Mom4Life

Recycled Refrigerator Magnets by Kristina B.

You hate those magnets.  I know you do.  You know, the one with the lawyer on it that came with your phone book?  Or how about the magnet with last year's calendar on it sent to you by your insurance agent?  Or that magnet they gave you last time you ordered pizza?  But you keep them, right?  Because you need a magnet?

Here's a way not only to give those ugly magnets new life, but recycle them into cute, custom magnets you can proudly display on your refrigerator!

Materials needed:
-Old, ugly magnets
-Paper of any kind (printer paper, card stock, or even pretty wrapping paper)
-Any sort of embellishment that strikes your fancy (markers, crayons, foil, buttons, ribbon, etc.)
-Glue (I used an Elmer's glue stick, but white school glue would work as well)

Step 1:
Cut down old magnet into the size and shape of your choice.  Select the type of paper you will be using.

Step 2:
Lay the paper you are using for the front of the magnet face down on the table.  The paper I am using here is double-sided, so the side I want is actually face down on the table.  Glue the magnet onto the paper so that the side that will face the fridge is toward you.  Allow a moment for the glue to dry.

Step 3:
Cut out the magnet with the paper glued onto it.  Now it is free to do whatever you want to it.  Add words, layer paper, get crazy with glitter.  Here I've written out "WELCOME" in black and silver permanent markers and added an aluminium foil border.

Here are some of the magnets my 5-year-old and I made with this craft.

Remember, don't be afraid to get creative.  They are yours to display and feel free to use any materials you want to whether or not you'd normally see them on a magnet.  As long as the glue will stick to them, they are a go!

Recycled Emergency Wet Bag by Kristina B.

While doing some decluttering I found a few PUL (polyurethane laminate) cloth diaper covers that had worn out.  I started to throw them out, but I thought that surely there must be something I can do with them.  So I came up with the idea for this recycled emergency wet bag.

Now, I have a zippered wet bag very much like the one sold here at Mom4life and I love it.  I have no intention of replacing it.  However, I only have one pail liner so any diapers that get used while it is washing get put in a spare sink.  With this bag, I have a different (and much cuter) place to put the diapers while the wash is going.  The bag I made holds 2-3 regular size diapers, which is just enough.

Materials:
Old PUL covers (I used 4;  2 medium Thirsties and 2 x-large Proraps)
Thread (I used polyester.  I imagine cotton would wick)

*A note about sewing PUL* If using a sewing machine, it's best to sew with the shiny side down.  Otherwise, the PUL sticks to the the sewing machine foot, but shiny side down is not always possible with this project unless you get creative with the seams.  If you've got the patience for it, sewing by hand is viable alternative.  Also, some people have had luck with a Teflon foot for their sewing machine.

Step 1:
Cut elastic and velcro off the covers.  Cut the remaining fabric into rectangles.  I made each cover into a rectangle of 4.5 x 14"

Step 2:
If the covers have any holes, make little patches from the scraps of PUL left after you cut rectangles and sew them over the holes.

Step 3:
Sew the rectangles together along the long side.  Sew the bottom and remaining side to make a bag.  Fold in the unfinished edge along the top and finish the edge.

Step 4: *Optional*
Add a closure of your choosing.

And here is the finished product.

Just a reminder: I designed this wet bag as just an extra place to put diapers when the pail liner is being washed, not to be carried around in my diaper bag.  If you want to use it for that, make sure you add the proper closures and make sure it doesn't wick or leak.

If you only have one or two diaper covers you can use or want an alternative project, you can make a small wet bag for a DivaCup or cloth menstrual pads.

Good luck and I hope it works for you!

A Few Father's Day Crafts by Kristina B.

Dads are hard to shop for, I know.  You want your kids to help you pick out something that he'll love, but what your kids have in mind is a tie that's a little unstylish or a golfer statue when your husband doesn't golf.  Maybe he's one of those guys who wants something practical.  No problem.  I have a solution that can involve your kids!

Craft 1: "Cookie Tube for Dad"
I came across this craft at Kaboose.com.  You and your children take a potato chip canister like the kind Pringles come in and redecorate it with acrylic paint.  If you feel a little squeamish about using acrylic paint on a cardboard food container (and I was) or if your children are young enough that the thought of them with non-washable paint makes you feel a little nervous, wrap construction paper around the container and glue or tape into place.  Let your kids decorate it with crayon or markers, or use several colors of construction paper squares to make a mosaic.

Next, make some cookies to fill the container with.  Your kids can help with that, too.  However, if you are worried about some raw dough finding its way to your kids' mouths, you can make shortbread cookies, which contain no egg.

Craft 2: Dad's Desk Jar
This one is super easy.  Grab the kids and head to Target (or wherever) and pick up a small to medium food canister or jar.  It can be glass, plastic, stainless steel, Tupperware, whatever kind strikes your fancy.  The important thing is that it needs to have a lid.

While you're there, pick up Dad's favorite small snack items, such as M&Ms, Goldfish or peanuts.  Now all you and the kids have to do is fill the jar!  Tie a ribbon or twine around the top and add a card the children made.  Done!  Now Dad can have a handy snack item at work or wherever his favorite lounging spot at home is.

I hope you enjoy these ideas and Happy Father's Day!

Becca loves the Baby K'tan!

Becca was a wonderful Mom 4 Life assistant for us before we moved from CA to ID (perhaps some of you emailed with her)!  She recently had her first baby (a boy) and has been having a lot of fun trying out all the great products that she learned about while working for Mom 4 Life.  A recent favorite is the Baby K'tan Baby Carrier.  Here is her feedback:

"After trying 3 other carriers, which Jonas would have nothing to do with, I decided to give the Baby K'tan Baby Carrier a try. Finally! Jonas actually let me put him in the carrier without struggling and crying and then allowed me to carry him around in it.

Why does he like this carrier and not the others? There is a position I can put him in which allows him to see out (instead of facing my chest), basically sit up, and even dangle his feet out. Plus, the material is so stretchy that he can move his little legs and arms around pretty easily.

Why do I love it? One of the reasons, of course, is that Jonas loves it. Besides that, it's easy to use and comfortable. I love how comfortable and confident I feel in putting it on and placing him in it. Once it's on, it's pretty easy to adjust to make the fit just right. Having the carrier over both shoulders makes carrying him a lot easier on my shoulders and back." ~Mom 4 Life, Becca, CA

Sunny Shadow Pictures by Kristina B.

I saw this idea some time ago (maybe a few years?) on either a kids' craft site or magazine, and now that summer is on its way, I definitely thought it was worth sharing.  This craft essentially allows the sun to "bleach" paper and create a picture.  It's easy, doesn't make a mess, and if you have small children, you probably have all the materials in your house right now.

Materials needed:
Construction paper (dark colors work best)
Relatively flat small toys and household items (coins, pencils, etc.)

I just want to tell you before you go searching the toy box and utility drawer for your supplies that  there are some things you should not use.  Crayons are a bad idea because they will melt in the hot sun, unless that is what you are going for.  Remember that whatever you use, you shouldn't mind leaving the items outside for an hour or so.  Also remember the items you use should be age appropriate to the child you are doing this craft with, so no using sharp items or choking hazards with toddlers.

Place the paper in the sun on a fairly non-windy day, or if it is windy, make sure you weigh down the corners so the paper doesn't blow away.  Put the toys and items on top of the paper and leave in the sun.  The longer the paper and items are left in the sun, the more contrast there will be on the end product.

After an hour and a half or so, this is what you get.

