Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

Voice Your Opinion Now on the Environmental Impact of Appliances!

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Please enjoy this post brought to you by Appliances Online. As someone who bought 5 (yes, 5!) major home appliances in the last 6 weeks, this is a topic of great interest to me! 

 


Because we want a planet that’s actually still a relatively nice place to live when our children are older, it’s important that we take care of it now. Domestic appliances are a huge drain on resources because almost every home has at least one, and they are used multiple times a day.

Think about it, especially if you’re a parent. Just how many times is that washing machine used in a week? Or the dryer immediately afterwards? How often do you use the dishwasher to clean up after the kids? Over the years, the cost, both financially and economically can build up. It’s especially difficult recently due to advances in technology. This makes models of appliances much cheaper to buy, whilst in turn making their replacement parts much more expensive.

Many people aren’t aware of the full range of eco-information available to them from retailers and manufacturers. However, it’s important that people know more about things such as water consumption, or energy efficient classes of their appliances. For example, did you know that a dishwasher uses far less water than by hand washing? Many people still consider dishwashers to be an expensive luxury drain on resources.

Appliances Online want to help people improve the knowledge they are given regarding green appliance issues by creating the 2012 Green Survey. This survey is intended to give the public the opportunity to voice their concerns and opinions on domestic appliances and their environmental impact. The results will hopefully allow retails and manufacturers to see just what information is given and what changes people want in how that information is presented.

The survey is available globally, as this issue is not just for consumers, but for anyone who is interested in making the planet a little greener. It will run until Wednesday 6th June (and maybe a little longer is the need is there).

Halit Bozdogan is a writer for Appliances Online and will be a first time father in July. It’s a boy. He’s not sure what name he will have yet.

A Healthy Beauty Philosophy (Postpartum and Beyond): Guest Post from Aspiring New Moms

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After having a baby, my beauty philosophy shifted to a more all encompassing view of beauty. Wholesome organic food, skin care, and a good night’s rest is just as important to a woman’s beauty routine as cosmetics and clothes.

“Being happy is the ultimate beauty secret.” – Josie Maran

Healthy postpartum weight loss can be challenge for many new moms. I found it best to focus on health, rather than weight loss. Delicious salads, kombucha, walks outdoors, and loose forgiving fashion helped me get back to my pre-pregnancy weight over the course of a year.

This salad was a staple recipe in our house last summer. The ingredients can be stocked, and the salad can be tossed together in less than 10 minutes. I have rediscovered it now that the hot temperatures have returned. I am craving lighter foods and citrus. This salad is full of protein and vitamin C.

 

Ingredients

1 Bag of Pre-Washed Mixed Greens

Sushi Grade Ahi Tuna or Smoked Salmon (Shown with steamed Albacore)

1 Can Chick Peas Drained

1 Can Mixed Citrus Fruit (Grapefruit and Mandarin Oranges)

1 Avocado Sliced into Small Pieces

Parmesan Cheese to Taste

Directions

Toss all the ingredients together in a large salad bowl. Drizzle with your favorite salad dressing. I recommend Poppy Seed or Wasabi Vinaigrette.

 

Thank you to my good friend Tiffany for letting me guest post today and congrats on your new baby! xoxox

For fun, please hop over and visit Aspiring New Moms {Effortless Glamour // Organic Gourmet}

Guest Post: Themed Events for Special Baby Showers

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Please enjoy this guest post sponsored by Showermybaby. As a non-crafty person, I’m so glad to know that you can now easily purchase everything you need to put together a cute, themed shower!

Today’s baby showers are trending towards the themed shower instead of the traditional green and yellow of yesterday. The expectant parents are picking a theme to be passed on to the host or hostess of the shower that matches the new baby’s special entrance into the family. Whether the theme is based around the colours of the nursery, gauged to the expected boy or girl, or simply a humorous party for celebration, showermybaby has decorations that will assure the party will be extraordinary for that special new baby-to-be. Everything is available for baby shower decorations needed to complete well-rounded theme.

