Encouraging Independent Play

 I scrolled through the reviews for the Jolly Jumper, trying to decide if it was worth the price.  I stopped on a 5-star review of a customer exclaiming how nice it was for her to have the Jolly Jumper.  “My baby was happy for 20 minutes and I was able to shower!” the review read.  “Twenty minutes!” I exclaimed to myself.  “Only twenty minutes!”  Fast forward a few months and I was putting my baby in the jumper so I could have twenty minutes to get something done and, wow, it was so nice to have twenty minutes!

Benefits of Independent Play

While spending time with your baby is vitally important, it's also important to sit back allow them some moments of independence.  As a working mom, it was a necessity for my baby to learn independent play. Independent play gives your baby a chance to explore their surroundings and learn new skills. Never leave them unattended, but let them explore and learn. Doing this will

·         Spark creativity

·         Foster problem solving

·         Boost self-confidence

·         Last but not least, give you a few minutes to accomplish something!

Little by Little

Teaching my little guy how to play by himself was a process that took time and patience. In the beginning I would sit with him and guide him into taking control of his toys and as soon as he seemed preoccupied, I would discreetly get up and sit down at my desk. He would notice right away and immediately begin crying. But after going through this process several times, he finally realized that I was right there still, that everything was ok and he was content himself with his toys for a while.

When to Start

I say the earlier the better. I started when my baby was able to sit independently. The longer you wait, the more attached they become.

The Right Tools (Toys)

This process requires patience but you also need the right tools. Here is a collection of favorites that I have found keep my babies content and occupied for a good little while.

Gross Motor

Baby Play Gym                    Jolly Jumper                    Soft Climb & Crawl Activity Playset

Fine Motor

Baby Links                           Stretchy Strings               Busy Bees Push n' Spin

Dimple Popper                     Plush Blocks                    Silicone Rainbow Blocks

Pull String Toys                   Galt Pop Up Toy              Best Learning Mushroom Garden  

Melissa & Doug First Bead Maze                                Ouriky Busy Board

ROMDS Magnetic Blocks

Cognitive      

Stringy Balls                        Dancing Ball                    Shape n' Spin Gear Sorter

Rock-a-Stack & Shape Sorter                                       Sensory Balls

Spinny Pins

Resist the Urge

As you watch your baby play, resist the urge to intervene unless it is absolutely necessary. As they struggle to pull those blocks apart or put that peg in its hole, it's all you can do not to jump in and help them, but they will learn more, fell more confident, and be more successful if they can figure it out themselves.

Conclusion

It's important to remember that each baby is unique and what works for one isn't always the answer for another. Watch your little one and learn their personality. With patience, observation, and a little creativity, you can find the perfect combination of toys and activities to keep your little one entertained, engaged and learning.

Baby Self Care: Help Yourself by Helping Your Baby

 Introduction

In today’s world, it is more important than ever for parents to take care of themselves. This includes letting your baby learn to take care of himself and freeing up more of your time. Wouldn't it be easier for you if you could just hand your baby that spoon as soon as she is able to manage it rather than spoon-feeding her? And don't you think you could take care of a couple things if you could just slip those bath mits onto your baby's hands and let him scrub himself? It will take loving supervision but encourage your baby to try things for themselves. How will they learn unless you let them experiment. It will only help you in the end.

Benefits of Self-Care skills

Teaching self-care skills to babies is a great way to help them develop confidence and independence as they grow up. Self-care refers to the activities a person performs on their own, such as taking care of their health, hygiene, and overall well-being. It can include things like feeding and bathing, cleaning up their own messes, and coping with daily life challenges. Teaching self-care skills will help develop good habits and routines that will continue with your child into adulthood.

Tips to Encourage Self-Care

• Schedules and Routines: I know the first year of a baby's life can be really hard to schedule but you can establish a routine. Check out my blog post on schedules vs routines to learn more. It is important if you want your child to establish good habits.
• Let Your Baby Struggle for a Minute: It is so tempting to reach out and help your child when you see them struggling with a task, but if you let them try for a minute, there's nothing like the look of accomplishment on your baby's face when they figure it out! Be careful and don't let them struggle too long. If it gets to a point of frustration, reach out and guide, but don't do it for them.
• Use the Right Tools: Be sure to equip your baby with the right toys and tools to help them try things for themselves.  Check out my collection here.

