Infants & Toddlers

Posted by Rachel Lister

My 8 month old reccently started crawling and I've had to rethink many of the things around my home and watch out for new safety hazards. Baby proofing the entire house can be a huge task. I like to start with the areas that my baby spends the most time in, such as the family room, because he is still limited in how far he can go. Baby gates are vital if your baby has access to stairs but they are only effective if you remember to use them every single time.

Child safety is so important but it does not have to be overly complicated. Get down on the floor and look at things from your baby's perspective. Look for any wires or cables that your baby can get to and chew on. Make sure your furniture is achored firmly to the wall and that there are no small spaces that your baby can get stuck in.

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Posted by Rachel Lister

Raising a baby can be expensive enough, but feeding doesn't have to be. It only takes a minimum amount of effort to make nutritious and affordable homemade baby food. When my first son was a baby, I bought jars of baby food and boxed cereal. It never really occurred to me that there was another option. By the time my third baby was born, I knew a bit more about what my baby could and could not eat, and I knew how to prepare it so that he could easily digest it.

You can make baby food ahead of time and freeze it until you are ready to feed it to your baby, or you can grind up whatever table food you are eating that is appropriate for your baby. I purchased a Kidco Baby Food Mill when my oldest was a baby and it has allowed me to grind up anything from bananas to chicken. Babies love to feel a part of meal time, and sharing the food that the rest of the family is eating is a great way to include them.

Easy Baby Food Recipes

Homemade Infant Prunes

Homemade Infant Oatmeal

Homemade Infant Applesauce

Read More Thrifty Living Tips by visiting Thrifty Thursday.

Posted by Rachel Lister

Busy Mommy (BusyMommy.us) is hosting a huge giveaway event for moms to help you start your summer right. it is easy to enter. All you have to do is register for an account at Busy Mommy. Registration is free and takes only a few minutes.

Prizes include:

Living Home Starter Kit from Seventh Generation

$50 Gift Certificate to Mastermind Toys

Nalgene BPA free water bottles

Saving Dinner Ten for the Freezer Menu

and much, much more.

Posted by Rachel Lister

If you are planning to take a family holiday this summer, you probably know how difficult it can be to find family friendly hotels. The first few trips we took with a baby were stressful and complicated. We didn't know what to expect from our hotel so we ended up taking everything we might possibly need. If you are traveling anywhere that is too far to drive, the airlines make it very difficult to take everything you need. There is a great new website called www.childfriendly.co.uk that helps you find a child friendly hotel and child friendly restaurant. They aren't limited just to the UK. You can search for family friendly holidays all over the world.

Holidays are a great way to create memories, just make sure that they are good ones. Get back to enjoying your vacation by doing a little planning before hand.

Posted by Rachel Lister

I have a VERY active toddler. He is constantly running and jumping. If I don't provide him with something interesting to do, he is sure to go exploring on his own and find something to do. More often than not, he ends up getting into something he shouldn't be.

When I give him a little guidance and provide him with fun activities and projects, he is much more manageable and better behaved.

Great Summer Activities for Toddlers

Edible Play Dough for Toddlers

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Posted by Rachel Lister

Play is such a huge part of a young child's life. Toddlers learn primarily through play so a trip to the toy store is much more than simply fun and games. Educational Toys can help toddlers develop social skills, learn how the world around them works, and build a foundation for formal education later on. When my son was first born I was reluctant to expose him to any television at all. As he got older, and had a greater need to be entertained, I gave in and let him watch some of the Baby Einstein videos. Even though he was watching T.V., I was at least confident that he was getting some stimulation at the same time.

Every time I go to the store I see more and more electronics marketed to toddlers. Toddler Toys do not have to talk or have a lot of moving parts. In general, the simplest toys are often the best because they encourage toddlers to use their imagination. I stay away from most toys that do all the work for my toddler. Some toys don't require toddlers to do anything more than sit and watch. I'm a big fan of nearly any kind of blocks, and pretend play items such as, dolls, toy food, trains, cars, little people, and play housekeeping items. Toddlers don't often make a distinction between boy toys and girl toys. My sons enjoy playing with their toy kitchen just as much as any of their female friends. Quality play time allows toddlers to interact with their toys and imitate the behaviors that they see everyday.

Posted by Rachel Lister

As if parents don't have enough to worry about with all the reccent toy recalls, now vinyl bibs and diaper bags have been shown to be another potential source of high lead levels. The studies have shown that most bibs do not pose a risk to infants unless the vinyl is broken and in poor condition. The experts have a way of changing their minds about things though. Until it has been determined how big of a risk vinyl can pose to infants, it may be best to stick with some basic cloth bibs.

Posted by Rachel Lister

I have been lucky enough to have generally happy babies. Two out of the three were very mellow and easy to comfort. My second son, however, was a completely different story. He cried during his every waking moment and it seemed that I could do nothing to comfort him. I was willing to try whatever colic remedy I could find, but there really didn't seem to be many products available.

Many mother swear by gripe water for colic. It is a more natural way to treat infant gas pain, which will hopefully stop the crying.

Read More

Why is My Baby Crying? Interpreting Your Infant’s Cries

Posted by Rachel Lister

A fellow Suite101 readers needs our help. This quick 3 minute survey is for a marketing class and needs a response within the next few days. Take the opportunities to share your feedback as a parent on this infant product.

Take the Survey

Posted by Rachel Lister

Breastfeeding babies don't have to miss out on any fun at the dinner table. Breastmilk popsicles, or momsicles as they are often called, can help your baby to feel included at meal time and can do wonders for soothing a teething baby's sore gums.

The first few experiences with a momsicle may be interesting. My baby didn't quite know what to do with it but he was very excited about it once he figured things out.

Learn How to Make Your Own Momsicle

Breastmilk Popsicle - Momsicle