If you thought the tradition of yesterday is not for the new baby, you can pick from jungle theme, bumble bees, angels and special colour theme packages, making putting together the perfect baby shower a snap. Baby showers are a time for excitement and love, a time for welcoming the newest addition to the family. These showers can be of any style from humour to personal taste, but always a time for family and friends to welcome the baby and start a lifetime of memories.

For that special gift, you can purchase from a huge number of baby shower gifts that will show your special feelings for the new addition. If you would like to shower the new baby with an organic gift or special gift basket, you can find it online and know you will be giving a meaningful and special gift. If, as the shower guest, you would like to purchase a more practical gift, you can find that new stroller or those special shoes from a wide selection of colours and styles. If the keepsake or personalised gift is extra special, you might want to look at a complete line of themed sets to make memories for years to come.

What was the theme of the cutest shower you’ve ever attended? Any decorations, food items or games that particularly stood out to you? 

Guest Post: The Increase of Online Shopping for Parents

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Please enjoy this guest post, sponsored by Born Gifted, a wonderful store based across the pond but easily accessible online! 


It’s hard to believe that one of the biggest maternity and kids wear corporations have publicized that they are closing one of three stores in the UK and getting rid of 800 jobs. The executive chairman stated that the business is at an all time low due to the increase in customers shopping online. Online vendors have been eating up the profit which is putting a damper on stores that sell baby items. Even though there will be fewer stores, this national chain is planning on diving head first into the remaining stores in order to get business back up to speed.

Bringing their profit up to a positive point might be a moot point. Online merchants seem to have more bargains and easier access to baby items any time of the day or day of the week. The astonishing aspect in all this is the fact that such a HUGE chain is publically acknowledging that online websites can offer more items with just the click of a button, and at better prices as well. In addition to great prices and the shopping convenience of the internet, there is a wider range of products to purchase and this is something a local store (even a national chain!) just can’t hope to compete with.

Oftentimes it is possible to find free shipping straight to your doorstep which makes it even a better deal all the way around. Parents can order during football practice via their smartphones or whilst grabbing a quick bite to eat as baby naps. This in turn frees up time that can be spent with those little ones. For busy parents this allows time to shop hassle-free rather than trying to manage an infant in a pram or watch a toddler pulling items off the shelf. Consumers also love that with the click of the mouse they can compare items online and evaluate them based on other customer reviews. Stress free shopping is what parents need and something rarely found in local shops.

Bio: Born Gifted believes that online shopping should be convenient and stress free. As a leading online merchant for everything ‘baby,’ here you will find gifts for all occasions. Click here to find out more.

What about you? Do you prefer to shop online or to hit the brick and mortar stores? I’m most definitely an online shopper, as this allows me to shop at odd hours or during brief moments of quiet in my home. Bonus: no schelpping around a diaper bag! 

Engage Your Toddler and Care for Your Infant Outside of the Home: Guest Post from Simmworks Family Blog

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Throughout my pregnancy with my daughter, one of my main concerns was how I would juggle two kids. I absolutely loved taking my son out and about with me to playdates, activities, and social events and I just couldn’t imagine adding a baby, let alone a newborn, to the mix. How could I continue to engage my toddler son while caring for my infant daughter?

I was also nervous about being cooped up in the house alone with both kids after my husband returned to work. I thought I’d go stir crazy trying to entertain my son and breastfeed my daughter simultaneously. So I quickly resolved to get out of the home as much as possible and stay active in my mom’s group. I mean I was the organizer of the group, I had to keep it active!

Here’s how I did it:

Create a Game Plan

Figure out where you’re going, who’s going with you, and how long you want to stay. Then explain to your toddler (if they’re old enough to understand) exactly what you’re doing and what you expect of them.

Depending on where you’re going, decide if you want to bring a double stroller or just stick to a baby carrier. I found that when my daughter was very young it was easier to carry her and push my son in our single stroller. I was still able to use the stroller to change my daughter on the go when we needed it and my son had the comfort of “his” stroller when he got tired.

