Infant and Toddler Tips & Tricks

Free day at "Disneyland"

2009-01-14T08:58:00.000-08:00

I have to share this. I was told by a friend and I didn't know so there may be other California families who don't know either.

You can go to Disney.com and register everyone for a free day on their birthday to Disneyland in 2009. Have an adult register first then register and add your children. This is cool because it gives you depending on your family size a few options on when to go and get one ticket for free.

I hope it help some of you plan a fun trip. We took my 3 year old the day before her birthday last year because kids are free until they turn 3 anyway. She had so much fun. So now we can go, maybe for her birthday this year, too. and my youngest will almost be 3 so the kids will both be free.

I just wanted to share because a free ticket can make a difference and Disneyland is always memorable and fun for all ages. We go almost entirely for Pirates of the Caribbean.

Well, Happy 2009 to all and enjoy your children.

A must see movie "The Business of Being Born"

2008-11-09T06:20:00.000-08:00

I just recently saw the Documentary, "The Business of Being Born" and am so glad I did. I saw everything about what could go wrong with a pregnancy and had never gotten the chance to see what could go right. I never thought I would consider a home birth. my first two births went fine at the hospital and feel like if there is a third a home birth is probably the way we will plan it. I just hope if any pregnant moms get the chance to hear about this documentary it will be a bit of knowledge they didn't have before.

When I was pregnant with my first baby I wanted to see everything on births that I had time for, mostly from TLC or Discovery channel. I thought seeing all the births would help me to know what the doctors were talking about. When they said something I wanted to know a little bit about what they were talking about. The things I didn't know were what the drugs actually did as far as side effects and the snowball effect each one had and how they can create the potential for that emergency c-section.

I always felt I had to wait 'til the last minute to get to the hospital because if you are there for extended periods of time there is more chance for intervention just based on your progression or lack of. All moms are different and all babies are different but we are all expected to be exactly the same "at the hospital" when having our babies. This isn't right.

Anyway, I just wanted to share a movie title that will give a little knowledge to those of you who want to see a moving documentary on all the births that go right.

That is my opinion. Just seeing some of the babies born makes the movie worth it to me.

Toddlers that Won't Stay Dressed or Keep a Diaper On

2008-10-27T10:53:00.000-07:00

I have a toddler that if it snap or zips it's off before you even notice. Next goes the diaper.
For evening we like to wear warm jammies. Well, I have cut off the feet and put the jammies on backwards and it works awesome. If there is elastic band at the ankle I just cut below it. My daughter can wriggle out of just about anything but not the backwards jammies. It keeps the warm clothes on and the diaper on.

Black pants Haloween and play

2008-10-15T09:33:00.000-07:00

Well, I was on the hunt to find the 2t and 3T black cotton/yoga pants. It was rough at the mall. My last stop was Baby Gap. Success! So if you need black pants to finish off a costume or just match up with something I found them. Toddler yoga pants 2 for $20. We don't have them at Calamari Baby so these are nice ones and Baby Gap is always quality.

I am actually going to put both kids in Black pants and black shirts with jack-o-lantern faces on the front of the shirts for family pictures at the big pumpkin patch this coming weekend. Should be super cute.

Happy Halloween!

Fun to paint with WATER

2008-10-02T20:46:00.000-07:00

This is a trick I just told a fellow mom at the shop while we were fitting her little girl with some new shoes. She thought it was an awesome idea so I thought it would be a great one to share with you.

When I bring my Mia to the shop with me for something fun for her to do I give her a little cup of water and a small paint brush and let her paint rocks. The water makes them change colors and as she paints the first rocks dry in the sun and she can start all over again. This gives my sweetie something fun and creative to do while not being anything I really have to worry about cleaning. It is a win win way to play. Try it, you will both have a stress free little fun session.

Warning!

2008-06-23T16:18:00.000-07:00

This one isn't a tip or a trick but a WARNING!

Last night at home we all had a small lollipop. Not going into brands but it is a small ball lollipop that is bigger than a dime and smaller than a nickel. I noticed mine came off the stick easily and then not a minute later my husband ran my 3 year old into the kitchen and said she wasn't breathing. Her face was red and stressed looking. In one swoop I grabbed her and put my hand fight on her diaphram while rotating her to put her upside down and a pop on the back and the ball hit the floor. Mia was crying and scared and we were all relieved that it came right out.

So please just avoid the lollipops all together. Just way to scary.

My daughter had coughed and on the intake of air she sucked the candy back into her throat. I am thankful we were all together when this happened and we were able to quickly save her. Then we gave lots of hugs and she got to stay up late to watch "The Ant Bully". It was fun.

"Picky Eaters"

2008-05-08T13:35:00.000-07:00

I wasn't sure what to title this post but it is about feeding your infant solids and how they pick and choose what to eat. If they have a few different items on the plate at once maybe they will only eat one of the items on his/her plate. What I have found to work for this type of situation is to feed the baby in courses. Like if maybe you are feeding them broccoli, pasta and strawberries. I found if you give it to baby all at once they may just eat one of the foods and then start playing with the rest. Start with the veggies not a huge portion but a portion, then move on to the starch and then the desert. If they want more of one thing offer a little choice after they finish a round. This is a good way to get variety. I have really found this to work in some instances. They grow out of it but if you find you need to try something it does seem to work.

Cradle Cap

2008-04-12T09:44:00.000-07:00

A reccommended treatment for cradle cap from a pediatritian is to use Head and Shoulders on your little one every other day for about a week. This should take care of it.

Treat that Baby Drool Rash

2008-04-12T09:40:00.000-07:00

If your baby has a drool rash on his/her little face you can treat it by liberally applying Vaseline to the area before nap and bed time.
Of course if you feel it is more serious take your sweet child in to see his/her pediatrician.

