OK this one hits home for me.  When my daughters were brought home, the dr assumed they were collicly from what I was telling them they were doing.  They did this with my first daughter too.  They were crying all the time, always moving, grabbing her stomach, projectile vomiting etc, all the signs of having acid reflux, but they said it couldn’t be that, they just assumed it was colic.  So I demanded the Dr to prescribe something for them for acid reflux…well guess what, within hours they were quiet and very happy.  So my mommy tip, always go with your motherly instinct, ask about reflux medicine, it will make your life easier and your baby happy

I was emailed these great ideas from my cousin. I’m not sure where she got it from but I wanted to share it will everyone. My oldest is 3 and she still is having a hard time going to sleep at night. I think these are great ideas, I knew of most of them, but new moms and grandparents might not. Enjoy

Toddlers certainly have their own ideas about what they want or don’t want.

Unfortunately, going to bed often falls into the “don’t want” category. Getting a cranky toddler to go to bed is no walk in the park.

The best thing you can do is to establish a bedtime routine for your toddler. Toddlers need routine to feel safe and also to learn their boundaries. It will take a little patience and perseverance, but gradually your toddler will start to cooperate.

Here are a few ideas:

Give him soothing bath before bedtime - This could be considered one of the oldest and most successful bedtime routines for kids. A warm bath will soothe and help your toddler calm down before bed. You can add a little lavender or chamomile oil to help your little one relax. Try to keep things calm and don’t add too many toys to the bath. This is a time for your toddler to relax.

Toddlers love a good story – Your toddler loves listening to the sound of your voice. Engage her in a bedtime story to help her drift off to sleep. Also try making up stories instead of reading. Include your child as one of the characters and talk about things your child will find interesting. Regular bedtime stories and reading to your child will help influence her interests and develop her creativity.

Sing a Lullaby – The long loved lullaby does just that, it helps lull babies and toddlers to sleep. Your voice and lulling rhythm of the song will give your toddler security and calm him down. You can also play soft music in their rooms. Just watch the reaction of your toddler. Sometimes even low music can stimulate or irritate very sleepy toddlers.

Don’t Surprise Him – Not when it comes to bedtime. About 15 minutes before you start your bedtime routine, let your toddler know. Try not to say it’s time for bed in 15 minutes instead say it’s time for a story or a bath in 15 minutes. Some toddlers will automatically go into overdrive if they hear the word bed.

Remind him again about 5 minutes before the time. You can also get him to help you tidy up the toys as a way of preparing for the next activity, the bedtime routine. Once it’s time to go, gently tell him that it’s time for a story or bath and help him to the bedroom. Your toddler may try to think of a million excuses or things she needs to do at this time but remain calm and insist that it’s time to go.

Don’t Rush Him – Toddlers really don’t like being rushed. As a fully fledged parent of a toddler you already know the patience you need to exhibit doing the simplest things like getting your toddler in and out of the car. Bedtime is no different.

If you’re rushing and putting the emphasis on getting them to sleep then your toddler will pick up on that and lash out. Try to place the emphasis on spending quiet, quality time with your toddler. Allow yourself plenty of time so that you can get through the whole bedtime routine without rushing and be flexible and allow for little glitches in your routine.

Don’t Give In – Speak to your toddler before hand about your new bedtime routine, warn him soon before the time. When it’s time be firm and consistent. Even the most reasonable of toddlers, will push their boundaries when allowed. It’s a normal part of growing up and development. Remember your toddler looks to you to make all the grownup and important decisions for him.

Sleep is important for all of us and more so for young children. Be consistent in your bedtime routine and even if things don’t go well at first keep it up. If you’re consistent your toddler will eventually come around.

Another good article I found today on Onestepahead.com Please read this and pass it on…

Learning to crawl isn’t just an important developmental milestone, it marks the dawn of the childproofing era for parents. In a heartbeat, your sweet, sedentary infant transforms into curious explorer. Your home — once your child’s safe haven — is now a minefield of hidden hazards.

That’s why childproofing is so important. Each year, about 2,500,000 children are accidentally injured or killed by hazards in their homes¹. In fact, unintentional injury remains the leading cause of death for kids under 14². While there is no replacement for constant supervision, proactive childproofing can prevent many accidents.

But don’t worry…childproofing doesn’t have to be overwhelming! Begin by touring our childproofed home below for room-by-room tips and strategies. Then, view your own home from your child’s perspective: crawl through the house on hands and knees in search of tempting, eye-level dangers. You may be surprised by what you find.

Finally, head over to our Safety Department for solutions. We have one of the most comprehensive, current childproofing collections around, so you can find everything you need, all in one place.

To read more about this please visit their site. You can go here to be redirected.

I found this great article on babycenter.com. It talks about your baby’s bottles, I heard about this before, but didn’t know the extent of it.  All parents/grandparents/expecting parents please read this and share it!!!

As a parent of young children, it seems as though every time we turn on the news or pick up a paper, there’s something new to worry about. Read the rest of this entry »

With my girls, the Dr. advised us to make a feeding chart.  It was a great idea because have all your information you need for your baby(s) in a ready to look at binder.  We did one that had a few columns.  It was for feeding (breast milk or formula), pooping, peeing, sleep, and medicines.  This was great for when we went to the Dr.’s office and they asked us so many questions we had all the answers right there in our book.  Its also a great idea for other things as well.  I used mine for phone numbers and names of people who wanted to help out and for the scheduled Dr appointments and grocery list.  It was all in my binder ready to see.

Resolve Carpet Cleaner has a try me offer.

Buy any one Resolve Dual Power Spot Carpet Cleaner product. Then send original dated, store-identified cash register receipt dated between 3/15/08 - 10/31/08, with purchase price circled and you full name, full address, and e-mail on a 3×5 card. You will Receive A check for the purchase price (up to 6.19) by mail.

I have 4 kids and a big dog, I cant pass this one up. I will try anything for free!

Then Mail it to:
Resolve Dual Power Refund
P.O. Box 1045
Grand Rapids, MN 55745-1045

(Must be postmarked by 11/15/08. Limit one per household, person, and/or address.)

Similac has a Welcome Club for new moms. They are offering many free baby items and samples, including…a unique toll free number for registered nurses ready to answer any questions you might have, (I know with my triplets I used one of these ask a nurse many times) Free sample of your choice of formula, money saving coupons, diaper bag and some free items from other program affilates…So be sure to sign up today at http://pharmacommunications.ca/Similac/English/similac.php?partner=oldurl

I just came across a great stay at home mom site. This site is designed to help stay at home moms. There are specialized groups in some areas, I just signed up to see if there is a group in my area. I am interested in what they will help me with. All you do is provide where you are located and they find local groups in your area for you. They have volunteers to help you out when you need advice, ideas and/or encouragement. Having triplets I always need some encouragement. So be sure to check it out. Click here to go to the link.