot of work, but I had no idea. I hear this sentiment echoed amongst many other stay at home moms I know. So what should you expecte if you plan to stay home with your children? I’ve heard it said before and it’s so true that being a stay at home mom is the most challenging job you will ever love. It’s the greatest thing I’ve ever done in my life, but it’s also important to keep a few things in mind.

*Balance is key. You can’t possibly get it all done and you shouldn’t put that expectation on yourself. It’s been said a million times but making a list and prioritizing everything on it can work wonders. The baby may not nap as long as you need her to, feeding may take longer than anticipated–there will be unexpected circumstances that can put a damper in your most well meaning plans.

*Keep the baby interested and stimulated. Whether you join a mom’s group, have playdates, or take a class with baby, ensuring that the baby has social interaction is key. This is not only an essential part of baby’s development, but will help you to get out a bit too. It’s a great thing for everyone, so start slow and pick an activity that sounds like a good  match for both of you.

*Try to break your day into blocks. There’s the morning feeding and then (hopefully) nap, think of what you want to accomplish during that ahead of time. Then there’s lunch and the afternoon block, and then the evening routine. Determining when you will fit in meals, naps, bath, reading, and playtime can make the day run smoothly. This schedule will certainly not always run the way you want it to, but it gives you a guideline to work towards. Structure is good for both of you, but just don’t get carried away because you can box yourself in if you’re not careful. It’s a fine line and you will find the best patterns for you and baby.

*Do whatever prep work you can the night before or on a chosen day of the week. If you find yourself struggling to get everything done, then designate the evening to do certain activities. Washing bottles, taking a shower, and even throwing in a load of laundry can easily be done while the baby sleeps at night. it also helps to designate a day of week to cook up some meals to freeze or do your grocery shopping so that it doesn’t build up and weigh you down each and every day.

Being a stay at home mom is the greatest gift and most wonderful job in the world! With some preparation, planning, and a lot of patience you can enjoy being with that little baby each and every day.

Scheduling Me Time

It matters not whether you are a stay at home mom or a mom in the workforce, your life is likely chaotic. You are constantly on the run, fitting things in your schedule, all the while taking care of your baby’s every want and need. You can barely fit in all the doctor’s appointments and playdates, much less think of taking care of yourself. Scheduling in some “me time” is not only helpful but really essential to keep your sanity and well being.

As you think of what you want to do with your very own time to youself, it shouldn’t be something off of the to do list. Any time that you can capture in a day or week should be focused around an activity that brings you peace and happiness. It need not be extravagant, but should allow you to relax. A manicure, lunch with your sister, or drinks with your friend are great examples. If you don’t have that much time or want to keep the spending to a minimum then it can be something as simple as going to a book club meeting, having time to write in your journal, do yoga, or even just take a long hot shower without interruptions.

You should discuss the importance of time for each of you with your spouse. Though your baby brings you more joy than anything in the world, you each need some down time and should make sure to schedule this on your calendar at least once a month if not once a week. It need not be anything over the top or cause you to spend too much, but having some time to decompress can do wonders for your mental well being. Discuss this up front and then it will just be a part of your schedule as soon as you are both adjusted to life with a baby.

Are Mom Clubs for Me?

If you are a stay at home mom, you have likely been asked about or even considered joining a mom’s club. While they are not for everyone, there are many different types out there that can offer companionship and adult interaction for some of the long days spent home with your kids. What are these clubs all about and what can you really expect though?

There are several different types of mom clubs, and they each target a different type of mom. For the stay at home mom who is looking for activities during the day for her and the child, there are clubs that offer this. These clubs sometimes have activities every day of the week that include playdates and field trips, and they cater to the mom who needs things to do during the day for both her and baby.

There are also mom clubs that cater to the working mom or the one who needs to get out a little. These primarily focus on mom night out activities and things such as book clubs. These clubs help mom to get some time with others in her similar situation and get away from the kids a bit.

There are even combination clubs that offer a little of both, as well as some that even allow interaction with dad known more as parenting groups. Whatever type you pick, you can expect to find other moms in your similar situation and can meet some great people.