Baby Wipes for Multiple Uses

2008-04-12T09:32:00.000-07:00

We know how great baby wipes are for their main use but they are actually great for all kinds of wipe ups.

A spill on the couch, a spot on your shirt, or my favorte cleaning leather baby shoes.

If your baby wears pedipeds for example you can wipe them clean top and bottom and they will look like new.

Parents of children 3 and under. Be ready for the unexpected!

2008-03-26T15:37:00.000-07:00

If you are a parent of a child 3 or under. I urge both moms and dads to keep a bag with a change of clothes in their car at all times.
Spit up is nothing. When you have a new baby you get use to it. But when the child throws up on you what do you do. Believe me if you think it won't happen to you, babies do not care who they throw up on. It just happens.

Having a diaper bag always packed with the neccessities for your children. That's me!
Pajamas, a change of clothes, diapers, wipes, a favorite soothing toy,the blankey, a pacifier, some yummy snacks, you name it and I usually have it for my kids.
I got an Easter surprise..... My youngest had a little temperature and was feeling bad so of course I was holding her for the entire family day. When it was almost over I looked down and my little angel, all dressed up, had that look. a bit flushed and scared at the same time. I turned my head and then felt the woosh all over my chest. Then two more times.
I was in disbelief. My litle girl had a nice clean pair of pajamas to put on but I had nothing to change into. I had just cleaned out the car so I even took out the extra jacket. I was lucky enough to have my sister in law loan me a jacket from her car.

After we got home cleaned up and put the babes to bed I quickly packed the emergency change of clothes bad and put it in the car.

I urge all parents to do the same. You will be glad if it happens and you have that bag for yourself and if it doesn't happen that's wonderful.

Tofu is an Awesome Snack Food

2008-02-19T23:10:00.000-08:00

My two toddlers don't like meat very much so in order to get them more protein in their diet I tried tofu. EXTRA FIRM is the best choice as just firm is still quite silken and they may not like that.
You take the tofu and just cut it up into sugar cube size squares and you have a healthy and pretty clean snack. It isn't greasy or smelly so baby can play with it and eat it and you have minimal clean up. my kids loved it when they were babies and they still do. It is alway great to find a healthy finger food.
Another example of a reason to add tofu to your baby's diet. Maybe you have a baby who just eats and eats....... this gives him more food and it is quality food and it will free up your hands for at least 10 minutes.
Babies and toddlers will eat it cold or warm and plain.
If your baby already eats tofu great and if you have never tried to give it to them I highly recommend it, they will love it.
("EXTRA" FIRM)

Breaking the Bottle

2008-02-09T22:12:00.000-08:00

My baby was just about 2 1/2 when we decided it was finally time to take the bottles away. We started thinking about it when she turned two and then always thought of reasons to put it off. For example she was sick, it was Christmas, or we were putting her in her toddler bed. When we finally took the plunge we were really nervous because she was so attached to them and felt it would really be hard. She had no other security item.

Well, we used bottles with liners so our approach was I told my daughter when this batch of liners was gone "they" were going to take the bottles away for babies who needed them. So as we went through them I counted them down and kept telling her how many we had and about how many days they should last. Finally it was the last one, I said this is the last bottle liner, tomorrow the bottle will be gone and we will get you a special cup that you can use all the time.

When my daughter woke up she went an hr. or more after breakfast and then said, "I want my special cup." Normally by this time she was moaning for her second bottle. She did ask for a bottle at nap time and I showed her the place they were and it was empty. I talked to her at nap time and she went to sleep just fine. That evening my daughter told her daddy, "They took the bottles away and now I have a cup." She had a couple of times at night she needed a sippy cup of milk to go to sleep but that wore off really fast. That sippy was just not the same thing.

She knew where they were kept so I really think talking to her and telling her they were going to be gone soon and then telling her they were going to be gone the next day and showing her that they were gone helped her prepare and then deal with the loss.

If you are about to go through "breaking the bottle" with your little one it won't be as hard as you think for either of you.

Remove the Ball Point Pen Ink from the Furniture

2008-02-05T16:00:00.000-08:00

Okay, this is a tip I have experience with. .

I took a moment to type an email and turned away from my daughter who was two at the time. Apparently she retrieved a pen from the table and quietly started her artwork. It didn't take long before I thought, it is too quiet. I turned to see what she was up to and the crème brule colored, micro fiber glider ottoman was covered with pretty hard ball point pen scribbles.

It stayed there for a month or more before I tried to clean it because I didn't want to mess it up any worse.

Anyway, I was chatting with some ladies one day and mentioned it while talking about our kids. One woman said, "aerosol hairspray." Aerosol hairspray should lift it out. Okay I thought it sounded familiar so I couldn't wait to get to work on it.

That evening I gathered my hairspray up and put together a Tupperware with a cup of warm water and a couple tablespoons of laundry soap (liquid all), a dry rag and a trash toothbrush. Then I did my test spot. Sprayed the ink with the hairspray and let it sit a minute dabbed at it and nothing. (Frown) Then I took the toothbrush and kind of used it sideways to lift as I brushed and it seemed to come out pretty easily (on the spot with the hairspray) The I tried to do the toothbrush soap and water to the non-hairspray ink, and no go! The hairspray actually made it easier to get it up but didn't get it up by itself.
It really had a lot of ink on it. It was a little more concentrated where there was, like a tuck in the fabric. Well, I thought I would never get it out and the ottoman turned out to look cleaner that when I started. It is important to then wipe down the entire piece so you do not get water spots and always start out small to really get a feel for how to do it.

So when my daughter, same one, @ 2 1/2 took to the same ottoman and the chair cushion with a pink scented marker I was upset but I knew I could take care of it. You would never know the chair has been through so much.

Hope this one helps.

AK