Kind of neat, right?  So try it for yourself.  Experiment with different times and colors.  Older children could arrange items to spell their names.  Just remember that it must stay undisturbed for awhile.  Constantly checking on it will ruin the effect.  That's why the green paper is not pictured.  It did not remain undisturbed, but got hit by the porch door.  :)

Remove Product Residue from Your Hair! by Kristina Bjornbak

About a year or two ago, my husband and I discovered handmade all-natural soaps.  We loved the scent and the fact that there was nothing questionable in them.  And shampoo bars?  What novel idea!

As much as I love these soaps, the shampoo bars from the place I used to order from had one big drawback for me.  (I say used to order from because due to some really terrible customer service practices, my next order will be from a different but comparable company.)  The shampoo left terrible amounts of residue in my hair.

Now, I could pick up a $1 bottle of clarifying shampoo at my local Wal-Mart or Target, but that's kind of defeating the point of all-natural, isn't it?  So my brain started working and something lead me to see about baking soda.  After all, baking soda can be used for just about everything from exfoliating your face to scrubbing your bathtub.  After a little research, I found that baking soda can be used to remove hair product build-ups!

Now, supposedly you can mix a small amount of baking soda into your shampoo, but as I use a shampoo bar, that's not an option.  So what I did was put shampoo in my hair, and then add some baking soda on top of it (about the size of a quarter), rubbed in, and rinsed.

It worked wonderfully!  Give it a try if you have stubborn build-up from your hair products.

Computer Time by Kristina Bjornbak

So, you want to give your child some computer time.  But of course you don't want them wandering around to every site out there.  How about somewhere educational and free to use?

There are very few sites that I knew of right off hand that match that description.  After conferring with some other moms on sites they like, I've put together this short list:

Note: Most of these sites are completely new to me, so make sure you check them out before you set your child loose on them.

iKnowthat.com:One of the moms absolutely raved about this site, saying that it keeps track of child accomplishments, has both games and "virtual work tables," teaching guides that go with every game, and you can register each child separately so you can see their individual accomplishments.

UpToTen.com: This site has both pay and free versions.  On the free side, there are coloring and "artistic activities," games, stories, and more.

pbskids.org: Educational games and activities based on PBS KIDS shows.

PBS KIDS Sprout: In addition to having some games, this site also has recipes and craft activities.

PBS KIDS Island: My understanding is that this particular section of the PBS KIDS site is very much like iknowthat.com.

kidswhothink.blogspot.com this site offers a weekly challenge for children to complete using mostly household supplies and items from the recycling bin. Once your child/children complete the challenge they can post pictures or video of their creation to the site and see how other children completed the challenge.

Thanks to Kristin and Erika for pointing me toward these sites!  Please share any that you might know of so we can all enjoy!

New Native praise

I wanted to share this email (with permission) that Melissa sent us about her New Native Baby Carrier, we are so thrilled that this carrier worked so well for you Melisa!

"Dear Heather and Team, I purchased two New Native Carriers from you when my daughter, Olivia, was born 2 years ago. I had a very difficult first couple of weeks after Olivia was born - medical issues for both of us, etc - and let's just say I was a mess! One day, I put my New Native carrier on, placed Olivia in it, walked out into the kitchen and was suddenly a new woman. The clouds parted and I realized that I could DO THIS! From that day on, my carriers were a God send to me, and I have treasured them, thank you. I just wanted to let you know how much this purchase meant to me - and your company was so quick and great to work with!

 

I will admit to multi-tasking on the computer while Olivia rested peacefully in her New Native carrier - and now you have the incriminating proof! :) I cannot tell you how many conference calls I took while "wearing" her. My boss and employees were none the wiser ... until Olivia would start squeaking (never crying, though, she was too happy in her snug pouch!)

So now a good friend of mine is having her second daughter and I want to get her a carrier from you, too!

Melisa L. daughter of Olivia, 2"

Melisa, you are in good company enjoying this carrier, other moms and dads have found the same thing you have! :)

   

Transitioning from a Family Bed by Kristina Bjornbak

Some time ago, a reader asked about how to transition a toddler to their own bed. I'm fortunate that I haven't really had this problem. Our first son (now 4 years) never really slept with us except in the wee hours of the morning, and our second (18mos) decided on his own that he preferred his crib. This, however, means I had to do some research into this problem.

Many people are of the opinion that the best thing to do is never have your child in your bed to begin with. Personally, I wonder if those people have ever just been falling asleep at 1am when the baby wakes up demanding attention. Sometimes, laying down with your baby in your bed looks really good.  I am sure there are many of you that are choosing to have a family bed and if that is working for you, great!

But for those of you that are ready for a transition, what can you do if you do want to move your child out of your bed? After some searching, I found some good ideas.

-If your child is old enough, try a sticker chart. Each night that they sleep in their bed, the child gets a sticker. After so many stickers, the child gets a prize. This also allows the child to choose nights when they really just need that attention by deciding they would rather be in the parents' bed than have a sticker that night. See more about this idea from Dr. Jim Sears here: http://www.askdrsears.com/faq/sl20.asp

-If the child is old enough, consider allowing them to have their own matress that starts in your room, and transitions eventually to their own. Only for older children. Not young babies. Make sure that the room the child is in is childproof. Also, if it is a fear that they will fall out of your bed that is causing you to want to make this tranisition, consider placing your boxspring and mattress on the floor without a frame. Less far to fall. Again, make sure the room is childproof. More on this from Dr. Jim Sears here:http://www.askdrsears.com/faq/sl21.asp

-For younger babies, try a crib in their own room. I know, it sounds pretty obvious, but this establishes that the sleeping spaces are seperate, and the confined space of a crib as opposed to a larger bed may be more soothing. Plus, by using a crib instead of, say, a twin bed, they won't be able to wander around while sleepy and disorientated, and therefore less likely to get injured. It also helps them try to self soothe. More about this idea from Dr. Gayle Peterson here: http://parenting.ivillage.com/tp/tpsleep/0,,7m1z,00.html

-If the child won't transition, consider the child's feelings. Is there something going on that they feel they need you? Fears? Jealousy? Strange as it sounds, but several months ago, our younger son didn't want to sleep and we highly suspected that it was because he couldn't see his brother across the room in the dark. Read more from Dr. Alan Greene here (ideas geared toward preschoolers, but still good info that may help you if your child does not want to transition): http://www.drgreene.com/21_735.html

-Try a bedtime routine. This may take several days for it to work. At my house, we do diaper change and tooth brush, followed by a rather long story/chapter book/several stories. Most nights, our younger son goes to bed with no problem. A routine like this signals that it is time for bed and the stories give them ample time to wind down and prepare for sleep.

It can be tough to try to get a child to sleep in their own bed when they just don't want to. I understand. Even though my boys didn't make a habit of it, there were nights when they just wouldn't sleep in their own room. Remember to be patient and understanding of the child's needs. It's a big step for the child as well. Also remember that every child is different, and that what works for one parent may not work for you, and vice versa.

What have you tried that worked or didn't work?

Things to do ahead of time before going into labor by a Mom 4 Life

A Mom 4 Life blog reader sent me the following ideas that worked for her:

To make things easier for me I cooked a lot and froze meals. I also washed all of my daughter's clothes and bedding. I washed numerous bottles and pumping gear so I wouldn't have to wash them when I got home from the hospital. I packed earplugs in my hospital bag...so I could sleep before the sleepless nights.

I wash bottles, sippy cups and pumping gear at night so I will have them ready for the morning.

. . .

So now I ask you all, what did you are do you plan to do to make things easier before the baby arrives?