Plus, I highly recommend testing out double strollers when you have both kids. That way you can find out what works best for your two, and not what looks good on the website. Many stores now allow you to test out strollers before purchasing them so take advantage of this!

Be Prepared

Pack in advance and bring lots of snacks! I always keep two diapers in my diaper bag for the baby and two pull ups for my toddler (or diapers, underwear, etc) and I keep an extra stash of back up diapers in my car in case there’s an emergency explosion or accident. That way my diaper bag isn’t overpacked but I’m still prepared.

Packing snacks that both my son and I love helps ensure that I won’t have to make any stops at the snack bar or have a starving toddler on my hands. Snacks also make for great incentives when you want to get your child to listen.

Get your Toddler Involved

My son was especially helpful when I explained that Mommy wanted him to act like a Big Brother and show his little sister how to do things while we were out.

When we visited the zoo he got to choose what animals we saw and pointed each out to his sister. When we braved the grocery store he got to hold the list and look up and down the aisles for the items we needed. And I always had a fruit leather or other favorite snack to reward him for his hard work.

This also helped us work on skills he was trying to master including learning his shapes, finding different colors, and starting to count.

Ask for Help

When out with friends and/or family please do not hesitate to ask for help when you need it! Even if your friends don’t have much experience with kids or it’s been a while since your aunt has held a baby, make sure to get them involved when you start to feel overwhelmed. And if you’re out alone don’t
dismiss the other moms around you. Even if you don’t know them, they might have no problem helping another mama out.

This is also a great way for friends and family members to get baby time with your infant while you enjoy a little one-on-one time with your toddler. I know that my mommy friends were a big help when it came to this. I was able to give my daughter to one of the other moms while I played with my son and their kids.

The great part about it? They usually ended up thanking me for giving them a little baby time! Win-win.

So if you’re considering adding to your family or are already expecting, don’t worry. Everything will work out. And you will get out of the house again. Just remember to create a game plan, be prepared, get your toddler involved, and ask for help! 

Nursing my newborn while hanging with my
toddler at a playdate

Danielle is a work-at-home-mom of two beautiful kids and writes over at the Simmworks Family Blog. She loves to blog about her family, healthy living, going green and crafting. Danielle would love for you to come visit! You can reach her on facebook and twitter as well. If you have any questions feel free to email her at  simmworksfamily@gmail.com.

Creative (and SIMPLE!) Ways to Bring Food to a Friend: Guest Post from Vanderbilt Wife

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I live in the Land of My Late 20s (let’s not speak about how that number 30 is looming mere weeks away). In this Land, the population is being increased every day by friends giving birth. Of course, there are many members of all ages in this Land, but I think your late 20s and early 30s is probably the peak of life here.

I have two little ones myself (3 and 1) and have been beyond blessed with the visits of my friends during those newborn times. Because almost always, the friends come bearing food.

There is nothing worse than thinking about making dinner when you are juggling a toddler and a newborn, breastfeeding and groggy from lack of sleep. If it’s your first baby, you’re probably in the “why did they let me bring this thing home by myself” daze. With your second and beyond, cooking becomes more difficult with a child wrapped around your leg screaming “MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY I HUNGRY!!!!!” (Or maybe that’s just mine who doesn’t seem to equate me cooking dinner with her being less hungry in half an hour.)

Thankfully, those meals from friends seem to make the first few weeks with a newborn more tolerable. I try to mix it up a little when I take food to a friend, because no matter how appreciative you are of the meal, sometimes another dish of baked pasta gets old. 

So think outside the box! Here are some ideas.

Bring breakfast. Everyone loves breakfast for dinner, and it’s probably something the new parents haven’t been brought yet. I think Berry Baked French Toast is perfect for this time of year and makes a fun dinner. You can throw in some cooked bacon, too, for an easy protein, if you want.