Bathing Products and Safety

Bath time can be a lot of fun if you use the right products and take safety precautions. Here are a few tips to help ensure your baby’s bath time is safe and enjoyable:

• Help your baby get used to water at a very early age. Even as young as six weeks old, pour a little water over their head, splash it on them and talk to them happily as you do it.
• Find entertaining toys and sing bath time songs as you help them scrub.
• Make sure the water temperature is comfortable for your baby
• Use bath mitts and let your baby learn to scrub themselves. If they don't like you washing their face and ears, hand them the washcloth and guide them in washing themselves. That way they feel confident and in control.
• Most importantly, never leave your baby unattended in the bathtub.

Feeding Products and Safety

Letting your baby feed themselves for the first time can be an experience to remember, but with patience and the right tools, it can be a safe and fun experience:

• 
  The Food Feeder is a great tool for introducing solids to baby. A great option to let your baby try solids without choking or gagging.
• An easy-held spoon is nice for your baby to try feeding herself.
• Water is essential to keep your baby from being constipated as you introduce her to more and more fruits, veggies, meat, and grains. Keep a sippy cup handy.
• A highchair or a baby booster seat can make feeding time more comfortable and safer.
• A bib is always a must-have when it comes to first-time feedings, to keep your baby’s clothes clean and dry.

Dressing & Body Care

It's a huge step for a toddler to learn to dress themselves, but you can start early talking to them and praising them when they try.

• Choose loose, comfortable clothing for your baby as they are learning to pull on their own clothes.
• Establish a bedtime routine. This can include brushing their teeth, reading a book, preparing their pacifier, sippy cup, or bottle for easy access in the night, setting out clothes for the next day

Toys and Activities that Promote Self-Care

There are many little things you can do throughout the day to encourage your baby to take care and clean up after themselves. When they have finished eating, hand them a warm washcloth and guide them in wiping off their highchair tray. When they are finished bathing, guide them in putting the bath toys away and pulling the drain plug. As your baby learns to stand and walk, when you dress them, let them try pulling their own pants up. When you're getting your baby ready for bed, hand her the toothbrush to try it for herself. Independent play is another great way to teach your child to look after themselves. Check out my blog post on Independent Play for more information.

Conclusion

The key to teaching your child to take care of themselves is to provide them with opportunities to do so and to model good behavior yourself. Remember that children learn by example more than the words you say. Actions speak louder than words.

Best Baby Clothing: Keep em' Comfy

 As parents, we want to keep our little ones feeling comfortable and happy! One great way to make sure we're achieving that is by picking the perfect baby clothes for our bundles of joy. In this post, let's explore some of our favorite baby clothing brands that prioritize comfort, as well as some fun tips for picking the right garments for your little one.

When it comes to baby clothes, comfort is key! Soft fabric, breathable material, and flexibility are all important factors to consider when picking out outfits for your newborn. It's totally natural to want to dress your baby up in the cutest outfits, but it's essential to make sure they're comfortable and that they don't restrict their movement.

When it comes to finding the best baby clothing brands, look no further! Honest, Hudson, Luvable, Carters, Cloud Island, Teach Leanbh, and Cat & Jack are some of my favorite brands that prioritize comfort, safety, and sustainability. You don't have to sacrifice style for practicality - these brands offer a wide range of clothing options that are soft, durable, and affordable.

Sleepers

A really good option for the first 3 months is sleepers. Look for comfort, warmth, and if they offer an easy way to change diapers without having to take the whole outfit off.  Finding sleepers with mitts are a really good option in this phase before your baby has learned to control their hands to protect them from scratching themselves.

Cloud Island Sleepers-Boy & Girl                                More Cloud Island Sleepers-Boy & Girl

Cloud Island Sleeper-Boy                                             Cat & Jack Romper-Boy 

Carters Sleeper-Boy                                                      Honest Baby Cotton Sleepers-Boy

Honest Baby Cotton Watercolor Sleepers-Boy             Honest Baby Sketchy Square-Boy

Hudson Cotton Airplane Sleepers-Boy                         Cloud Island Sleep N' Play Pink-Girl

Carters Floral Sleepers-Girl                                          Carters Flamingo Footed Sleepers-Girl

Carters Floral Footed Sleepers-Girl                              Gerber Floral Sleepers-Girl

Honest Watercolor Sleepers-Girl                                   Luvable Friends Sleepers-Girl

Luvable Bird Sleepers-Girl

Body Suits, Tops, and Bottoms

My favorite clothing for my baby from about 4 months to 9 months is the body suits, polo shirts, and comfy, durable pants or joggers. Here are some great options as they start sitting, crawling, and learning to get around.