These clubs are especially popular amongst the stay at home mom crowd because it allows the kids to have activities to do with other children. It also allows mom to get out of the house during the day and have some much needed adult interaction before she goes stir crazy.

You can often find that you’re able to visit the clubs a couple of times before committing to join and this can come in handy. It’s worth a free visit to see if you like the structure and the people within it. Who knows, you may meet a great friend and a playmate for your little one?

Working Out is Good for Mommy

You’ve had the baby and are now getting adjusted to life as a mommy. Everything is new to you and you’re learning as you go. You’re very happy but also feel a range of emotions. You likely feel frustrated when you see that there is still a fair amount of weight to lose even after the baby arrives. Most of us think that somehow the weight will just melt off after the baby is born. Some of it does, but you soon realize that you are stuck with the rest of it.

With the range of emotions you are feeling and the weight that won’t just melt away, you may soon realize that a little workout will make you feel good. The key is to start slow! Your body has been through a lot and is likely recovering, particularly if you had a C-section. You don’t want to push yourself too much but starting with a light walk can be quite therapeutic. You can start to feel more like yourself as exercise is not only good for your physical well being but also your mental well being.

Once you feel up to it, take a class that incorporates you and baby. One that will allow you to get in a good workout while also having the baby there with you is perfect. Stroller Strides is a great class that is gaining popularity. It incorporates walking and weights, all while singing songs to your baby in their stroller. You can also find some great yoga or swim classes that can be taken with baby. This can also get you out to meet other moms, you may find somebody to talk through the emotional highs and lows that you’re feeling.

Depending on the weather, schedule yourself regular walking days. If it’s too cold out, go to the closest mall and walk with your baby a couple days a week. If it’s nice out, then taking a nice long walk with baby can be so uplifting for both of you as you take in the scenery.

Find a partner to work out with. Perhaps another mom, your own mom, or your husband. Taking walks and working out together can be a great family or friend bonding activity. It will get you back to feeling like yourself again in no time and the baby will love being in the stroller walking along.

Starting New Family Traditions

The holidays are upon us and that means observing and enjoying old famiily traditions. There are likely certain foods and rituals that you practice with your family each and every year. What about new traditions? If you have a baby at home and are celebrating their first Christmas, why not start some new traditions? Not that the new traditions have to take the place of the old tried and true ones, but they can make the holidays that much more fun for your newly growing family.

Start an ornament or special keepsake collection. We decided that we would get a snowman ornament for the tree each year for our daughter. We started it this year for her first Christmas and plan to get her one each year from here on out.

Designate a special time for you to open presents with your little one. Perhaps allow one present to be opened on Christmas Eve and then the rest get opened the next morning along with the Santa gifts. This can be an easy tradition to implement, and it gets everyone excited when the time approaches every year.

Make a special meal that becomes part of your tradition. You likely eat a huge dinner with your extended family, so how about a special breakfast that becomes tradition? Maybe you have chococolate chip pancakes each and every Christmas morning after presents are open. It’s something simple and sweet that cements your new family’s love of traditions.

Get together with friends or go to a special Christmas day. Before the holidays hit each year, designate a day each year that your new family gets together with friends and their kids. You could also designate a specific day each year that you go see Santa, have some lunch, and do a little Christmas shopping at the mall.

Traditions are what the holidays are all about! Enjoying old traditions and creating new ones are what makes this time of year so magical.

Planning Baby’s First Birthday Party

Let’s face it, birthday parties for kids can get a little out of control. It used to be simple, a celebration with family and a few friends that included cake and ice cream and everyone was happy! Nowadays it’s not a true party without a pony! Planning a first birthday party should be a simple affair but for some reason some people tend to get carried away. As I think of my daughter’s first birthday party, I’ve taken a few things into consideration with my planning. I’ve taken cues from some friends and decided that while it should be a celebration we will certainly keep it easier than others we’ve seen.

Celebrating at home, particularly for a first birthday, is not only acceptable but expected. The real focus of a first birthday is the cake! Everyone attending is fully expecting to see your baby covered in cake by the end of the party, so this should be the highlight of the event. If you make it about anything else like the location, you are simply wasting your hard earned dollars.