And I will leave a post note here that this simple post has been saved as a draft in my blog since April 25th, 2008.  I had a whole slew of posts stored up and ready to schedule right before I was due to give birth to Sawyer.  After his death, I just couldn't find a reason to post about things to do to get ready for a newborn and such like that so they have sat as drafts. . . I guess it speaks a bit to my healing to see that I can post this now.  The pain is still very much there.  I cry at unexpected times and it is still those deep, gut wrenching sobs or the quiet soulful tears.  But, the painful connection that was once felt between the subject of birth, representing life and the reality of Sawyers birth that was only death, is beginning to be separated.  For this I am thankful.

Dry Mommy Hands by Kristina Bjornbak

Maybe it's the winter.  Maybe it's not drinking enough water.  Or maybe it's having to wash your hands five million times a day between diaper changes, cooking, cleaning, and children's activities, but your hands are a wreck.

Personally,  my hands have the tendency to crack and bleed on the bottom knuckle.  I've tried tons of different lotions, and none helped or only helped temporarily.  But I have found a solution!  OK, well, two solutions, and they are pretty easy.

1. Vaseline.  Yes, plain old Vaseline.  You can get a small container of it for $1 in the Target travel toiletries section.  Before you go to bed, rub it into your hands.  You should see an improvement by the next day.

2. Lansinoh Lanolin.  This item is also easy to come by, and you can find it in most stores, most likely in the baby section.  It's designed for dry and cracked nipples of breastfeeding mothers.  Take a very small amount and warm it up by rubbing it between your thumb and forefinger.  Rub into your hands before you go to bed.

I hope you have healthier hands in the next few days!

If any of you have something special that works for you let me know!

*Note*: I heard that Vaseline and lanolin are cancer causing.  When I researched it, I found that the only sites that claim Vaseline is hazardous are trying to get people to buy their "safe" alternative products.  I found several places that state that Vaseline is safe or, at the very least, there are no studies saying that it is not.  As for the lanolin, I found that it is not the lanolin itself that is the problem, but any contaminants that get into it (pesticides, etc).  My tube of Lansinoh says that it is ultra pure and medical grade, so I assume that it is fine.  I encourage you to do your own research into the matter.  Remember to always check multiple sources, and beware of sites with an agenda.

Sneaking in the Healthy Stuff by Kristina Bjornbak

We all know it's hard to get our kids to eat right.  I mean, it's hard to even get ourselves and our husbands to eat right, let alone the kids.  So how do we sneak in the healthy stuff without the whining?  I asked some other moms what they do, and here is what they suggest:

Toni's tip:
Puree or cut squash, carrots, zucchini or spinach into small pieces and hide in sloppy joes or meatloaf.  Spaghetti is also great for hiding veggies.

Erikas tip:
Hide pureed squash, grated apple or mashed bananas in oatmeal or cream of wheat.  She also recommends the books The Sneaky Chef by Missy Case Lapine and Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld.

Kristin's tip:
When Kristin is making dinner but her kids want something to eat right away, she serves them foods they normally would turn their noses up at, like carrot and zucchini sticks with hummus or honey mustard dip.  She has gotten her kids to eat hummus, which she makes with cannelinni beans, by telling them it is dip.  She also breads veggie sticks in a tempura-like batter and fries them in peanut oil. 

Jessica's tip:
Limit snacks, and when snacks are served, make them veggies.

My tip:
Give whole wheat pizza a try.  Use your cookbooks or google how to make pizza dough and use whole wheat flour.  Make it even healthier by sneaking in some colorful veggies and maybe even some chicken breast.

If you have trouble getting your family to eat healthy, try these tips, although they may not thank you until they are older!

What if they get lost? by Kristina Bjornbak

We teach our kids to never ever go with someone they don't know, and to kick, scream and bite until they get free if anyone tries to take them.  But what if they merely get separated from us?  Do they know what to do?

Here's what I taught my 4-year-old son to do.  Look around and see if you can find a police officer, but don't walk around and look.  Stay where you are and just move your head.  If you don't see a police officer, find a woman, and tell her you are lost.

In addition, I taught him what I call the Address Song.  I use the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, except the first line is "Owen lives at..." followed by house number, street, and town.  For the second verse, "His mommy's phone is..." followed by my 10-digit cell number.

I was amazed the other day when I realized how these ideas have really sunk in.  While Target, he and I got separated from my husband and other son.

"We lost Daddy," I said.

"Well," he replied, "I don't see a police officer, so find a lady."

I hope these suggestions work for you, but I really hope you will never have the occasion to find out.

What shall we learn today? By Kristina Bjornbak

I would like to know what you, the readers, would like me to talk about in upcoming posts for the It Worked 4 Me section.  Simply post your questions in the comment section and I will look into writing posts dealing with the questions you asked.

I don't pretend to know everything, but if I don't know the answer, I'll do my best to find it for you and hopefully make your life a little easier.

Before you do your Christmas Traveling... by Kristina Bjornbak

I just returned from a Thanksgiving trip to visit family, and I learned a few things about visiting a place so far from home.  I want to share with you some tips I picked up through this trip, especially if you are visiting a home with older children or no children at all.

1. Make a toy plan.  Think about the place you are visiting.  Do they have children the same ages as yours?  If not, do they have toys around that will be appropriate for your children?  Make sure you bring toys for your children if you don't think there will be any.

2. Speak up for your child's schedule.  So, your entire extended family wants to get together for dinner at 8pm, but your kids go to bed at 7:30.  Let me say from experience that you need to let someone know as soon as possible.  Otherwise, you will end up with cranky children who are up way past their bedtime, and no one wants that.

3. Bring snacks for the trip. Children get hungry and thirsty in the car like they would in a house, so make sure you pack drinks and food for them to snack on.  Also think about what kind of snack you are bringing.  Will it make a mess?  Be too filling?  Not be filling enough? What happens if they spill their drink?

4. Consider an extra set of clothes for the little ones.  Let's be honest.  Little boys sometimes miss the potty, diapers can leak, and food gets spilled.  Consider packing a change of clothes for the younger children if there is room.

5. Remember diaper duty.  If you use cloth diapers, start considering as to whether or not you will use them on your trip.  If you do, make sure you bring some sort of container to put them in, like a doorknob-hanging wetbag.  Also remember to clear cloth diapers with your host if you are staying in someone else's house.  Some people are really grossed out by the idea.

6. Baby proofing 101.  If you are bringing a young child and are staying with relatives, give that relative a call and remind them to baby proof.  Remember, some people think their houses are child friendly, but they are really not.  If you know of something specific that needs to be moved out of reach, let your relative know.

7. Put up the purses. Relatives who do not have small children may forget about those medicine bottles and perfumes in their purses.  Make sure they are out of reach.

8. Leave some room.  Remember that you will probably come back with more than you went with.  Leave some space in your luggage or car.

I hope this gets you through your holidays a little easier!

The Ten Game by Kristina Bjornbak

For a very long time, the only way I was able to get my 4-year-old to pick up his toys was to be very specific, as in, "Pick up that book," or "Put that block away."  Very tedious and just easier and faster to do it myself!  My mother-in-law can always get him to pick up his toys, but let's be honest.  Grandmas have special powers that mere mommies just don't have.

But there is hope.  Now, this may only work on the younger children, but I did find it worked for my 4-year-old.  I call it the Ten Game.  I tell him to pick up ten items and put them away as fast as he can, and call out the number of items he has put away as he does it.  Sounds simple, I know, and even I am shocked that this works.