Lala Bear Baby Romper-Girl & Boy                            Teach Leanbh Polo Bodysuit-Boy & Girl

Carters Cotton Terry Pants-Boy                                    Honest Baby Stripe Side Snap Bodysuit-Boy

Honest Baby Cotton Cuff-Less Pants-Boy & Girl        Luvable Cotton Pants-Boy

Cloud Island Bodysuits-Girl                                          Hudson Bodysuits-Girl

Honest Side-Snap Bodysuits-Girl                                 Cloud Island Foilage Bodysuits-Girl

Cat & Jack Pink Joggers-Girl                                        Cloud Island Joggers-Girl

Cat & Jack Black/Pink Joggers-Girl                             Carters Pink/Floral Joggers-Girl

Carters Purple/Floral Joggers-Girl                                 Hudson Joggers-Girl

Clothing Sets

From 9 to 12 months is a good time to find the cute 2-piece outfits. If your baby is still crawling, you might want to find clothing that does not restrict them. If you want to put socks on your baby, choose the socks that have grip on the bottom as they learn to stand and take steps. Here are some of my favorite 2-piece outfits and socks.

Garhartt Denim Pants-Boy                                         The Children's Place button down shirt-Boy

The Children's Place Polo Shirt-Boy                         The Children's Place Cargo Pants-Boy

John Deere Denim Overalls-Boy                               Hudson Quilted Dress & Leggings-Girl

Hudson Quilted Rose Dress & Leggings-Girl           Hudson Quilted Toile Dress & Leggings-Girl

Touched by Nature Blossom Dresses-Girl                 Hudson Plaid Dresses-Girl

Touch by Nature Heart/Black Dresses-Girl                Touched by Nature Butterflies Cardigan-Girl

Hudson Blueberries Cardigan-Girl                             Hudson Rose Cardigan-Girl

Hudson Plaid Cardigan-Girl                                       Hudson Pink Floral Cardigan-Girl

Luvable Blue Floral Cardigan-Girl                            Touched by Nature Purple Floral Cardigan-Girl

Hudson Burgundy Floral Cardigan-Girl                     Hudson Watermelon Cardigan-Girl

Hudson Sunflower Cardigan-Girl

Hats & Socks

Don't forget about hats!  These are essential items to keep your baby warm and protected from the elements. For the best hats, Luvable, Zutano, and Burt's Bees Baby are some of our go-to brands. They make high-quality, cozy products that you can trust.  Socks are not essential unless your baby is going to be exposed to colder weather.  When your baby is learning to take steps, find socks with grips on the bottom.  Try to hold off on shoes when your baby is learning to walk.  Here are some favorites for hats and socks.

Jellytree Brimmed Baby Hat-Boy & Girl                  Zaples Grip Crew Socks-Boy & Girl

Gerber Baby Socks (0-6 months)-Boy & Girl           Rative Crew Socks (0-6 months)-Boy & Girl

Lacy Eyelet Bonnet-Girl                                            Jellytree Brimmed Baby Hat-Girl

Crocheted Beanie-Boy & Girl                                    Fleece Lined Knit Hat-Boy & Girl

At the end of the day, picking the right baby clothing is essential for your little one's comfort and safety. Comfort, breathability, and flexibility should always come first, and by choosing the right brands and avoiding the wrong ones, you can be sure your baby is always comfortable and safe. With all this in mind, you're now ready to pick out the perfect outfits for your little one - happy shopping!

Schedule vs Routine: Making the Best of Your Baby's First Year

When I had my first baby, it didn’t take me long to realize establishing a schedule was a joke.  I have always been the type of person who had to have a rigid schedule on the clock.  I thrive in a well-organized atmosphere and being on time with plenty of time is important to me.  After little Jakie was born, I tried and tried to establish a schedule with feeding time, nap time, tummy time, etc.  I had a lot to learn.  I could have saved myself a lot of stress had I learned the difference between a schedule and a routine.

 

Schedule vs Routine

So what is a schedule and what is a routine?  A schedule is a planned list of activities and events with specific times attached.  A routine is a regular, established pattern of behavior or activities.  Much more flexible and stress-relieving.  I was told I should feed my baby every 2-3 hours. I tried to set up a feeding schedule, but he would be screaming for food within an hour and a half. I learned to just feed him when he was hungry.  I couldn’t compel Jakie to be tired when I decided it was nap time. I learned to just take advantage of his awake windows, (tummy time, learning, etc.) and watch for his tired cues to put him down for a nap. Schedules and routines are both very important but don't beat yourself up if you're not able to establish a schedule in the first year of your child's life. Just establish a routine and be consistent as possible. The schedule will start to fall into place eventually.

