Tip of the Week
If your child's skin is dry, a moisturizer that is fragrance-free and intended for sensitive skin will be among the best skin remedies in your arsenal. Creams and ointments work better when the skin is very dry during the winter months. Lotions tend to be lighter and better during warmer months.
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It's a great time to clean out your closet, since you will probably be receiving lots of gifts that need to be stored! Take all those items that you no longer use, and take them to a goodwill store near you. In this economic climate, people in need will surely appreciate the gesture!
Searching for extra time to purchase those last minute gifts? Take advantage of your mall's late-night hours. Put the tots to sleep, have hubby stay home, and head out for some alone-time. Gift shopping may sometimes feel like a chore, but when you have some time alone it becomes more relaxing & enjoyable!
Keep your gift giving organized & within budget by creating a spreadsheet of your gift recipients & their respective item & price. Keep an envelope with cash for each recipient when purchasing the item. If you have gone over budget, take the money from another recipient's envelope. Finish off, by punching in details in your spreadsheet after your day of shopping.
If you are hosting your family's Thanksgiving meal, or are just bringing an item to a relative's house, and you are feeling overwhelmed with the responsibility, let someone else do the dirty work for you! Several grocery stores like Whole Foods are offering catering services that provide any and all holiday meal items like appetizers, turkeys, and desserts.
Is your tot having some discipline issues at school, like pushing or taking toys away from classmates? Don't get frustrated. Stay in touch with teachers about their progress and reinforce lessons at home by doing some role playing wih your tot. If there still is no change, try taking one of their valued toys or rewards away until you have seen a change for the better at school!
Having trouble putting your kids to bed? Notice that they are cranky and fussy and won't go down till 10pm? Try a drastic tactic and put them down by 6:30 or as early as 6pm one night. You will be surprised they may rebel for a bit but will be asleep by 7 and then well rested when they wake up in the morning. We have learned time and time again, sleep begets sleep!
For a quick and inexpensive Halloween decoration, crumple up old newspaper into golf sized balls. Cover with square tissue paper and tie with a garbage bag tie or a thin ribbon. Paint eyes and an open mouth and voila, small ghosts! Thread from the top of their heads and hang from a tree!
Don't be afraid to go back to pull-ups if you had a bad potty training experience the first time around. Your little one may not be ready yet. Wait a couple of months and try again.
Use ziploc bags to separate and keep track of all the pieces and parts to certain toys. It's much easier to find stuff if it's kept in one place!
Keep a bag of extra clothes, diapers and wipes in your car along with some snacks and a sippy cup in case any of your trips or errands run longer than expected or your little one has an accident.
When buying clothes (especially for little girls), think about the 6-12 months stage. Around this time, babies will start crawling and girls have difficulties cruising easily when they're tripping up on dresses or skirts. Try to buy more rompers and onesies during this stage. Also, for boys and girls, lighter colored pants or leggings will pick up the dirt and may be hard to clean!
Raising a "shy" or reserved tot? Make sure he doesn't pick up the learned behavior of looking at the floor too much by bringing objects he/she is asking for up to your face so they will look up at you and the object. This will make them more comfortable with looking into people's eyes.
Try using shaving cream or vaseline to remove those pesky marker stains on your tots' skin from their school projects!
Challenge your baby to begin feeding her or himself when they begin to crawl. Start by offering bite sized snacks like Cheerios and then move onto mealtimes by giving them pasta, cooked veggies & soft fruit in small pieces.
Getting ready for fall/winter weather? Or gearing up for school? Let your toddler choose some of his/her new clothes so they can feel part of the process. Also, don't miss out on the bargain deals for summer clothes. Pick some up now and store for next year buying bigger sizes now and saving money in the long run.
Are your kids bored of their toys? Are you sick of them too? Need some fresh ideas? Try a neighborhood toy swap. Ask friends to pile together some toys they are ready to let go off and choose a date and a meeting place. If you want to be extra organized, give everyone a ticket per toy they bring and that ticket "pays" for the "new" toy they choose. Bigger priced items can be worth two or three tickets. Your kids will think it's Christmas in August!