Category Archives: Managing Baby

25 Non-Candy Easter Basket Ideas for Preschoolers

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25 Non-Candy Easter Basket Ideas for Preschoolers. Easter gift ideas, Easter basket ideas

With Easter just a couple of weeks away, it’s time to start thinking about those Easter baskets! Now more than ever, it’s time to find small ways to bring joy to our children. Easter baskets are a great place for small, low cost gifts. Chocolate bunnies are great, but many parents want to avoid too much sugar. There are many other great things that can be included in an Easter basket.These things can include toys, accessories, household items, snacks, and things to keep your kiddo busy. The best part is that there plenty of choices available right on Amazon. Check out these 25 great non-candy Easter basket ideas for preschoolers. read more

Cloth Diaper Baby Registry

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Are you interested in cloth diapering your new baby? Check out this post on what to add to your cloth diaper baby registry. Cloth diapers, cloth diapers 101, cloth diapers for beginners

Cloth diapers seem to be making a come back in a big way! They can be more affordable, more environmentally friendly, and in some ways even more convenient than using disposable diapers. (No more last-minute Target runs because you didn’t realize that you didn’t have a back-up box!) We made the switch with our second baby, and have had a great experience so far. The most daunting part of cloth diapering is just getting started! It can seem like there are a lot of things to buy and a lot of options to chose from. If you are going to be creating a baby registry, you can add a lot of diapering essentials to that list to get you started. Check out this post for a how-to on creating a cloth diaper baby registry. It will walk you through all of the essentials that you should include to be ready to go when baby arrives.  read more

8 Key Skills to Get Your Child Ready for Kindergarten

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Do you know what skills your toddler or preschooler should learn to be ready for kindergarten? Check out these 8 key skills for kindergarten readiness. #toddler #preschool #earlylearning #kindergarten #kindergartenreadiness

It’s crazy to me that our Peanut is at an age where school is just around the corner! He’s still in daycare this year, but next year, 3k means that he starts in the “big kid school.” Kindergarten is going to be here before we know it. As time passes, we are learning more and more how early development sets up a child for success in their education. Today, some schools assess each child’s readiness for kindergarten upon enrollment. Preschool teachers, childcare providers, and parents can work together to ensure children are ready for kindergarten. To do this, it’s important to understand which skills are necessary for lifelong learning and kindergarten readiness. Here is a list of some of the most vital skills young children should have in order to be ready for those first few months of kindergarten. read more

I’m Not Ready to Go Back to Work, but I’ve Been Back for 3 Months Already

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Even though I’ve been back to work for a few months, I still don’t feel ready to be there. #workingmom #maternityleave #newmom

As I sit at my desk eating lunch, I open an email with a weekly baby update. The article that I click starts out “Can you believe it? You’ve made it halfway through baby’s first year.” Honestly, just reading those words almost brought tears to my eyes. No, the answer is no, I cannot believe it. The first 6 months – the first half a year – of my baby’s life has flown by. I can’t help but think about how much of it I have missed. Here I am, sitting at work, missing out on my baby growing up at this moment. There are times when I get hit hard with the feeling that I am not ready to be back to work yet. I feel like there is nowhere more important for me to be than with my baby. I still feel this way, even though I have been back to work for over 3 months now.  read more

6 Ways to Prepare for Breastfeeding During Pregnancy

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Being prepared to start your breastfeeding journey will help set you up for success. 6 ways to prepare for breastfeeding during pregnancy. #pregnant #newmom #breastfeeding

Did you all know that there is a whole week every year dedicated to celebrate breastfeeding? Yep, August 1-7 is World Breastfeeding Week! In honor of world breastfeeding week, I thought it would be beneficial to talk about something very important to expecting moms – how to prepare for breastfeeding during pregnancy. Breastfeeding is a topic that people around the world get together to celebrate. There has been plenty of evidence in recent years that supports the fact that breastmilk is the best and most natural way to feed a baby. Don’t be deceived if you are a new mom. Just because it’s natural, doesn’t mean that it’s easy. Breastfeeding is hard work, and for many moms, there is a learning curve in the beginning. Not every breastfeeding journey is long and “successful” (which is ok too!), but there are plenty of ways to set yourself up for success. Check out these 6 ways to prepare for  breastfeeding during pregnancy.  read more