Classic Meat and Two or Three. Think of what you often cook for dinner at home: a protein, a carb, and a veggie? (At least that’s my default.) This kind of meal is comforting and “normal,” but most people bring casseroles when they feed a friend. Recently I made Chicken and Cherries and cooked rice with peas for a friend with a new baby. Maybe a little boring, but my friend said her husband went crazy over the plain old brown rice.

Think seasonally. Hamburgers aren’t too difficult but are something most everyone loves, including kids, as the weather warms. How about a gift of some doctored-up Tomato Basil Hamburgers, Broccoli Salad , and a bag of gourmet chips?

A few more tips:

Remember everything. If you bring burgers, bring buns, too! If you’re really nice, throw in paper napkins and plates and disposable silverware so the new mom won’t have to do dishes, either.

Now or Later? I always ask if the mom wants to eat it now or if she wants a frozen meal she can cook later. Sometimes people bring enough food for 3 or 4 meals, and it would be more helpful to have an extra meal for a later time.

Bring an extra meal for later. A simple crockpot meal assembled in a big ziplock bag will be super easy for her later. She can just toss it in her crockpot and not have to cook that night. This comes in super handy when baby is going through a growth spurt and nursing 24/7, a day with a busy schedule, or just a night she doesn’t have the energy to really cook. Try Honey Parmesan Pork Roast, Summer Vegetable Chowder , or Vietnamese Chicken Thighs.

And you know … if you bring pasta or poppyseed chicken, I bet it will still be VERY appreciated.

What’s your go-to meal for a new mom?

Jessie is a stay-at-home mom of two and freelance writer in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She writes about faith, recipes, and her failures as a mother and housekeeper at VanderbiltWife.com.

What’s in Your Diaper Bag? Guest Post from MizMeliz.com

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Here is a question for those of you with babies. . .

“What’s in your diaper bag?”

You may be asking yourself, why does she want to know this – her kids are teenagers!??

That’s it exactly! My kids are way, way, way out of diapers and well on their way out of high school and I am out of touch on the new stuff for babies. When I get invited to a baby shower, I have no idea what a new parent wants or needs. Most of the stuff I thought was cool when I had babies has been replaced by newer products. But, I wonder, are they better?

I asked my friend at work, Jeff Beam, a few questions. Jeff’s beautiful wife, Kelly, had just given birth to their baby girl, Lynnox, a few weeks prior. I had a lovely conversation with this sleep-deprived first time father on his first week back to work. He gave me some insightful, however sleepy, answers.

MM: What were your first impressions of becoming a parent?

JB: I was blissfully ignorant. I felt ready, for sure. I thought, “this really isn’t that bad, my baby is great!” Then, the sleep deprivation set in. I went from thinking; this is magic to what the hell is happening?

MM: Have you found any baby item particularly helpful or useful at this point?

JB: We were given a small backpack with compartments from the hospital, a good supply of diapers and a changing pad. So far, that has been very helpful.

MM: What is your favorite gift you have received for baby?

JB: For me, it’s the Boppy. We use it constantly.

MM: They still have those? I loved mine!

JB: It’s great! We also received a rocking chair that is perfect for Kelly. She sits in it as she is breastfeeding. My wife’s comfort is most important.

MM: What is the best piece of advice you received when you were expecting that has proved to be most helpful?

JB: I can’t remember right now, everything is foggy! But my friends have told me that taking care of a baby is easy. When they cry, they need something. It is like I am putting together a puzzle. It’s just a matter of figuring out which piece of the puzzle I am missing.

MM: Do you have any advice, based on your experience so far, to give to other new parents?

JB: Always have a change of clothes and plenty of diapers! (MM – for those “explosions!” Right! I’ll never forget that!) To new fathers, I would tell them what I do is remember my responsibility is my wife. Making sure Kelly is okay is my job. We are a tag team. I am ready to step in. Take the time off and stay home from work for those first few weeks.