Serve a simple meal and everyone will be happy. You don’t need to break your neck cooking up a feast. Let’s remember that this is about a little birthday person, and a feast is honestly wasted on them. I plan to serve a nice but easy pasta bar. I have some friends that have done cake and ice cream, and others that have done hamburgers and hot dogs.

A theme is okay but let’s not get carried away! I’m all about the theme, a princess one for example is super cute. However getting carried away is unneccessary and can be saved better for later birthday parties when the child actually appreciates it.

Having a first birthday party is of course essential and exciting. Keep it simple and make it all about that little baby and their big old birthday cake!

Meals for Toddlers–How Can I Mix It Up?

When you think about moving beyond bottles and feeding your baby real foods, it sounds like so much fun. If you’re anything like me you raced to the grocery store to get baby food as soon as the pediatrician cleared your baby. I remember beign so excited to get her started on solid foods and trying out new textures–the whole thing was just another reassurance of how exciting it is to be a mommy.

Fast forward a few months and to the point where you are teetering between real foods, baby foods, and still a regular flow of bottles as well. Not only is it expensive and you feel as though you are the grocery store every day, but it begins to become difficult to come up with new options for feeding your little loved one.

I had to create some new mealtime options that offered a more comprehensive menu full of healthy options. Here are some ideas that I’ve come up with and borrowed from others, they seem to work quite well with our eleven month old.

*Instead of the same old oatmeal baby cereal with a fruit, instead offer cheerios and bananas for self feeding and yogurt that you can feed to them. This gives them all of their major food groups and offers a nice alternative to the same old breakfast.

*Sautee some ground turkey or ground beef and cook up some noodles. We use this as a base for soup for the adults and then offer the pieces of each to our daughter. She gobbles it up and she’s getting some great protein! I mix in some shredded cheese and some diced pears and she not only has every single food group but also has an interesting dinner that she will eat every last bite of.

*Lunch time is always the most difficult here. I have made chicken noodle soup and offered the noodles, chicken, and vegetables–minus the broth it’s easy to eat and offers a nutritious balance. The old standard of lunchmeat can be dressed up a bit–offering ham or turkey is great but if you offer some hummus, cheese, and perhaps peas you can really pack a nutritional punch.

*Rather than serving the same old scrambled eggs, we use an old Italian trick. As we use eggs and breadcrumbs to coat our chicken before baking it in the oven, this makes for a great meal as well. Take the leftover breadcrumbs and egg, mix together, and sautee as a patty on the stove. We all love this and the baby is carrying on the tradition!

*You can create your own meals for your toddler based on their favorites. If they love veggie burgers, cottage cheese, and peas then you can make this into an interesting array on their tray. They’re sure to eat it and you can pat yourself on the back as you’ve given a nutritious and delicious meal!

Unexpected Company…What Do I Serve?

It happens to all of us, especially at this time of year. Either you have the company that drops over unexpectedly or you get a call from your husband to let you know that he’s invited people over. You have been taking care of the kids all day, aren’t exactly looking entertaining worthy, and have nothing prepared to eat. What now? Well here are a few tried and true methods to throwing together a last minute spread of food without ever having to panic.

*Always keep cream cheese and some sort of spread in the house. A good example is a chipotle jam (easy to find in a jar) that can easily be thrown over a block of softened cream cheese, served warm with crakers. Presto! You’ve got an instant appetizer that’s super easy and delicious.

*Keep a jar of sundried tomato pesto in the house, along with some sliced appetizer sized baguettes in the freezer. When you’re in a pinch you can spread the pesto on these breads pop them in the over to broil and you’ve got a delicious appetizer sure to please. It’s made even better if you have garlic and parmesan cheese to mix in, but just the pesto works great as well.

*As it should be part of your kitchen basics anyhow, be sure to stock the kitchen with olive oil, parmesan cheese, and dried basil in the house. If you’re really in a pinch you can throw together crusty bread (have your hubby pick up a loaf on the way home) with this delicious olive oil mix for dipping. It’s sure to please and looks like you actually fussed!

