My son has been teething for quite a few months now. Some days he can get quite fussy. When his little sister was younger, she would also get really fussy when she was cutting a new tooth.

The thing that worked best for me with my daughter was giving her a cold washcloth to chew on. This works really great for my son as well.

You can place a clean damp washcloth in a freezer bag, then keep it in the freezer or fridge. When your baby is having discomfort from teething, you can roll it up like a popsicle and just let them chew on it.

This little teething tip has worked better than all the others I’ve tried, and believe me, I’ve tried them all.

If this one doesn’t work so well on your own baby, I have some more teething remedies you can try here.

You may have heard of family meal planning or perhaps have been wondering what the fuss is all about. Well, to put it simply family meal planning means planning your family’s meal to help you save time and money.

But beyond saving time and money there are some other great reasons for family meal planning. By planning your meals and doing your shopping ahead of time, it’s easier to make sure your family eats healthy and balanced meals. It’s too easy to reach for the phone and order a pizza when everyone’s just gotten home from soccer practice and your fridge is empty.

Here are Some Tips to Make Family Meal Planning Easy:

First, look through your pantry and cupboards and make a mental note of what you have. The see if there are any foods you can use to plan your family’s meals around. For example if you have pasta or rice then create a couple of meals including those staples.

Then sit down and plan your week’s menu. Write down each dinner and remember to make allowances for days you don’t have a lot of time or get home late. If you know ahead of time Tuesdays are stressful then plan something pretty simple to make for that day or even make double on Monday and save the leftovers for Tuesday. You can vary the meal by changing one or two things around.

Once you have your menu write a shopping list while checking your pantry, cupboards and fridge again to make sure you’re not buying something you already have. Then add items you’ll need for breakfast, lunch and snacks. You may not necessarily plan these meals but just make sure you include enough of the foods you usually need on your list.

Although going to the supermarket once a week is a good way to save time and avoid overspending, it may not always be possible for all items. If you buy a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables you may want to only include half a week’s worth of items on your list and make a second quick trip during the week for the rest. Just stick to the produce isle to avoid temptations.

When planning your list think of meals that are both nutritious but frugal. Casseroles, stews and pasta dishes can be quite inexpensive and also easy to prepare. To save money, include one or two vegetarian meals a week. You can make a nutritious meat-free chili or cheesy pasta bake. Tuna is another great frugal food you can add to pasta or rice dishes.

When you’re buying your vegetables plan your meals around them to avoid wasting food. If you buy a bag of carrots then try to include carrots in several dinners or use them for snacks to avoid ending up with a fridge full of expired produce at the end of the week.

Think ahead and use your freezer. If you’re making something that freezes well like spaghetti sauce, a stew or casserole - make double and freeze the second portion for those days where you just don’t have any time to cook.

Finally, don’t forget to stick your menu on your fridge or other prominent place and plan ahead every day. If you’re making a crock pot stew you can cut the veggies the night before and add them to your crock pot in the morning. Leave your meat thawing in the fridge during the day and leave the items for the evening’s dinner out so that you can easily start cooking once you get in.

To save even more time, you can sign up for a FREE 7 day trial at Healthy Menu Mailer. You’ll receive a recipe list for the entire week along with nutritional information for each dish. They’ll even give you a shopping list for the week!

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Mealtimes can be stressful when you’re looking after a brand new baby. I’ve burnt plenty of meals because I had to tend to a crying newborn. I finally went out and bought a slow cooker and instantly fell in love with it. Now I had two new babies.

Every morning, I would throw in some ingredients and forget about it until it was time to eat. I had the rest of the day to take care of my baby and myself and still have supper ready for when my husband came home from work.

Make Your Own Slow Cooker Meal

• 2 cups chopped beef, pork or poultry (or whole chicken breasts)
• 2 cups slice potatoes, rice, elbow macaroni (or any other pasta)
• 2 cups canned or frozen vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, celery, mushrooms, etc.)
• 2 cans of condensed soup (cream of mushroom, chicken or celery, etc.)

Shredded cheese and seasonings can also be added to your liking.

*These amounts can be varied according to your family’s size. Just mix ingredients in the slow cooker and leave the setting on low for 6-8 hours.

If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can also make your own casserole in the oven. Whether you use a slow cooker or the oven, it’s good to stock up on these staples and always have them on hand for quick meals.

Canned - tomatoes, tuna, salmon, mushrooms, low-sodium soups, beans
Frozen - vegetables, soup stock, chicken, lean beef, pork
Dry - whole wheat pasta, brown rice

Another thing that many moms find helpful is to plan a menu for the week and stick to it. Grocery shopping will only need to be done once a week for the items you need for that week’s menu. Gone will be the days where you have to stand in front of your fridge or pantry for a half hour to figure out what to make for supper.

And remember, if someone offers to help you cook or clean - graciously accept. You’re a new mom…it’s OK!