So if you have trouble getting your little ones to put their toys away, try the Ten Game (or Five, or Fifteen, or whatever number your heart desires).

At-Least-I-Have Blessings by Kristina B.

I'll admit a shameful secret: I really hate doing housework, and at times I am downright resentful about it.  When I have a pile of laundry to do, or my kitchen is still not clean and it's getting late, I can feel so overwhelmed.

But then I realized something: I have so many at-least-I-have blessings.  Yes, I hate doing the dishes, but I am so blessed that my family does not go to bed hungry at night.  Yes, I hate doing laundry, but at least we have clothes to wear.  And next time I'm irritated because my husband never takes the trash out, I can remember that at least we have a comfortable home to remove trash from.

Next time you feel overwhelmed as parent, spouse, or friend, just remember what blessings brought you these "problems" and see if you don't feel better about it.

Easy Fall Crafts by Kristina Bjornbak

Fall is here, and for me, that means it's time for some really fun crafts.  So, here's a few you might enjoy doing with your kids:

1. Make a hand print wreath. If you've ever been in an elementary school in the fall, you've probably seen these.  Simply trace your child's hand and cut out as many hand prints as you'd like.  Allow your child to glue them together to make a wreath.  Don't be too concerned if the wreath turns out to be more like a pile.  If you want to be sure that the wreath actually turns out circular, cut out a cardboard ring and have your child glue the hand prints onto the cardboard.  To make it extra special, you could have hand prints of several members of your family and allow them to write special messages on them, like what they love about their family or things they are thankful for.

2. Leaf wreath. Same as hand print wreath, except use leaf shapes.  You can use this as an opportunity to teach your child about leaves changing color.

3. Make leaf rubbings. Select some leaves and lay them out flat.  Put a sheet of paper over top, and have your child color over top of the paper with a crayon.  The shape and some details from the leaves will show through.

4. Make a fall scene. Draw and cut out different items that have to do with fall, such as pumpkins, scarecrows, and corn.  All your child to glue these  onto a piece of paper in whatever arrangement they like.

5. Mini-pumpkin faces. If you haven't noticed, you can now find those teeny-tiny adorable pumpkins for $0.50 to $1.00.  Give your child a dark marker or crayon and let them draw a face or fall scene.

6. Salt dough. Google salt dough and choose your favorite recipe and baking instructions.  There is no end to what you can make with this easy resource.  Make leaf and pumpkin magnets, or fall colored picture frames!  There are two ways to get your dough the color you choose.  One, for younger or messy children, you (the parent) add food coloring to the dough before molding it.  For older children, allow them to paint their creations after baking.  *My little disclaimer* Do not allow young children to use the oven or stove.

Happy crafting!

Easy Mirror Cleaning by Kristina B.

Do you get tired of covering or moving the toothbrushes, combs, floss, and make-up out of the way so you don't get store-bought cleaner on them while shining your bathroom mirrors?  There's an easier way.  All you need is newspaper and a dab of water.

Step One: Take a sheet of newspaper and wet one corner.  I use the free local paper that mysteriously shows up in my driveway once a week.

Step Two: Use the damp corner to wipe off the mirror.

Step Three: Use the dry part of the paper to wipe mirror again.

Step Four: Step back and love the fact that you can now see yourself.

Wasn't that easy?  Works great for faucets, too!

Less Messy Fan Cleaning by Kristina B.

When was the last time you cleaned your ceiling fan?  If you turn it on high, does it suddenly snow in your house?  I'll admit, this is probably one of the least pleasant chores, and it is one that gets overlooked very easily.  It's annoying, messy, and semi-time consuming, especially if it has not been done in a while.  So, here's a tip that I hope helps you.  I got the idea after reading about a woman who uses an old pillowcase to clean her fans, except I don't have any pillowcases I'm willing to sacrifice.

Materials needed:
Old pair of pants or spare fabric.  (I used flannel.  I don't know how well denim will work.)
Needle and thread or sewing machine.

If you are using an old pair of pants:
Cut one of the legs off, and sew that leg shut at ONE end with whatever method you like.  It doesn't have to be pretty.

If you are using spare fabric:
Cut fabric a few inches longer and wider than your fan blades.  Stitch the long edges together in whatever method you prefer.  You should now have a tube.  Stitch ONE of the short edges closed.

Now all you have to do is put your new fan cleaner on one blade at a time, and pull off.  Most of the dust will be caught inside of the sleeve.  Then, just shake the dust outside.  Finish by wiping off any residual dust on the fan with a dust cloth or feather duster.  Done!

Getting your baby to sleep through the night by Mom 4 Life Kelly F

I just have to share a book that I read that saved my sanity! My son, Myles, was never a great sleeper and it wasn't until he was 11 months and still waking up every 1-2 hours a night that I finally decided something had to change. I wasn't real fond of the cry-it-out method and doing nothing wasn't an option either. I came across "Good Night, Sleep Tight: The Sleep Lady's Guide to Getting Your Child to Sleep, Stay Asleep, and Wake Up Happy." By Kim West.  After only 6 nights of her program Myles slept 8 hrs straight!! Hallelujah! If only I had read this when he was born I could have had a years worth of sleep back!! I highly recommend this to anyone! Sweet dreams little ones!

Kelly F., Nebraska

Meal planning ideas from Mom 4 Life Monique D.

Thank you Mom 4 Life blog reader Monique for the following mom tip:

Type up and print out your favorite main course recipes on similar size pieces of card stock.  Do the same for side dishes.  Then make magnets for each day of the week (or borrow the S, M, T, W, T, F and S if you kids have magnetic fridge letters).  Once a week, let your kids choose (or randomly
select) a main course and side dish for each day of the upcoming week and post them on the fridge with your days of the week magnets. Having it all planned out helps with grocery shopping and also eliminates the "it's 5pm and I still don't know what's for dinner" dilemma.  Plus I've noticed that when kids help choose and/or make the meal, they are more likely to eat it!  Monique D. (MN)

Solving pacifier problems by Mom 4 Life Traci F.

This mom tip was provided by Mom 4 Life blog reader Traci, thanks Traci!
*Just a note that you always need to be very careful about anything you put in your babies sleeping area as to not possibly interfere with their breathing.

We have three daughters, ages 7, 4, and 2. I have made something I like to call a "Binky Buddy" for each of them (and my friends' babies) from two square (approx. 8"x8") pieces of fleece tied together with knots around the edges with a pacifier tied into one of the knots.  This is great for: Locating the pacifier in the car seat while driving (safely, of course); locating the pacifier in the dark in the middle of the night; helping the baby locate his/her pacifier, keeping the pacifier from falling through the slats of the crib, and leaves your child with a "lovey" when the pacifier is gone.
Traci Feaster, CA

If you are not feeling crafty, you can find mom invented pacifier clips here as well.

Keeping the kitchen organized by Mom 4 Life Kristen F.

This week you will enjoy reading mom tips provided by Mom 4 Life blog readers!  This first tip was provided by Mom 4 Life blog reader Kristen F, thanks Kristen!

Here is the bulletin board we have posted in the kitchen.  I found this helps me a lot!  I post invititations, growth charts, and anything else  I need with thumb tacks.  We were posting things on the fridge and they'd keep falling off!  There was just too much stuff, so I bought this bulletin board and it's really organized me!
Kristen F.

Adding In Some Learning by Kristina B.

Have you seen those commercials that end with the line "Everyday moments can become teaching moments"?  They feature adults doing really odd things, like a woman counting her toes while riding on the subway and another woman putting a pair of pants on her head and saying, "Do they go on my head?  Do they?"  The camera shot changes and we see babies in the background, and realize the adults are not being strange, but they are teaching their children.