*It helps to have some entertaining basics in the house such as hummus, crackers, a good cheese, and some amazing salsa and tortilla chips. If you’re really pressed for time and need to put some munchies out you can still supply a tasty spread with some of these party basics. The reality is that most people will munch on whatever you put out for company, and these are sure to go a long way.

No need to panic if you have the inevitable unexpected company. By keeping some basics in the house you can put out a spread that will look as if you cooked all day.

Entertaining Made Easy

Tis’ the season for entertaining! You may be one of those people who entertains all the time but runs short on time, or perhaps you are not big into it but want to figure out some good tips. Entertaining doesn’t have to be overly complicated nor does it have to be overly expensive. Here are a couple of tips that make entertaining easy and much more fun:

*Keep it simple and try hard not to go overboard. It can be easy to get carried away and feel like you don’t have enough. Remember in this instance a little can go a long way! Putting out a few well thought out appetizers that are filling can be perfect to please the crowd. Including some sort of hot dip (like a simple artichoke), some classy sandwiches, and a few cold items can look like more than it is. Get some easy to make recipes off the many websites out there or ask a friend who has a signature recipe.

*If people offer to bring something, take them up on it. There’s no shame in having people bring a dish to pass, most occassions warrant it. This can save you a lot of time and money as you plan your festive gathering.

*Keep it simple with beverages. Make a signature drink or festive punch, and then offer wine, beer, and pop. You can get carried away trying to supply a full bar and people can certainly find something they like with those choices.

*Be shopping well before the occassion to stock up on items when they are on sale. You know that you will likely need staple items such as crackers, wine, and canned goods such as artichokes and olives. Keep an eye out for these items as the year goes on, that way you don’t have to get hit all at once with a crazy shopping bill that’s way too expensive.

Entertaining can be easy and fun with a little bit of preparation. You can wow your guests with less effort than you think, and it will likely look like you did far more than you did.

Saving Money on Baby

Times are tough and everybody is trying to save a dollar wherever they can. Many households have developed a rather strict budget that they must stick to and with good reason. With things being so unstable, it’s important to make the most out of your money. If you have a baby you know just how expensive it can be to take care of them. With the diapers, formula, food, clothes, toys–it’s almost never ending!

There are some simple ways to save money when it comes to taking care of your baby’s needs. You can still get what you need but pay a fraction of the price if you make a few minor adjustments:

-Shop at membership clubs for items that you need in high volume and purchase frequently. You can get some great deals on diapers, formula, and wipes if you buy in bulk. This will also save you from making multiple trips to the store as a case of diapers can usually last you a month. Using the store brand can save you even more money, and the reality is that the items are made exactly the same way as the name brand. Do we really need designer diapers after all?

-Shop mom to mom sales whenver possible. These can save you a bundle and you can find some really cute things. Mom to mom sales are offered across the country and are like a huge garage sale where moms are selling their gently used clothes, toys, and supplies to other moms shopping for these items. Sure you’re not necessarily going to get everything from these sales, but when you consider how quickly they outgrow or become uninterested in things, this can save you a bundle.

-Trade off with friends that have kids the same age. Hand me downs in toys and clothes can be very welcome when you’re trying to keep up with baby’s constant growth spurts. It can be a fun way to get together and trade items that you can no longer use, knowing that they will go to good use in somebody else’s home.

You don’t have to go broke in taking care of your baby! Getting creative in obtaining all the items you need can save you a bundle and get you everything you need for your little darling.

Will I Ever Sleep Again?

It may seem as though once that baby comes along, you will never get a good night’s sleep! Rest assured that you will get back to some restful sleeping, but it may take time. You will likely hear those people that say “my baby slept through the night at two weeks”. You really should take a step back and consider what people mean by “sleeping through the night”.

Generally most newborns wake at least every 3-4 hours once they are home from the hospital to eat. The amount of time that this cycle goes on varies from baby to baby, and yes there are always exceptions to the rule. When you consider how much growing they are doing in the first few months, it’s no wonder that they need to wake up and eat so much. This too shall pass and soon enough, mother and baby will be resting easy again.