Checklists

An important part of a routine is a checklist.  As an organized person, I can say that checklists are vital.  There’s nothing like feeling satisfaction and accomplishment when you check off or cross out an item on your to-do list.  And when you are establishing routines, they are a must.  I started with a checklist of 5 items I absolutely had to have done daily.  Then I created a checklist of things that my baby needed each day.  Then as my baby was awake, I would work on his checklist.  When he slept, I would work on my checklist.  It felt so good when I looked at the checklists at the end of the day.  Even if everything wasn’t accomplished, I felt like I was getting somewhere by looking at the things that were accomplished.  As time went on, I was able to add a few more items to both checklists, one at a time.

 

Consistency

I cannot stress the importance of consistency enough.  It is so important for both you and your child.  Things do come up and that’s ok, it’s not the end of the world if you aren’t able to check off all your boxes or you miss a day with tummy time.  But as long as you try your best, you can be pretty consistent and your baby will feel a lot more secure.  You will be surprised at how your baby does adjust to a schedule later on when you are consistent.  Consistency pays off.  Five to ten minutes of tummy time every day is much better than doing it for an hour every sporadic week.  The same concept applies to eating, playing, learning, and anything that you have to do as well!

 

Enjoy the Journey

The most important thing is to enjoy these moments.  If it’s noon and you start feeling the least bit of stress or discouragement because you haven’t checked one box on your checklist or your baby hasn’t followed one routine, that is ok!  Set it all aside, kick off your shoes, and play with your baby or sleep with your baby, whatever the case may be.  Of course, if your baby is teething, that’s a whole different story.  The point is, it’s way more important that your baby feel only peace and love from you.  I admit, there has been plenty of those kinds of days for me.  Learn to enjoy them and pick yourself up fresh in the morning.

Collection of Baby Log favorites

Reading: Set Your Child Up for Success

 The Benefits of Reading to Your Child

“A book is a gift you can open again and again.” – Garrison Keillor  Why not give your child such an amazing gift?  Reading to your child every day is such a precious gift for you and your child. Consistency produces amazing results.

1.       It establishes a bond between you and your child.

2.       It improves cognitive skills, boosting their IQ.

3.       It helps their speech development.

4.       It boosts their vocabulary.

5.       It shows them the fun and joy of reading.

WWhen to Start Reading to Your Child

The best time to start reading to your child is right now.  Whether your baby is 2 weeks old, 6 months, or a year, it can only help them.  Even if they do not understand the words, they understand the feeling of comfort and security.  Statistics show that babies with books read to them daily improved their speaking, comprehension, and vocabulary skills to a great extent more than those babies that were not so privileged to have a book read to them daily.

 

The Best Books for the 1^st Year

   

The first year of a baby’s life is full of learning and growing.  Their brain is making thousands of neural connections and we should take advantage of that precious time.  Different books coincide with each stage of development:

               

Approximately 0-3 months

·         In the first few months of your baby’s life, the best books are books with great contrast like black and white graphics.  Board books, cards, or soft and crinkly books with high-contrasting colors will stimulate their visual skills.  Here are my favorites:

Black on White

My First Soft Books set

Visual Quiet Book

 

Approximately 3-6 months

·         When your baby begins to bat and grasp at things and everything goes to their mouth, the next books to add to your library are the soft and crinkly books as well as vinyl or bath books.  Here are some favorites:

Toy Deer

Farm Animals

Fabric Baby Book

Baby Bibi books

Real Photo Vinyl Book Set by Kaplan

Personalized Soft Book

 

Approximately 6-9 months

·         Then as your baby learns to sit up, crawl, and explore the world around them, you can add the sensory books and board books to your library.  Again, here are some favorites:

Touch & Feel: Adorable Animals

Touch & Feel: Farm Animals

Touch & Feel: Trucks

Baby Touch and Feel: Animals

Baby Touch and Feel: Trucks

Baby Touch and Feel: Colors and Shapes

Baby Touch and Feel: Bedtime

Priddy Books: On the Farm

Priddy Books: Baby Animals

Shake, Touch, Play

See, Touch, Feel: A Creative Play Book

 

Approximately 9-12 months

·         When your baby is pulling up to furniture and attempting to imitate words and sounds, it's time for books with some action.  Look for books with buttons to push, sounds to hear, and are entertaining.  And here are some favorites for this stage:

        My First: Noisy Animals

        My First: Noisy First Words

        My First: Noisy ABC

        My First: Noisy Baby Animals

        My First: Noisy Farm

        My First: Noisy Things That Go

        My First: Noisy Trucks

        Wheelie Books: Sports Car

        Wheelie Books: Dump Truck

        Wheelie Books: Fire Truck

        Wheelie Books: Farm Tractor

        Wheelie Books: Motorcycle

        Wheelie Books: Bus

        Wheelie Books: Digger

        Tabbed Board Books: My First Words

        World of Eric Carle: My First Library

The Best Books for the 2^nd Year

The 2^nd year of a baby’s life is fun as they begin to walk, talk, and express themselves more.  But their little brain is still making all those neural connections and it’s a good time for them to learn about the world around them.  Find board books, books with easy-to-turn pages and short sentences to satisfy their short attention span.  Here is a collection of my favorites for the 2^nd year that you can add to your growing library:

My First Library

1, 2, 3, What Do You See

My First Book of Airplanes

My First Book of Trains

My First Book of Earth

My First Book of Colors and Shapes

My First Prayers

My First Seasons

My First Shapes

My First Colors

My First Numbers

My First Trucks and Diggers

Baby’s First Book of Prayers

Let’s Say Our Colors

Let's Say Our Numbers

Go, Go, Cars

Go, Go, Fire Trucks

Go, Go, Construction Trucks

Shapes in the Sky

Ten Little Ladybugs

The Everything Book of Horses and Ponies

The Everything Book of Cats and Kittens

The Everything Book of Dogs and Puppies

 

The Best Books for the 3^rd Year

Now it’s time to get serious about getting your child ready for school and see how fun learning can be.  Good books to add to your library are books about letters, numbers, colors, and shapes.  Get books to keep those little fingers busy.  Here are my favorite books to read and do with your 2-year-old:

Trace and Flip: 123 Count With Me

Trace and Flip: A is for Apple

Lift-and-Trace: Shapes

The Big Book of Letter Tracing

Bedtime Prayers

My First Bedtime Prayers

Busy Board Quiet Book

Montessori Quiet Book

I Spy: Animals

I Spy: Letters

I Spy: Numbers

Sticker Early Learning: Colors

Sticker Early Learning: Numbers

Sticker Early Learning: Shapes

Ultimate Sticker Book: Diggers and Dumpers

 

A Good Reading Environment

One important thing to remember when it comes to reading to your child is the environment you create for your child.  It needs to be a fun and exciting thing they can look forward to in their daily routine.  Set up a comfortable and cozy setting and make it fun. Make the noises and expressions as you read.  Don’t worry about reading the same books every day over and over.  You’ll get sick of it long before they do, but do your best to make it fun for them each time and enjoy these precious moments.  Here are some great options for your reading corner sorted by price.

 

Keeping your books organized and accessible to your child is important.  Here are some different options:

Furinno Pasir 3-Tier Bookshelf

Delta Children Sling Book Rack

Panana Wooden Bookcase

ECR4Kids Single-Sided Book Display

 

 

Comfy seating options can be quite vast, but here are my favorite ways to cuddle with my baby and a book:

 

Bean Bags

Air Candy Faux Fur Inflatable chair

Chill Sack Bean Bag chair

ULTIMATE SACK Bean Bag Chair w/Footstool

 

 

Rocking Chairs

TIMBER RIDGE Folding Rocking Chair

NIOIIKIT Nursery Rocking Chair

Psilvam Patio Rocking Chair

 

Hammocks

Y-STOP Hammock Chair

LA SIESTA Domingo hammock

NICESOUL Double Swing Egg Chair

 

Big Chairs

HollyHOME Modern Soft Lazy Chair

 

 

A nice soft rug quiets your corner down and makes a great place to sprawl out on the floor if you so desire.

Dwelke Super Soft Shaggy Rug

Smabee Interlocking Carpet, ShaggySoft Foam Mats

 

You’ll want a lamp with warm lighting as it’s easy on the eyes and it will give your corner a cozy atmosphere:

Cordless Table Lamp

Vintage Floor Lamp

EDISHINE Wood Corner Floor Lamp

 

Speaking of cozy, nothing makes things feel quite as cozy as a fireplace.  Depending on your budget, here are a couple options:

Infrared Fireplace Stove with 3DFlame

SEI Furniture Calvert Fireplace