Have you thought about how you can add some learning into your child's life today?  You don't have to run out and by a workbook or hire a tutor, but you'd be amazed at what you can do to add in some learning.  Here are some ideas:

1. Go for a walk.  The other day, I took my 4 year old for a walk and listened to him.  Really listened, and was surprised at how much he knew.  We also talked about what he saw and heard.  Walks are great ways to teach about all sorts of things, like how plants grow or what a fire hydrant is for.

2. Pull out the construction paper.  I bought 2 packs at Target for $0.88 each.  You can do all sorts of things with construction paper.  For a huge host of ideas, just search Google (or your favorite search engine) for "construction paper crafts."  You can use crafts to teach about holidays, the weather, other cultures, animals...

3. Let them help you in the kitchen.  Okay, little disclaimer: don't let a small child play with the stove/oven or sharp utensils, and wash child's hands after handling anything potentially hazardous, like raw egg.  But you knew that already.  Let them help you knead dough and mix ingredients.  You can use this to show your little ones how you can combine ingredients to make food, and how those ingredients change when mixed or cooked.

4.  Visit the library.  I know, a little obvious, but really let your child tell you what s/he is interested in, and get books on that subject.

I hope your child learns something new today!

If You're Handy... by Kristina Bjornbak

Since my one-year-old was a newborn, we have been using cloth diapers with a PUL cover.  The covers were pretty good, and lasted for several months, but eventually they started to wear out.  The PUL would crack and the covers eventually developed holes, leaving us to go in search of another kind of cover.

I looked around for weeks for a different kind of cover, but couldn't find one that I really liked for the price being asked for.  Wool soakers caught my eye, and I wondered how hard it would be to make them.  So, I took some scrap yarn and a crochet wrap pattern and started to work, just to see if I could do it.  Turns out I could, and bought some wool yarn and explored different patterns.  To date, I have three that I regularly use, and a fourth in the making.

I love my soakers because they are a craft with a purpose.  Have you ever thought about doing something like that?  If you like crafts, I highly suggest it.  You can make endless items that are handy in everyday mommy life, like knitted dish cloths or cloth wipes made from old clothes.  And, you just might save some money in the process.  (Hand-made wool soakers can cost $40 and up, but I make them for about $3 a piece, not including the time spent.)

Good to the last drop by Mom 4 Life Danielle

This is a fun idea sent to me by Mom 4 Life, Danielle from Ohio:

My son is a chocolate milk fanatic. So, we go through a lot of chocolate syrup! To make sure we get every last drop, we fill the "sputtering, empty" syrup bottle with milk, shake it up and he loves to drink that last and he says "BEST" cup right from the syrup squirt bottle like his own little sipper cup!

Don't Ignore Second Hand Stores by Kristina B.

For a long time, I hated second hand stores.  It's not that I'm snooty, but they reminded me of a time when my family (as in mother/father/sisters/brother) was falling apart.  The idea of going to a second hand store made me feel stressed and irritable.

Fortunately, those emotions eventually died down, and gave way to a neither here nor there kind of feeling, and I'm so glad it did.  When I was pregnant with my second child, now 13 months old, we went into the Salvation Army looking for something specific.  While there, I saw a HUGE stack of baby clothes, in good condition, for about $.25 or so.  If you're a parent, you know you can never have too many onesies.  Great deal.

More recently, my husband was on a quest to find a certain kind of drinking glass, but couldn't find one in the retail stores.  Once again, he went into the Salvation Army, and found exactly what he was looking for.  While there, we were perusing the dishes for no particular reason other than to kill time, when we found a set of 15 or so plastic plates, medium and large sizes, for $2.99.  Fantastic, especially since we used plastic plates for the kids, but our stock had dwindled to only two.

Not convinced?  Here are some great reasons to at least stop by your local second hand store:

1. Hard to find or borderline antique items may be found there.
2. Who doesn't love baskets?  They can be found cheap there.
3. Extra dishes, especially for children who break theirs.
4. A cure for those "I just bought you those!" blues.  Cheap children's clothes that they can be rough and tumble with all they want.
5. If you're in to cloth diapering, you can find great material for bum sweaters.

I strongly encourage you to at least stop by one of the stores.  You may find something great.

Clutter, clutter, clutter... by Kristina B.

Recently, while participating in the Great Cloth Diaper Hunt, I came upon something called "Fly Lady" via the hint forum.  A quick scan of the Wikipedia article about this made me curious, and I looked further into it.

Basically, the FlyLady system is all about organization, cleanliness, and loving yourself, and well, we could all use a little more of each one of those.  But the big point I want to make with this has to do with just a little tidbit I read that has already helped me a great deal in the past few days, and I thought I might pass it on to you.

The message on a page of the website is this: "You cannot reorganize clutter-you can only reorganize the things you love!"  The wikipedia article reiterates this principle in a slightly different way: "FlyLady says that clutter cannot be organized, because by its very nature it's clutter."

This really put things into perspective for me.  I have just about finished cleaning off the dining room table, except for a few odds and ends that I need to, but forgot to, ask hubby if it is ok to put them away (a few papers that I don't know if it's ok to file yet, some small items that are important to him that I don't want to get lost, etc.).  You know what I found?  Bread ties, junk mail, rubber bands, and papers that should have been filed long ago!

Today my goal is to clean out the linen closet, the bottom of which is filled with old magazines.  Do I really need to keep those?!

Anyway, those little quotes about clutter are helping me turn the pack rat in me into more of a gerbil, and I hope it does the same for you!

Some little helpful links:
FlyLady website
A FlyLady page about clutter
FlyLady Wikipedia page (kind of runs down the basics)

Don't run water during a lightning storm...seriously. by Kristina B.

So, I needed to change the baby.  Afterward, I needed to wash my hands, even though there was a rather nasty lightning storm rolling through.  I thought, no problem, nothing will happen, I'll be quick.  Long story short, I was not quick enough and got zapped.  I wasn't injured, but I do feel kind of foolish.  Having lived in a lightning-proned area, I should have known better.  No, I did know better.

Which brings me to my tip, which is very simple.  If there is a storm coming, and you know you are going to need water during that time for hand washing, cooking, or whatever, run about as much water as you are going to need into a container.  Any water needed during that time can be drawn from that container.  For instance, if you need to wash your hands, poor some of the water over them into the sink.  That way, once the storm comes, there is no faucet touching or water running involved.

Simple, right?  Makes me wonder I didn't think of it before.

Ideas for messy eaters by Mom 4 Life Kristen F.

About three months ago I (Heather Ledeboer) asked you guys for "It Worked For Me" ideas that I could post on the blog.  Several of you replied and i will be sharing the ideas you provided over the next several months.  Below is the first one provided by Kristen F:)!

My 8 month old Zoie is a MESSY eater!  My husband and I DREADED the end of the meal, when it was time to wipe down her face...she would put up a fight and throw a tantrum every time! I received this idea from a friend of mine and decided to try it.  Wet down a diaper wipe with warm water.  Take the wipe in both hands and stretch it out.  Now "shimmy" the wipe back and forth across your babies face while saying 'time to wash the baby!' ' We're washing the baby!' 'We're washing the baby!'.  The "shimmying" affect makes her laugh, and although she's not perfectly clean because you're not putting as much force into washing her face, the majority of the mess is gone and she's at least happy, which makes everybody happy!