There’s no point in rushing any sort of schedule because it takes time. Once you see that patterns are developing though, it may be helpful to try putting the baby down for naps around the same time. Before you know it, you’ll be getting a morning and an afternoon nap from the baby. Putting the baby down around the same time every night and developing a night time routine can help tremendously. Getting into the habit of giving a bath, bed time story, and a bottle can provide some necessary structure. The baby will soon get used to these patterns and eventually fall asleep on their own.

You will get past the sleep deprivation phase, even if it doesn’t feel like it at the time. It’s just a phase like everything else in motherhood and soon enough you will both be waking up after a full night’s sleep, ready to take on the day.

Teething Mayhem

There’s always the things that nobody ever told you before you had a baby. You find out all these tricks of the trade only after you’ve lived through some of the more trying experiences. Nobody tells you that teething can be one of the most trying times for baby and mommy. Some babies get their teeth and you’d never even know it–they just pop up one day! Then there’s others that go through a temporary personality change just to cut a few teeth.

You feel terrible for your baby as you know it must be painful. You watch them go through the full range of symptoms and at the same time you get to panic. Seeing your baby drooling is expected, but when they start running a fever and tugging at their ears you of course fear that it must be something worse. The reality is that so many of the symptoms you see exhibited are a result of teething, just ask your pediatrician and chances are they will fall under the umbrella.

You hear all sorts of old wives tales, but there isn’t too much you can do to help them. I’ve found that Tylenol and Orajel are the best friends when it comes to combatting the pain that teething can cause. You don’t want to go overboard, but giving this combination can really help to ease the pain and discomfort. Tylenol becomes particularly important when it comes to a fever, so be sure to keep some on hand.

You can always try the methods you’ve certainly heard worked for others–teething rings, teething biscuits, and of course a frozen waschcloth. None of those ever worked for us, but more power to you if they do. Just be patient and realize that it’s a painful phase, but it’s only that–a phase! They say that the pain from teething is quite intense, so this is a time when just being a good mom that comforts her baby is the best thing you can do.

Tips for a Happier Holiday with the Baby

It’s that time of year again! Hard to believe, but the holidays are upon us. This time of year can bring much joy–it can also bring a great deal of stress! With all that has to get done and fitting it into a short time period, the anxiety can raise every day. So too can the concern about how to get your baby through all the family fun time. While it’s wonderful to engage in family traditions, sometimes your baby has a different idea.

So how can you plan for your baby’s reaction that may be less than favorable at the next holiday gathering? First and foremost you have to roll with the punches. Anybody with kids knows that every time you go out with your baby, the experience can be unpredictable at best. Most people understand that and getting upset by your baby’s temper tantrum or crying fit won’t help the situation, but only stress you out more. Go with whatever comes your way and know that most eople will be more than understanding of your circumsance.

Come prepared! This seems obvious, but when you already have so much to think about it can go by the wayside. Bring whatever bottles, sippie cups, and food that you may need for the amount of time you’ll be gone–packing a little extra can be helpful if you run into any unexpected circumstances. Be sure to pack any favorite toys or blankets that can offer comfort. It’s essential to leave the house will a well stocked diaper bag as well, pack all the basics and then go above and beyond. Having an extra outfit or pajamas for a long day can make things much easier on you.

Bring a pack and play so that you can set it up if it will be a late night or you are working around baby’s nap time. Whenever possible, try to plan around this so that the baby can still get in a nap or some sleep time in the car. A tired baby is a cranky one, so if you have to be a few minutes late in the name of sanity, it’s worth it!

Enjoy it! The minor setback or crying fit is short lived. The holidays are a time of year for everyone to come together and celebrate. Any fit that your child throws will be temporary and you want to make some great memories for the whole family to look back on.

Baby Milestones–Everyone is Different

Once you get past the initial adjustment period with a new baby, you feel like you actually know what you’re doing. You’re not as sleep deprived and perhaps have even picked up a tip or two that works for your baby. If they’re crying you’ve learned what each cry means and you’ve found the perfect way to rock that little darling to get them to go back to sleep. It’s right about that time that the questions and comparisons begin.

