Surviving the Pediatrician Visit
February 3, 2009 by Mary
Filed under Health/Fitness, Kids, Tips
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!
Enjoy that Early Morning Quiet Time
February 2, 2009 by Emma
Filed under Health/Fitness, Time Management
It’s important to carve out a section of quiet time for yourself. Of course, it doesn’t have to be in the morning. But I find the morning hours perfect for having some quality me time. I can’t turn on the TV, I can’t call people on the phone, I can’t clean the house. I can’t do these things because the rest of the family is asleep, and because of that this is the perfect time for me to allow myself to be a little stingy as to how I spend it. ZenHabits.com has some great tips on how you can carve out a slice of time for yourself.
For those with kids. Many of these things can be difficult if you have kids to take care of — trust me, with six kids, I know the feeling. Some suggestions: take advantage of the early mornings or late evenings when they’re sleeping; exchange quiet times with your significant other so that one watches the kids while the other relaxes or exercises; trade kid-watching duty with a friend or relative; pay a babysitter for a short time each day; or find activities for your kids to do while you get your quiet time.
How to Get Help for a Developmentaly Delayed Child
January 31, 2009 by Emma
Filed under Health/Fitness, Kids
A mom’s instinct can be spot on, especially when it comes to her children. If you feel that your child might be developmentally delayed there are several resources you should know about. BlissfullyDomestic.com provides 5 tips it’s important to know when you want to know if your child is behind:
…Begin with your pediatrician or family doctor. They can help evaluate if there is a problem and refer to necessary resources for assistance. If your pediatrician or family doctor has brushed you and your concerns off, try another doctor in the practice or find a new doctor through mom referrals and your insurance directory, if you have insurance.
Start Exercising
January 26, 2009 by Emma
Filed under Health/Fitness
I’m really great at giving myself reasons not to exercise: I don’t have the time, I can’t afford the video/equipment, I hate the gym. Then, my employer offered a free gym program. The only catch, you had to go 10 times a quarter. So I gave it a try. I was nervous at first: I’m overweight, I hate to sweat, and I’m horribly self conscious. Then I looked at the machines, how in the world was I supposed to get on those things without embarassing myself? Then I found out that I got to sign up for some free lessons with a trainer. And I did it. And you know what? I have more time because I feel more energetic, and it was completely free. Double bonus!
Perhaps your employer doesn’t cover a gym class? Dumblittleman.com has some great tips for how you can fit exercise into your life without the cost and with little time.
Play with your children
Healthy children are bundles of endless energy. The next time you go to tell your children to go outside and play so you can relax and watch TV, don’t. Take your own advice and join your children in playing outside. Not only will you get much needed exercise you’ll also enjoy spending quality time with your children. They will never be the same age as they are today so don’t let the opportunity pass you by only to regret it when your children are grown. The best thing is it won’t even feel like exercise!
Fall Asleep Faster
January 18, 2009 by Emma
Filed under Health/Fitness
As a busy mom I always seem to have something on my mind. This is generally a good thing as it allows me to multitask and plan for upcoming activities. But late at night when I’m trying to go to sleep all of those things can end up keeping me awake. The next morning I’m usually a basket case, tired, cranky and desperately in need of coffee. In steps dumblittleman.com with 5 Ways to Fall Asleep. These practical sleep tips will help you to clear your mind and concentrate on the thing of the moment: sleep.
Meditate Before Bed Time
Meditation just before bed time is the ideal sleep inducer for me. I find it helps me to calm my mind while keeping me focused. If I tend to worry about something I often find the answer in my meditation quite naturally. Read moreRemove Splinters with a Pumice Stone
January 6, 2009 by Emma
Filed under Health/Fitness
I can’t wait to test this tip out. Well, I take that back. If I never have another splinter in my life I’ll be ok with it. But if I do, or more likely my children do, I’ll be sure to try out this tip from Parenthacks.com:Next time your little ones have splinters in their hands or feet, try this: Let them soak well in the bathtub, then use a pumice stone (like you would for rough heels or elbows) to rub over the splinters in a circular motion before they dry off. They can even do it themselves. It seems to work for those playgound / deckrail splinters pretty well.
Ovulation Calendar
December 9, 2008 by Emma
Filed under Health/Fitness, Kids
Time for baby number two or three? Having some difficulty getting the timing just right? Use the online Ovulation Calendar at iParenting.com to find out your optimal time to conceive.
Have a Spa Day at Home
December 4, 2008 by Emma
Filed under Beauty, Health/Fitness
Going to the spa may seem like it’s only for the rich, but not anymore! You can have your own day at the spa without ever leaving the comfort of your home. There are so many great products out there now specifically designed to relax you and make you feel like you are really at the spa. Here are some ideas for how to create a spa day at your own home:
Drop your kids off at grandma’s or do it while they’re away at school. You will be much more relaxed if you don’t have to watch over your kids and the whole point of the day is to be alone or with friends and to relax. You won’t be able to do that if your kids are running around the house.
Follow the rest of the tips over at Surf Net Parents to recreate the ultimate spa experience!
5 Ways to Improve Your Sleep
November 29, 2008 by Emma
Filed under Health/Fitness
It seems that moms, whether new or well-seasoned, struggle with getting enough sleep. And once we do get to sleep, there are some reasons to doubt the quality of that sleep. It turns out that that you might not be setting up the right environment for sleeping. Joel Falconer at Lifehack points out 5 simple things you can do tonite to improve the quality of your sleep:
Get Up Earlier
That’s right, you slacker: if you want to get to bed earlier and easier, set your alarm for 5am and haul yourself out of bed the second you hear it go off.The catch is that for this to work, you’ve got to muster all the self-discipline you’ve got and not only get up as soon as that alarm goes off, but get up as soon as that alarm goes off every single morning. No matter what. Even if you only had an hour of sleep the night before.
Try going for four or five days on two hours of sleep and then try to tell me you haven’t felt sleepy and ready for bed earlier than usual. This is the best way to reset your sleep schedule.
But boy, does it require some self-discipline—more than some people have got.
Learn how to sleep better so you can wake up rested and able to handle what the day and your kids throw at you!
The Twinkie is Back
September 15, 2008 by admin
Filed under Health/Fitness
If you miss your elementary school days when you reached into your Strawberry Shortcake lunchbox to pull out the Golden deliciouse cremed filled delight, it’s time to bring back the memories…without the guilt. Weight Watchers has released the
Work out Mommy does a review of the delacacy:
The good news? Only 100 calories per snack cake. (If you are following the Weight Watchers program, they are only 1 POINT® per cake.)
The bad news? They are TINY! Be prepared to practice portion control here as I easily could have eaten the whole box. They also contain some of the bad stuff we know we shouldn’t be eating, but if you need something to satisfy that sweet craving, these hit the spot with relatively little impact.
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