Kristen F.
IL
_________________

Along the same lines is to try a product like this:

The BabyCleanFun CD has 16 short, catchy tunes that turn challenging daily tasks into fun parent-child bonding moments. Changing a diaper, cleaning up after eating, and giving a bath can be hard. How you react in that moment of frustration is so important.

When They Just Won't Listen by Kristina B.

A few weeks ago, I was having a lot of trouble with my 4-year-old not listening to me.  I would ask him to do or stop doing something nicely, and ask again, and then yell.  Not working so well.  I asked some other moms about what to do, and was told that they didn't know, but if I figured it out, make sure to tell them the secret.  Finally, I called my sister, who is truly THE alpha mom.

She suggested that maybe my son just needed to be brought out of his little world, as in, he was so busy doing whatever, he didn't hear me.  She compared it to a tv going in the next room.  He hears it, but...

Her suggestion was to get down to his level, make sure he makes eye contact, and tell him calmly whatever it is I want to tell him.  Amazingly, it worked.  It even worked when I know he's heard me but is ignoring me, or when he's throwing a tantrum.

I can't guarantee this will work every time, but if your little one has an occasional listening problem, this is definitely worth a try.

Before you send that e-mail... by Kristina B.

I've been debating for some time as to whether or not I should write about this, but I do feel it is important.  So, today we're switching gears a bit.  Instead of telling you a tip that makes life easier for you, I'm going to share a tip with you that will make another parent's life easier.

About two years ago, a well meaning friend of mine sent me an e-mail detailing the tragic death of a three-year-old boy who was stabbed by a needle in a McDonald's ball pit, and subsequently succumbed to heroine overdose.  I was horrified.  But then, a quick Google search told me that this situation never happened.  But, you may ask, when such e-mails have gone around and around so many times, they must be true?  Sadly, no.  As an example, I point you to a few  e-mailed "facts" that have become part of common knowledge: "Ring around the Rosie" is about the plague, and "golf" stands for "gentlemen only, ladies forbidden" (both untrue).

The point I want to make is this: As parents, we have enough to worry about.  How much tv is too much?  Vaccinate on schedule, late, or not at all?  Do I buy regular or organic?  The last thing any parent wants is to cause another unnecessary worry.  So, before you send off that e-mail warning other parents of yet another terrible danger, check it out first.  You'll be making another parent's life easier.

By the way, an easy way to check the stories in these e-mails is to go to Snopes.  They have a large database of these legends.  Or, just copy and paste a portion of the e-mail into a Google browser.

Emergency Breakfast Smoothie by Kristina B.

The other day, I was sitting at the kitchen table while my two sons, ages 9 months and 4 years, were playing in the living room.  I looked over and saw the baby stuff something the size of a pebble into his mouth.  Forgetting that I was wearing socks, and that terrazzo floors and socks don't mix (think ice rink), I jumped up and rushed over to him.  My feet slid out from under me and I hit the floor, hurting my hand, butt, and both my feet.  I thought, there must be a tip in here somewhere.  But I couldn't find one.

So instead, I'm going to tell you a really easy smoothie recipe that I use for snacks or when, like this morning, I realize that all we have for breakfast are Chex, and I am not a fan.  Since it is really fruit and milk, I think I can get away with it.  Here are two recipes, and the instructions are at the end, since they are the same for both.

Banana Smoothie (for two people):
2 bananas
2 cups milk
1/4 sugar (give or take according to taste)
dash vanilla (optional)
About 6-10 ice cubes

Orange Smoothie (for 2):
2 cups orange juice
2 cups milk
1/4 cup sugar (give or take)
dash vanilla
About 6-10 ice cubes

Put all ingredients except ice cubes in a blender.  Blend well, then add ice cubes a few at a time.  Done.  To increase the servings, add 1 banana or 1 cup orange juice, 1 cup milk,  a bit of sugar to taste, and a few ice cubes per number of servings you want to increase it by.

This is very good and very filling, not to mention perfect for a busy, or in my case brain dead, morning or as a snack.

If you try it, be sure to let me know what you think.

(Oh, and if you're wondering, it was a piece of sidewalk chalk that he put in his mouth.  I got it before he ate it.)

I love washable crayons! by Kristina B.

Crayola sells these really great washable crayons.  If you have youngsters, but haven't looked into these, I really recommend them.  They wash easily off of floors, walls, windows, faces...

Here are a few things I've done with washable crayons. Remember, before you try any of these, test on a small area to make sure it will wash off and not stain.  I haven't had anything stain yet, but you'd better make sure.

1.) Made an indoor hopscotch course: I think it was raining that day.  We have these really ugly terrazzo floors that dh loves for some strange reason, and I happened to know that these crayons washed off our floor without a trace.

2.) Allowed Owen (4 years) to draw on the back sliding door (plexiglass?):  He just has this urge to color on great big spaces.  Remember my post about our, uh, mural?

3.) Made a to-do list on the sliding back door (plexiglass?): That's pretty self explanatory.

Also remember that I am talking about WASHABLE crayons.  If they are washable, they will say so in big letters on the package.  Seriously, don't try any of these with regular crayons.  You'll be scrubbing 'til the cows come home.

Calming closet chaos by Mom 4 Life Michelle B

Mom 4 Life Michelle wrote in with this great organizational tip for the closet, thanks Michelle!
-Heather L.

When we had our twin girls, we received a TON of clothes (literally, their closet was full before they came home from the hospital) in a wide variety of sizes.  My husband lamented that he would never be able to figure out what outfits the girls were able to wear...So, I decided to buy plastic coat hangers in 2 different colors - pink & white.  The pink ones are used for the clothes they don't fit into yet and the white ones are the clothes they can wear.  Now, it is super easy for him (or any one else) to quickly pick out an outfit that fits!!
Michelle B.

Remembering milestones by Mom 4 Life Dee F.

Hi Heather,
Here is my "It worked for me"  suggestion:

After we adopted our oldest daughter, I struggled with a way to capture all of her milestones and memories that we wanted to save. I bought a nice "baby book" , but never seemed to have the time to sit down and write it out really nice. I ended up just jotting down a lot of little notes on what seems like a hundred little pieces of paper. Then when we were surprised by my pregnancy with our second daughter, the task really seemed overwhelming to me. After she was born, I decided to set up a journal on our computer in a word program that splits the page into two columns. One side is for our oldest and the other side is for our youngest. I try very hard to type something in for each month. I started it when my youngest was born. I put a heading for each month that shows the age of each of my daughters. I really like that I can read about what was happening with both of them during the same month. I plan on eventually printing out two copies and having them bound nicely for each of them. I think they will find it fun to not only read about what they were doing/accomplishing at a certain time, but then to read about what their sister was doing during the same time. I like that I can just jump on the computer when I have a few minutes free and type away. I don't have to worry about nice handwriting, etc. Of course, I would love to eventually make a beautiful scrapbook for each of them, but with two little girls (they are now 2 1/2 years old and 15 months old) I just don't have the time to do something like that right now. I'm constantly taking pictures so at some point it wouldn't be so hard to go back and do that.

Thanks for asking!
Take Care,
Dee F.
Pawcatuck, CT

I like Dee's suggestion for us all, don't you?  If you have any ideas to share on this topic, please post a comment.  Tomorrow for our giveaway item I will be sharing about and giving away something along these same lines so I hope you will check back! - Heather L.

Organization ideas from Mom 4 Life Angela P.

I don't think this is really pregnancy related because, well, I was completely unaware of the importance of organization until I had my son!  But what has worked for us in our home-

After years of complaining that my husband would box things up in the attic, and not label the boxes or we'd forget what was in what, so we'd end up with a bigger mess of trying to figure out what was in the boxes- Anyway..so now we label each box with a number.   Then on an index card we write the contents of each numbered box and number the index card accordingly.  So box #1 has index card #1 and a list of what is inside the box.  Then we store the cards in a small index card box that takes up no room at all!