MM: Is there anything you need now, other than sleep?

JB: We could use some help with meals, we are both exhausted and too tired to cook!

 

My (unofficial) advice to Jeff. . . if you think you are too tired to cook now – wait until you have three teenagers!!! Seriously, have you heard of ordering in? It’s great!

Officially, it was an honor to talk to Jeff. He was in love with fatherhood. He was in love with baby Lynnox and most importantly, even more in love with his wife. He is a wonderful father (and diaper changer!)

I was glad to hear that The Boppy is still a favorite for new parents. It is a great product. Way better than using a pillow. That’s what we did back in the day, you know. When my nephew was born, he was the first grandchild and there hadn’t been a baby in the family for about 15 years. We all passed that child around on a pillow like he was going to break if we touched him! It was symbolic because he was precious and we cherished those moments. It was useful because a baby needs to be propped up and cushioned. They are hard to hold on to at all times. The Boppy helps and is comfortable for the adult as well as the baby.

I used my Boppy for feeding and holding my babies when they were very little. They come in cute designs. Mine was black and white. That was big back then. Now they have them in pretty patterns or you can get a plain one and they have slip covers you can buy separately. I went to The Boppy website and found they have lots of products besides just the pillow and you can order online. http://Boppy.com The prices range from $19.99 for a slip cover to $44.99 for a travel pillow. They also have those cute play gyms and mats that are a great and useful gift for $24.99 – $74.99.

There are many new products and some variations of the standard product and all are useful and make terrific gifts. My favorite is and always will be The Original Boppy. Every family should have one! In fact, I wish I had one now. I would still use it! It could be helpful for my aching back! Seriously, I was very impressed that The Boppy company thinks everyone should have a Boppy, too. And they are doing something to make that happen. They have a goal of donating $20,000 worth of Boppy® Pillows to moms in need with Nurse-Family Partnership.

In case you haven’t guessed . . . if you invite me to your baby shower, you’re getting a Boppy!

 

Miz Meliz (aka Melissa Reyes) is a mother of three teen aged boys, lives in Southern California, works full time at a middle school, writes and takes pictures for her blog, and enjoys being married to her equally busy husband of twenty years. Visit her blog at http://mizmeliz.com @MizMeliz on Twitter and MizMelizFan on Facebook.

 

Guest Post: Tips on Helping a Shy Child

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I hope you will enjoy this really thoughtful article by a guest poster today! It gave me some good insight about my daughter, who can be shy in certain social situations. Enjoy, and feel free to leave a comment with your own thoughts or questions!

 

Children can be so cute when they are shy, but as they grow older shyness can become something other than cute. This can develop into a child who has problems adjusting socially and functioning in society. This is not something a child just is. It can be worked with and actually overcome if you follow a few tips on working with your shy child.

Tip 1 – Understand Being Shy

Don’t assume that you know what it means to be shy. Research it and come to understand it. You can’t work with it if you don’t understand what it means to be shy.

When a person is shy, they are afraid of social settings. Not all settings produce this, but unfamiliar ones are typically the most common that triggers someone’s shy behavior. Why? Because they don’t feel confident or in control. They are not on familiar ground and revert back within themselves for safety.

Being shy does not mean someone is a hermit. Some people just are shy until someone else breaks the ice. Then they are open and can enjoy themselves even with new people. Others are just shy no matter what and prefer to be only in safe and secure environments.

You need to understand how a shy person feels before you can attempt to work with them. If a child knows that you understand, they will be more willing to go along and work with you on this.

Tip 2 – Encourage Communication

A key to successfully overcoming a child’s shyness is to encourage communication. They need to feel comfortable to tell you that a situation makes them nervous or even a particular person. If you know about this going in or as soon as it happens, you can begin working with your child immediately instead of waiting until it is too late. If they do not feel good about communicating their feelings, they will bottle it up and it will only get worse.