Maternity Leave Goals – The Second Time Around

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Setting goals for maternity leave can help you to feel better mentally, physically, and emotionally! Enjoy your time at home while preparing to go back to work. #newmom #workingmom #maternityleave #newbaby

Hey there! If you’ve noticed that it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything, that is because I am currently on maternity leave. Our daughter is now 8 weeks old, and I have been taking that time to get to know her and enjoy being home with her and my son. Okay, if I’m honest, I’ve also been kept plenty busy and a little overwhelmed trying to juggle the two kiddos! I wrote this post as I was preparing for our little girl’s arrival. I wrote it with two intentions – to have goals down on paper for myself and to share with other moms who need some help setting goals for their own maternity leave. With my first son, I did not do anything like this. Those first blurry 11 weeks flew by and left me feeling like I had wasted them on the couch. Keep reading for the goals that I set for maternity leave. read more

New Baby Checklist and What to Include in Your Baby Registry

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There are so many items on the market for new parents! Check out this customizable new baby checklist to keep track of everything you need for baby. Baby checklist, new baby, printable baby checklist, what to buy for baby. #babyregistry #newbaby #pregnant #newmom

When I created a baby registry for my first son, I did a TON of research. I read every blog and pin that I could find, I looked through pregnancy magazines, I looked at registry examples, and I asked other parents for advice. Overall, I felt like I had a pretty good handle on what I wanted and needed for baby. Now I am getting ready for baby number two, and I have the chance to go through my new baby checklist all over again. My thoughts and opinions have changed a lot in the two years since I wrote this post – as all experienced parents tend to do. I thought this would be the perfect time to re-vamp this post a little bit so that I have it ready when friends come to ask for baby registry advice. Keep reading to learn how to create your own new baby checklist (I’ve included a template for you!), and see what you need to include in your baby registry. read more

The Complete Guide to Building a Diaper Stockpile

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Building a stock of diapers before your baby is born will save you time and money in the long run. Check out this post to learn how and why to build up your diaper stockpile.

Before my son was born, I had 2051 diapers in my stockpile. I know to many of you, that sounds like a lot of diapers, but in reality, that pile lasted me roughly 6 months. Babies go through diapers like they are…well, disposable! There are many advantages to using cloth diapers, and they are becoming pretty popular recently. If you go the disposable diaper route, be prepared to go through a lot of diapers. This post will teach you how to build a diaper stockpile and why you want to build a diaper stockpile before you welcome your baby.  read more

5 Tips for Helping Your Kids Get to Sleep (Guest Post!)

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Sleep can be a big struggle with babies, infants, and toddlers. Check out these 5 tips for helping your kids get to sleep. #sleep #bedtime #sleephabits #parenting

Sleep seems to be the ultimate struggle as a parent – both sleep for yourself and sleep for your child. Once new parents get past their newborn sleeping through the night, they may believe that their sleep troubles are over. Oh, you just wait new parents. There is more to come. Today I have a guest post from Judith, a mother of two, with 5 tips for helping your kids get to sleep. These tips really apply to any age, but seem most applicable to toddlers and young school-aged children. Hope they help, and you find some rest! read more

10 Christian Books for Baby

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Books are a great way to introduce your little one to God's love as early as before birth! Check out these suggestions for Christian books for baby. #christianparenting #christian #books #booksforbaby

Books are a great way to pass time, interact with your baby, and teach language skills to your little one! They can also be a great way to introduce your children to faith and God’s love from the very beginning. There are many books about Jesus, prayer, and Christian values out there. Some are obvious and studious like beginner’s story bibles and some simply follow themes that instill Christian love. Whatever your day calls for, there is a great Christian book out there for you to share with your little one. Check out this post to see some of our favorites and suggestions for Christian books for baby. read more