Tip of the Week: Retro on Roscoe

As the summer winds down and we prepare our children for the new school year, the city celebrates with lots of wonderful family-friendly events. A personal favorite is Retro on Roscoe, guaranteed to make your entire family smile!

Retro on Roscoe will take place Saturday, Aug. 1-Sunday, Aug. 2, noon-10 p.m. The two fun-filled days will include great family activities and entertainment. Check out these children's performers taking the main stage this weekend.

Kids Music Lineup
Saturday
Noon -- Radio Disney
1 p.m. -- Mary Macaroni
2 p.m. -- Ralph's World

Sunday
Noon -- Patchouli
1 p.m. -- Scribble Monster
2 p.m. -- Justin Roberts

Tip of the Week: Naptime for Mommies

As a new mother, you can only hope that someone has an answer for
sleep-deprived parents. Unfortunately, there isn't really a single solution.
What works for one mom might not work for another, depending on her
lifestyle and the temperament and health of her child. There is so much
information, and it can be even more overwhelming than the lack of sleep!

You'll have to wait until Sept. 15 to hear Dr. Weissbluth's solutions when
he speaks at Bubbles Academy, but in the meantime, I thought I'd turn to
another expert source, The Mayo Clinic <http://www.mayoclinic.com/>. Here
are some of its suggestions for beating sleep deprivation and reclaiming
your sanity:

Sleep when your baby sleeps. Turn off the ringer on the phone, hide the
laundry, ignore the dishes in the kitchen sink. These things can wait!

Set aside your hospitality. When friends and family visit, don't feel
pressure to be a hostess. Let them care for the baby while you excuse
yourself for some much-needed rest. Believe me, they will understand.

I wholeheartedly believe that you should quickly reclaim your bedroom. At
first, you may feel more secure sharing a bedroom with your baby —
especially if you're breast-feeding. But if your baby's crying, squirming
and restlessness keep you awake, separate rooms may be the key to sound
sleep and a sound marriage.

Adjust the baby monitor. Lying in bed listening to your baby's every
movement may be just as disruptive as having your baby in the room. Change
the volume based on how loudly your baby cries.

Share nighttime duties. Work out a schedule with your spouse that allows
both of you to rest and care for the baby. If you're breast-feeding, perhaps
your partner could bring you the baby and handle nighttime diaper changes.
If you're using a bottle, take turns on feedings.

Wait and see. I know it is difficult, but sometimes, middle-of-the-night
fussing or crying is simply a sign that your baby is settling in. Unless you
suspect that the baby is hungry or uncomfortable, it's OK to wait a few
minutes to see what happens.

Ask for help when you need it. Take advantage of baby-sitting offers from
trusted friends or loved ones. You don't need to go out — simply head to
your bedroom and close the door. It is important to spend time taking care
of yourself as well!

Tip of the Week: Relieving Teething

It seems like teething is an endless process for our children, and there is
little we can do to soothe those tender gums. There are a
tremendous amount of teethers out there, but sometimes tough teethers can
inflame our little ones' gums, making them even more uncomfortable.

Try the Born Free teether with gum
massager<http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3502435>,
which is made of 100% medical grade silicone. It has five different
textures, including a side with soft bristles. It's also free of
Bisphenol-A, Phthalates and PVC, and can be refrigerated or frozen.

If you prefer tried-and-true home remedies, try taking a wet, clean
washcloth and freezing it. Babies can gnaw on the material, which will
gently massage their gums without inflaming them further. Make sure the
cloth is not too cold and that it's free of loose strings.

Tip of the Week: Sunny Day Fun!

In Chicago, summer is one of the best times to find some family fun. In
addition to beautiful views and our fabulous lakefront beaches, we have lots
of wonderful, family-friendly festivals all summer long. Two that you should
check out this weekend are the Great Performers of Illinois and Kid Fest.

Great Performers of Illinois takes place at Millennium Park and runs from
Friday, July 10, to Monday, July 13. Highlights include an array of musical
performances on multiple stages. Families can enjoy other free programs,
including:

- Kid-friendly activities such as square dancing, storytelling and circus
arts.
- A huge urban corn maze, made of 6,000 stalks of corn.
- Large Illinois-inspired sidewalk chalk drawings.
- Moving performers, including Abe and Mary Todd Lincoln.
- Hands-on activities and exhibits for children, presented by the Abraham
Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
- Park tours with Millennium Park greeters.

For more information, go to www.greatperformersofillinois.com.

Also this weekend is Kid Fest at Commercial Park, at Wolcott and Rice
streets. Proceeds will go to improvements for Superior, Honore and Snowberry
playgrounds. Activities include face-painting, bounce houses, cookie
decorating, pony rides, a petting zoo, crafts, a climbing wall and stage
performances. Kid Fest is part of West Fest, which runs July 11-12. For more
information, visit www.westfestchicago.com.