Tip of the Week: Favorite Things

One important thing I have learned as a mom: buy multiples! If your child has a favorite item, do yourself a favor and buy one or more "back-ups" of the item. You and your child will avoid a meltdown if, God forbid, you misplace your child’s “blankie” or “binkie” (which will inevitably happen)!

A few years ago I was in Walt Disney World with my daughter, and to my horror I watched as her last “binkie” fell through the crack of the pier into the canal below. My daughter was hysterical, and unfortunately she didn’t buy my story that the baby alligators would take care of it for her. Then of course I became upset too, because we had a three-hour plane ride ahead of us with no “binkies”!

The moral of the story is that it is better to be safe than sorry! Have several of your child’s favorite thing on hand at all times. You can never have too many, especially if it avoids the dreaded meltdown!

Tip of the Week: Stain Remover

As a mother, I have learned to dread doing laundry. Watermelon and formula became my archenemies when it came to stain removal. One day I read in a magazine about a stain remover called "Fels-Naptha". Now there is not a stain that can make it past my laundry room!

This stain remover, which I am told can also be used for treatment of Poison Ivy, looks similar to a bar of soap and has been used for close to 100 years. You can purchase it by visiting www.soapsgonebuy.com. Trust me, it really works!

Tip of the Week: A Gift for Grandparents

I bet your family can hardly wait to get their hands on their new grandchildren this holiday season! Sadly, sometimes making holiday visits just isn't possible. Perhaps it is your in-laws turn to spend the holidays with your family or maybe it is just too far to travel with a new baby.
If you're unable to visit this year, try bridging the distance with an e-mail advent calendar. Count down the days before holidays by e-mailing grandparents, or other family and friends, a picture-a-day of your child celebrating the holidays in all of their holiday finest. It will surely be their favorite gift!

Tip of the Week: Cool Gifts for New Moms

Check out The Retro Baby, a chic online store perfect for Rock 'n' Roll dads or vintage-loving moms. From cool baby tees to dresses and rompers your child will definitely turn heads with these hip retro outfits! My personal favorites are the darling line of Dr. Seuss inspired rompers. These cute outfits could be a great holiday gift, or would be perfect for a baby shower or child's birthday too!

Tip of the Week: Stroller Recall

As you may have heard in the news lately, Maclaren USA is recalling several models of their popular strollers. The strollers have been deemed potentially dangerous because the strollers' hinge mechanism poses a fingertip amputation hazard to the child when the consumer is unfolding or opening the stroller. The company has received 15 reports of children placing their finger in the stroller's hinge mechanism, resulting in 12 reports of fingertip amputations.

The recall involves all Maclaren single and double umbrella strollers. The models include Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, TechnoXLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller. The strollers were sold at Babies `R' Us, Target and other retailers nationwide from 1999 through November 2009.

Families in possession of any of the recalled strollers should contact Maclaren USA to receive a free repair kit. Call 877-688-2326 or visit www.maclaren.us/recall.

Tip of the Week: A Great Find!

It can't possibly be time to start holiday shopping. I feel like we just finished summer, and already the stores are bombarding us with holiday fare!
In this year's slow economy, you may be able to pick up some nice gifts for your family at more reasonable prices and in unlikely places.

At CVS this week, I found a playhouse tent and tunnel for $19.99. I remember spending close to $100 for the set we gave our daughter. Lucky
for us, at age 7 she still plays with it. And for $19.99, who can resist a gift that's guaranteed to make your child happy?

Tip of the Week: When "No" Means "No"

I saw this article about saying "no" to our children on The Parent Report recently and thought it was so good, I wanted to share it with you! Here's an excerpt of the article.

"'There are 3 alternatives I use so that I don't have to say 'no' so often, so that when I do say 'no' my children will know that I mean it. The first alternative to a question like 'Mom, can I have a cookie?' is 'yes, later'. The child is already to fight a 'no', and it's harder to fight a 'yes, later'. The second alternative to a question such as 'Mom can I go to a friend's house?' could be 'give me a minute.' There's nothing wrong with asking for a moment to develop your own case. The third alternative which is great for teens and a question like 'Mom, can I have the car keys?' is 'convince me'.'
By choosing our 'no's' carefully Coloroso says we're then able to save them for those really important questions."

For the whole article, click here.