Angela P. Texas

Thank you Angela for your helpful idea, I like this!  If anyone else has ideas along these lines please feel free to leave a comment below!  Tomorrow we will have another idea presented by another one of our readers. - Heather L.

Easy Stain Removal by Kristina B.

Out of Spray-N-Wash (or whatever)?  No problem.  Grab some Ivory bar soap.

Here's what you do: simply dampen the stained spot and the soap.  Rub in soap.  Rinse at least partly out so you know if it's working or if you need to do it again.  Toss article (not the soap!) in the washer and wash and dry as normal.  Ta-da!

Now, if you use something like Lunapads, this is a great way to get them a little cleaner before tossing them in the wash, and helps prevent staining.

As I said, I use Ivory bar soap for this.  You may want to try it with whatever brand you have around.  Either way, feel free to let me know how it goes.

Smart Moms Teething Jewelry - Weekly Giveaway

This week we are giving away a Smart Moms Necklace and matching Bangle Bracelet you choose the color:).

Retail Value $31.50
Teething Bling was inspired by babies who like to tug on our jewelry. Made from the same material as many teething toys, Teething Bling looks great on Moms, Grandmas, Aunts and Caregivers but is safe for curious babies to handle and chew. Smart Mom Jewelry is non-toxic, phthalate free and all pendants come with a breakaway clasp.  Isn't that a smart idea?!

The winner of our Pinkbench Headband was Andrea.  She chose the brown large floral in a size small for her choice:).

Thank you to all of you that provided some really great "It Worked For Me" ideas last week!  We have a nice supply of great ideas that I can share with all of you over the next weeks an months--it is wonderful!

This week to win the Smart Moms Necklace and matching Bangle Bracelet:

1) Simply visit our "New Items" page and see all the fun new goodies that we have added recently.  Depending on how long it has been since you visited our site the items are displayed in the order they were added so you may only have to look at the first page or two to see what is new for you.
2) Leave a comment here letting me know which item(s) you like the best.
3) If you see anything especially fun, feel free to send an email to a friend of yours with a link but you don't have to if you don't feel especially moved to do so;).

That is it!  Good luck!  For those of you who enjoy the surveys (giving your thoughts on possible new products) don't worry, we will be doing more of those in the future but I am slowing down on looking for new products as the baby date gets closer for me:).

Want to see what we were up to this week?  We moved my husband to a room downstairs as his "office" (we both work from home) and moved our daughter into his "old office".  I have before and after photos for you below:).  It is such a "happy" room now, I love it!  Click on the after images to see them larger.

Before:

After:

Starting Swimming Lessons by Suzette Boyette

Many moms wonder when they should start swimming lessons. Do we start at 6 months? 18 months? 2 years? When they're ready or when Mom is ready?! It really is a source of enormous anxiety for us moms, isn't it?  Is there a right answer? Well, I have three little ones under the age of 9 and I can only give you my own experience...

For some reason, six years ago I had in my head that my children (ages 3 1/2 and 18 months at the time) HAD to take SWIMMING lessons right then and there! Immediately! There was a sense of urgency ( we don't even have our own pool...). I just really wanted to know that if there was ever a possibility of being near a body of water that was deeper than the bath water in our bathtub during tubby time that they would know how to get to safety. So, with that said, I enrolled both my children in a program at the YMCA called Safe Start- basically a swimming survival course for children as young as 6 months. There is another program called Infant Swimming Resource that is the similar program.

In both programs, children have a private lesson that is only 10 minutes long.  Moms must be committed to this program and have guts of steel (I'll explain why in a moment). I had to take my children to the lesson every day for about 4 weeks.  Did you catch that? EVERY DAY for 4 weeks. That's 20 times!  The length of  time varies per instructor.  The goal is at the end of the  series, your child who is fully clothed will be able to swim to the wall for safety. If he falls too far from the edge of the pool, he knows how to swim, then roll on his back to get air, and then swim again until he reaches safety. They really do accomplish this!!! It's amazing!!!

The reason I say guts of steel is that you, Mom, have to be strong for your child. He will scream his head off and cry the WHOLE ENTIRE TIME!!! You will see him struggle in the pool and then this little voice in your head starts second-guessing your initial judgment. But, realize that the instructor is trained and knows what he is doing. Trust!!! Needless to say, I was a nervous wreck the first time around! I was literally shaking because both children were so upset! (That's a whole other blog posting!!!)

Now, fast forward six years. My youngest just turned 4 last week. Still  no swimming lessons or safety swimming lessons... until 3 days ago! Six years later, I am not as upset with him crying.. actually I wasn't upset at all!  Remember, he is 4, so I knew he'd be alright. The first day was pretty awful. He hadn't established trust with his instructor yet so he screamed the ENTIRE time. Second day there only 2 minutes of crying for his 10 minute lesson, (but he did start his crying at home while I was dressing him in his swim trunks). Today, he did not cry at all... however, he negotiated every single skill he was being taught. Important lesson here regarding swimming instructors... his instructor listened to him to establish trust. She was patient and understanding. Regardless of his age, she would always be and her voice was gentle, but firm.

So, in answer to the "When should I start swimming lessons?"... I started one at 18 months, another at 3 1/2 and my youngest at 4 years old. Regardless of when I started, the older two (now 7 and 9) swim like dolphins! My youngest says he wants to swim like a dolphin too. So, I started later with him. That's okay. I did what I felt was right for each of my children and also for me.

Moms... go with your gut when knowing when to start something new, when choosing your child's swim instructor and when choosing which program is right for your child. I did and now I have my own little school of dolphins... (do dolphins swim in schools? I know fish do...)

More organization ideas by a Mom 4 Life

Continuing our discussing from last week on organization, Kristen emailed me photos of what she has done using wire shelving in her home.  She says, "The wired shelving is great! There are fabric cube drawers that fit perfectly in them too that help keep all the little things together. Plus they make the shelving look a little nicer (we have them in our living room to store/hide my husband's video games and controllers). And I'm sure that as my daughter gets older and has toys all over the place, they will be great to store those as well.

We also use the wired shelves for our bunny cage.  Yes, the bunny cage is huge (not your typical cage). But because he stays in his cage all day while we are gone at work or if he is in trouble (for chewing on something that he shouldn't be), we wanted him to have lots of room to run around. We call it his bunny condo. :)"  -Kristen

What can mom do on the potty? by Heather Ledeboer

Liking to multi task as many moms do, I found something useful to do with my time on "the potty" that was more productive than reading a magazine.

I keep a basket next to the toilet that has greeting cards, envelopes, stamps, my address book, and a pen.  I can often get a quick "thinking of you" or "thank you" note written and ready to send while I sit:).  Another thing I keep in my basket is a small journal where I keep prayer requests.  If I am not writing a note or letter, I can open this and find a person or two to pray for.  Maybe there is a basket around your house that you could fill with a few small projects for such an occasion?

Ah, the Smell of...Vinegar by Kristina B.

What do you clean with?  Bleach?  Disinfecting wipes?  General cleaning sprays?  You know, I usually don't use any of these, save an occasional bout with bleach to combat mold in the bathroom, as we live in a rather humid climate.