Just like with pregnancy, everybody has a story to tell and they somehow end up comparing their babies and experiences to yours. You’ll hear questions like “oh are they sleeping through the night yet?” and “how many bottles are they taking?”. Then the comparisons somehow have a way of working themselves into everday conversation. You immediately start second guessing yourself and feel as though perhaps maybe you’re now doing things wrong if Johnny slept through the night at two weeks.

It only gets worse as the baby gets older. All of a sudden you hear that Mary skipped crawling and walked at nine months, and on and on it goes. As hard as it may be, you have to ignore this unsolicited advice and focus only on your baby. Every single guideline out there is an average and that means that there’s usually a pretty broad range when it comes to each milestone. If your baby isn’t holding their own bottle by ten months or feeding themself by eleven months, it doesn’t mean that there’s a problem.

Talking to your pediatrician helps, they will give you honest ranges and work with you along the way to determine if there’s ever a reason to be concerned. Sure there are exceptions but they are usually much more obvious. Help is available but the probability is that your baby is just fine and you’ve just been a victim of comparison by another mother. It happens to every mother and every one of us has done the dreaded comparison in our head.

Spend time with your baby and certainly observe them all the time. Talk to your pediatrician if you really think that there’s a problem, but the reality is that everything is likely just fine. Your best weapon–figure out a nice way to tell the other moms to leave their comparison stories at home!

Making Mealtime More Enjoyable

Mealtime can be stressful enough as an adult, but when you have a baby to feed it can be taken to a new level. Now you are not only trying to feed the adults of the house and come up with creative ideas, but you have to introduce new foods and make them healthy for your little one. It can be a lot of work to figure out what foods to introduce and when, in addition to keeping it all interesting so that your baby will actually eat it.

Ensuring that you plan mealtime appropriately is key. If you try to feed your baby when they aren’t hungry, you will be met with a resistance to eat, utter frustration, and a hungry baby an hour later. Figuring out your baby’s needs and developing schedule will help you to feed them when they are more likely to eat. This is a key to success in feeding your little darling.

Introducing certain foods slowly and keeping with them can make life much easier. Rather than throwing down a bunch of new foods and expecting the baby to jump at them, it will benefit both parties if you take it one new food at a time. This will also help you to be sure that your baby doesn’t have any allergic reactions. Don’t give up though if they don’t take a certain food at first try, stick with it and try to reintroduce a little later on.

As the baby gets a little more well versed, keep things interesting. If you know that baby loves bananas, offer that along with a food that they may not love as much such as peas. This will help them to handle the less desirable food and hopefully ensure that they eat enough.

Don’t be afraid to introduce foods that you eat when the time is right. I remember thinking that mhy baby surely couldn’t be ready for things such as pasta and chicken. Once they hit 9-12 months, you not only can but should introduce table foods. Obviously stay away from any choking hazards, but you want to make sure that they are on a path to eating real foods and keeping proper nutrition.

Mealtime can be fun again with a little imagination and a lot of cooperation. Use your baby’s reaction as a benchmark and they will let you know if they’re not ready.

Surviving the Pediatrician Visit

It doesn’t matter what age your kids are, there’s always reason for anxiety when you go to the pediatrician. When they are newborns, you are the one with the anxiety as you are trying to figure it all out and there’s so much to think about and so many questions to ask. As they get older, they unfortunately become much wiser to what will happen when they get there. Either stranger anxiety or a familiarity set in as the doctor approaches them. Sometimes just the simple act of having the pediatrician approach them can set any child into a tailspin. So managing this is crucial because it can become a stressful experience for both of you.

It helps to bring something for them to sip on. When they are young enough it can be a bottle or a sippie cup. This can give them something soothing to sip on either before or right after they get any shots or exams. It makes life so much easier and helps to ease the temporary pain.

Give a little bit of pain reliever prior to any shots. This may sound like a silly preventative tip, but it works wonders. If you know that your baby or child has to get shots, giving them a little pain reliever just prior to the shots will not only help to ease the pain but also help to manage any fever that comes about.