Work on a silent communication plan, too. If you are in a social setting with kids in their sit and stand double stroller, have a code between you and your child so that they won’t be embarrassed asking for help. Maybe it is a certain hand movement, sign language, or a move of the head. Even if you are across the room, you’ll know that your child is feeling overwhelmed and needs rescuing.

Tip 3 – Be an Example

Your children are always watching what you do. They follow your every move and every word. Trust me, they hear and see about everything. Use that to your advantage. Show them that it is not scary to order food at a restaurant or say thank you to someone who opens a door to you. Show them that you can do it easily. I had to learn this on my own so I didn’t realize any of this until I was in college. It felt good. I felt in control. Let your child see how happy you can be in social situations. From my own experience, they might not become the most outgoing person, but they will be able to function much better.

Tip 4 – Be Understanding

It can be easy to get impatient with your child when you see nothing scary in a particular situation. Try to keep that back. Your child will only regress if they see you getting frustrated with them. Understand how they feel. When they are scared, don’t criticize or make fun of them. Get to a place where they feel safe and talk about it. Let them know that you are on their side.

Tip 5 – Build up Confidence

Much of what is behind being shy is a lack of confidence. Help your child build up confidence. Point out their strengths. Give them that needed foundation to face the world. They have to know what they are good at and how they can use it as the source of strength for them when they feel scared.

Tip 6 – One Step at a Time

This is not something that will happen overnight or even within a few days. This is something that will take sometimes years to overcome. Don’t give up. Take it all one step at a time. That is the only way to develop a good foundation for your child and prepare for a stronger future.

This is a guest post written by Amy Brown. Amy is an editor of Livesnet that was created to help parents find the right baby products for their child, while giving them advice on everything from pregnancy.

Winter Activity Ideas for Families: Guest Post

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Special thanks to Christina Johnson for sponsoring this guest post. I got some great ideas from it, and I hope you will, too!

Wintertime is a great time to get outdoors and enjoy the weather. If you have kids, there is nothing better than bundling up and heading out for some awesome snowy fun.

  • Build a snowman or have a family snowball fight. Lie down and make beautiful snow angels. Making a snow fort is always tons of fun. Use sand buckets or any other containers to mold your fort just like you would a sand castle. Forts are great for hiding behind when others are trying to attack you with snowballs.
  • Sleigh riding is always fun if you have sleds, or flying saucers. A family toboggan ride is always exciting – make sure you put a good driver in the front to steer!

If your winters are cold but you lack the snow, no problem. There are plenty of things to do even if the snow doesn’t fall where you live.

  • Bundle up with the kids and go for a hike. Things may look slightly different in the cold weather. The kids may find some frosty areas or see frozen puddles that are lots of fun to stomp on or slide across.
  • A great activity to do outside when it is cold is bubble blowing. Bubbles come out quite differently when blown in the icy cold air. Try it for yourself and see. Another great experiment to show your children is what happens to boiling hot water when you throw it into the ice-cold air. Surprisingly, it will instantly turn into ice. This will really excite your kids.
  • Spend a day in the cold thinking of your furry outdoor friends. Make bird feeders out of old milk cartons, soda bottles, or come up with your own clever idea. Fill them with food and watch the birds show up for a nice winter treat. If you have any small evergreens or bushes around your house, string them with treats for the birds. You can string popcorn together, or cranberries. Then hang them around the bush or tree for the birds to snack on. Another great snack for the birds is peanut butter and crackers. Smash up some crackers and mix them with peanut butter so they all stick together. You can place the mixture in a produce net (like the kind that holds onions) and hang it for the birds to peck at.

If the weather is just too frigid to be outdoors, stay inside and build a play fort. Kids love forts, and you can help make it big enough for everyone to climb inside. Then you can read stories or play games together.

Winter is full of fun activities for everyone — even if the snow never shows up.

Christina Johnson who works remotely for Elliman Prudential in the New York City Apartments and Rentals market. She is using her journalism major to combine what she loves most, writing and her career. Her specialties include home decor design and DIY home improvement projects.