A few weeks ago, a woman was kind enough to leave me a comment about the many uses of baking soda and vinegar.  She's right.  Baking soda and vinegar make great cleaners, but as she said, not together.  If you don't know why you don't mix them and then clean, I suggest this: put a little baking soda in a bowl.  Set the bowl in the sink and add some distilled white vinegar.  Go ahead, I'll wait...Ok, now you see why you don't do that.  However, if you clean with baking soda, vinegar does a great job of removing the excess.

Now, if you are unfamiliar with using these products to clean, here's what I use them for:

Baking soda: great for scrubbing the tub.  Sprinkle in, add a little water to make a paste, and scrub.  Also great for cleaning the grout between the tile on counter tops.

White Vinegar: I dilute this in water to mop the floor with (you may want to try this on an inconspicuous area of your floor before you do the whole thing), or use straight as a mild disinfectant or general cleaner.  It also works as a mold or mildew inhibitor.

These methods are pretty environmentally friendly, but to me they are something more than just an alternative way to clean.  If I didn't have small children or a dog, I probably never would have thought twice about using the stronger stuff.  But now that I do, all I have to say is this: what would happen if your child takes a swallow of vinegar?  Now, what would happen if they take a swallow of bleach?

Try some of these more alternative ways of cleaning and see if they don't work for you, too.

Helping Your Kids Countdown to Vacation by Kristina B.

A few weeks ago, I told my almost-4-year-old son, Owen that we have 16 more days until we go to Grandma and Grandpa's.  I then informed him that this translates into 16 sleepy times.  And, with the adorable earnestness particular to children, he responded by saying, "That's a lot of sleep."

I honestly don't remember if my search for a printable countdown calender directly stemmed from that conversation or not.  Or maybe I just like crafty things (and I do like crafty things).  Anyway, I couldn't quite find what I was looking for, but ended up finding something just as good.  I'll admit I shamelessly found this idea at a Disney website while trying to find this apparently elusive calender.  (You can view the Disney site here.)  The basic idea is that you use a paper chain to countdown the days to vacation or other special event.  On each link, you write the number of days left, plus whatever other information you need to put on it such as when to start packing or a reminders to do special related errands.  Each day, you or your child removes one link from the chain until the special day arrives.

Simple, yes?  And it only takes a few minutes to create one.  If you'd like, decorate each link, and see if that doesn't help your child understand how many more days you have to go, but also helps you get a little more organized.  And who wouldn't want that?

More toy organization ideas from you!

So it turns out that I am not the only one that likes to be organized:)!  Two of you sent me your own stories and photos of what you did to organize your child's room and I thought we should all benefit from your ideas so thank you--your ideas are great!  If more of you have ideas to share please feel free to send them my way and I will post them too!

Hi Heather! Here is another solution for toy storage.  I use the little clear drawers and put "Little People" in them, blocks, balls, small puzzles.  Lots of things will fit in them and the drawers come in different sizes.  The drawers slide out easily too and are light weight for little hands to use.

Thanks!  Robyn

Hi Heather,
I just had to respond to your post since I just got through organizing the kids play area.  We don’t really have a play room and it drove me crazy after the kids went to bed to have basket full of toys in all corners of the house.  I recently ordered these two bookcases from Pottery Barn Kids and a bunch of matching colored baskets from Land of Nod.  (Also plastic bins for art materials came from Target).  Then the kids and I typed up labels on the computer and used images of the items to help identify what goes in each box.  I’m sure some people will say it’s too much…but it gives this anal mama piece of mind and now my relaxing living room has no toys in it at the end of the night (the area where we put the toys is in the back of the house so we don’t even see the toys after they go to bed).  It works great and your post was a timely reminder that I’m happy with what I did (I would have loved your closet storage idea but we have no closets nearby that would work!).

Thanks,

Siri

Toy storage solutions by Heather Ledeboer

Some people love to be organized, I am one of them.  With kids this can be a challenge, as you know.  Here is something that has worked well for organizing many of our kids little toys. 

When you buy new bedding the sheets and pillowcases often come in clear plastic zippered bags.  I save these and use them for our kid's toys.  They work well because they are sturdy and allow us to easily see what is inside.  Inside their closets, under their clothes, we have put together the metal storage squares that you can buy and assemble to the height/width that work for your space.  This makes an easy area to store these bags of toys.  We find that this method allows for quick cleaning as we can give each of our kids a bag and tell them "ok Hunter, you put all the plastic animals in here" and they have a focus and something easy to carry with them.

A Tip for Calming a Crying Baby by Kristina B.

Here's another one of those tips that I came across a few years ago (who knows where), and I hope you find it useful.

If you've ever had a baby or young child wail at you and refuse to be consoled, you know the frustration it causes and how much patience it takes to get through the next however long it will be before the child calms down.  You may try everything you can think of without success.  So I suggest you try this: talk to them.

Sounds simple, I know, but let me explain how this works.  When the child is crying, if you talk to them very quietly, they (supposedly) will stop because they can't hear you over their own wails.

I have to be honest and say this has been hit or miss for me in the past, but I thought it was worth passing along.  All babies are different, right?   In addition, today I found that with my baby (8 months old), it was not enough to speak in a quiet voice, but had to bring my voice down to a whisper to get this to work.  It seemed to pacify him as long as I kept talking.

Next time your little one is practicing for the opera, try this tip.  I hope it works for you.

Uno!: Using Games to Teach by Kristina B.

If you show a child a picture of a rocket, most likely they can tell you that it's a rocket.  Show my almost-4-year-old the same picture, and he may tell you what type of rocket it is and name a few parts.  However, if you show him something purple, and ask what color it is, he probably won't be able to tell you.

I've learned, as many of you have no doubt noticed, that it is hard to teach young children something they just don't want to learn.  If this is your problem, don't despair, but make a game out of it instead.

My son wants to play Sesame Street Uno all the time.  Personally, I think that's a really great thing, as he is working on matching colors, numbers, counting, and learning the difference between the symbols 1 and 7.  He knows the difference between the numbers themselves, but if you look at a 1 and a 7, you can probably see the confusion since they both have a little tail at the top.

For other lessons, say, shapes, I use flash cards, but I don't just hold them up and ask him to tell me what they are.  I used to, but it didn't work very well.  Instead, I spread them out and ask him to pick a particular one.  If he gets it right, he "wins" that card.  He loves it.

So if you are having trouble getting your little one to learn shapes, colors, numbers, letters, or whatever, try making a game or buying one and see if that doesn't work for you, too.

Cornstarch for Easy Diaper Duty by Kristina B.

We cloth diaper at my house.  If you've looked at cloth diapers lately, you've noticed there is an amazing array of choices.  One-size diapers, cloth diapers with flushable inserts (brand name gDiapers), and all-in-ones are just a few choices.

If you use cloth diapers, you have to deal with poo in some way.  If you've got gDiapers or diaper liners, you can simply flush away the yucky.  Of course, since there are so many kinds of cloth diapers out there, you may have a completely different system that is neither gDiapers nor has anything to do with liners.  If that's the case, this tip is for you.

Like I said, you have to deal with poo, and while dealing with said yuckiness, I noticed something really interesting.  You see, I use ordinary kitchen cornstarch as baby powder.  I just dump some onto my hand, and then wipe it onto my little one.  Usually, I take more than I need, and often just smear the rest across the diaper.  While cleaning the poo out of one of these diapers, I realized the extra cornstarch did not allow the poo to stick to the diaper, which made clean up so much easier!

So try this: wipe some cornstarch onto the bottom of your little one's diaper, and see if that doesn't make cloth diapering just a little less messy.  (Incidentally, I use prefolds and covers, but I see no reason why this wouldn't work with any other diaper.)