Bring a comfort item. Either a snuggly blanket, stuffed animal, or favorite toy can make them feel a little bit more relaxed. Sure mom will be there to wipe away any tears, but having a tried and try comfort item will make you both feel better in the long run.

Be patient and ask plenty of questions. If you’re unsure about what is being done or what the side effects may be, ask questions. This may be common practice to the doctor, but as a mom you’re always learning. They are there to help you understand and manage your child’s well being, so don’t hesitate if you’re unsure. Be patient as these appointments can sometimes be quite a process, but know that every parent goes through this at some point or another. Before you know it, you’ll be an old pro at this!

Working from Home with Baby

Many of us dream about what it will be like when our baby arrives and how we will find a work situation that is conducive to our wants and needs. Focusing on what you enjoy doing or what you are good at and then looking for something that allows you to either work reduced hours or from home is a popular choice. So you get a situation where you are lucky enough to work from home, it’s a dream come true! Then the reality sets in–how in the world will you get it all done with baby underfoot and tending to their every need? Here are some tried and true tips to help keep baby as your number one priority while allowing you to keep your sanity.

*Develop a more creative work schedule. The regular 9-5 schedule that you used to keep may no longer be a reality. Once the baby is mobile, your dreams of putting baby next to you and jumping on the laptop are short lived. It helps to be able to get up early to get some work done, or to focus on your job after you’ve put the baby down for a nap. Getting work done in the evening in front of the tv works well, and it’s worth noting that you are still doing all of this from the comfort of your own home.

*Learn to make the most of your time. This sounds obvious, but it really helps to make a list and prioritize every item on it. If the baby goes down for a nap or daddy is spending some quality time with her, then use that time to cross off the higher priority items. Just keep chipping away at it little by little and you will be amazed at what a multi tasker you’ve become. It happens to every mother, you learn to manage your time and multi task–both of these skills will help you in getting work done while still taking care of baby.

*Keep things in perspective as it helps you from getting stressed out. You are still home with that little darling and that’s the most important thing. You’d be amazed at what a couple of hours on the weekend or in the evenings can do for your workload. Even if the days get crazy or you don’t get as much done as you’d like, remember that you’ve still managed to find a situation that allows you to be home with your baby. A dream come true!

Working from home can be possible if you make some slight adjustments in your mindset and priority list. If you are lucky enough to find something allowing you to work from home, keep in mind how lucky you are and use that positive energy to help you get through the craziest of days.

Balancing Your Time with a Baby

Having a baby is one of life’s greatest joys, there’s no doubt about it. Most moms would agree though that once that baby arrives, their time is no longer their own. First you go through the huge adjustment of having a newborn and never knowing when you might be feeding or have a clue as to when they will sleep. Then you start to get a little more adjusted and then it’s time for the baby to be mobile, and the cycle goes on. It’s safe to say that every mom goes through a period of time wondering when they might get some “me time” back.  I’ve found that a few minor tweaks in the daily schedule can help a bit and hopefully these tips will help other moms out there that have struggled with the problem of how to get everything done in a day when you have a baby.

*Work while you can around the baby’s schedule. Once the baby goes down for a nap, use that time to get the necessities done that day. Recognizing that you will never get every little thing done, make a list and work through it in order of priority. There are many days that I have to let some tasks go as I have to be realistic about how to use any free moment that I have.

*Let some things go and know that it’s okay. There’s no such thing as a super mom and trying to be one will only stress you out. If you only threw in a load of laundry but couldn’t quite get to dusting, let it go. The chores will always be there, and you just have to know that you can’t get it all done like you used to.

*Remember your number one priority. Even though it’s tempting to try and breeze through a huge to do list like you used to, your new and most important focus is the baby. You are taking care of that little bundle of joy and that’s the most important way to spend your day. If you get nothing else done in a day but ensuring that the baby is well fed and taken care of, then that’s still a very good day.

Learning to focus on your high priorities and sometimes let the rest go can make your days with baby much more enjoyable. Every time you feel stressed out and as if you can’t get it all done, take a look at that sweet little face and remember what it’s all about.