I’ve been on a recycling kick recently where I recycle absolutely everything possible. However, this means that my recycling drawers (the two biggest drawers in my kitchen cupboards) get full pretty fast.

My little two year old discovered the contents of these drawers a couple weeks ago and ever since I’ve had yogurt, margarine, and fruit cup containers all over the house. At first I was annoyed that I had these plastic containers laying around but then I realized how great they are.

Both my son and daughter have been playing with them non-stop. All those expensive toys they’ve been given over the years have been untouched. Instead, they’re building “castles” by stacking the containers, counting them, pretending they’re all sorts of things.

Then, at the end of the day, cleanup is a snap since they all stack together and take up little space.

If you’ve been throwing these kinds of things away, or shipping them out to recycling bins, consider using them for toys instead. Obviously you don’t need to keep every single one, but they’re extremely versatile as toys.

Here are a few ideas:

• Bath toys - The kids love to fill them up with water and pour them out over and over again.
• Toy storage - They’re great for storing smaller items like puzzle pieces, legos, etc., especially if you keep the lids.
• Games - You know the game where you put three cups face down and one has a ball underneath? Then you move them around and someone has to guess which one the ball is under? Kids LOVE that!
• Counting - I get my 4 year-old daughter to count the containers all the time. She never gets tired of it. My 2 year-old is learning to count now as well.
• Crafts - You can paint them, glue things onto them, stick them together - all kinds of possibilities.

At the end of the day, when the containers get wrecked or the kids grow tired of them, just chuck them in the recycling bin. Easy as pie and free of charge.

A few weeks ago I took my 2 year old son and 4 year old daughter to a local restaurant.

Normally, the thought of taking them to public places scares me because my son throws tantrums 100% of the time. However, I thought it would be good for them to get out and get used to being in public more.

I chose the local diner because it’s a family owned restaurant with a very laid-back atmosphere.

When we first arrived, things were going really well until my son decided he wanted to sit where my daughter was sitting. All hell broke loose from then on.

Thankfully, the restaurant owner had a pail full of toys stowed away for cases like this. My son was enthralled with all these new things to play with, and before he even had a chance to get bored of them, the owner had brought out a plate of cake for each of my kids.

I was able to finish my meal in peace and my kids had fun playing (even though they didn’t eat even half of their meals).

Even so, I realized that I should have planned our little outing a lot more carefully. Next time, i will make sure to do the following:

• Bring a few toys to keep them entertained until the food comes
• Bring sippy cups with water
• Choose a family-oriented restaurant where they won’t mind noisy kids
• Bring some crayons and scrap paper
• Have an idea of what I want to order beforehand to minimize the waiting time
• Ask the host to seat you me in an area that isn’t quite as crowded (if possible)
• Don’t go during a time when my kids are normally cranky (nap time, when they’re really hungry, etc.)
• Bring a small bag of snacks to tide the kids over, like carrot sticks, crackers, etc.

Every baby develops at different levels, so the age at which they’ll sprout their first tooth could be anywhere between six and nine months. The first few teeth to pop through can be pesky. They may peek through the gums only to recede for another few weeks. You may see this process go on for quite awhile before they finally stay put.

While your baby is cutting teeth, you’ll probably notice red, swollen gums. You should also be able to feel the teeth under the gums if you rub your finger on them. If they’re close to coming through, your baby will probably bite down hard on your finger.

You may also notice your baby is chewing on everything in sight and drooling incessantly. This is a good time to introduce teething rings and other teething remedies if you haven’t already.

Some other signs that your baby is teething:

• Your baby is cranky or crying more often than normal
• Loss of appetite
• Change in sleeping patterns
• Diarrhea and/or diaper rash
• Drool rash around their mouth

The first teeth to come through are typically the bottom front ones. They normally come in pairs, but don’t be alarmed if they don’t. Once the bottom two front teeth are in, the top two front ones will probably follow right after.

By the time your child is three years old, they should have 20 primary teeth. These will stick around until your child is around kindergarten age. A general rule of thumb is if you were a late bloomer when it came to teething, chances are your child will be too. However, if your baby hasn’t sprouted their first tooth by the time they’re a year old, check with your physician or dentist to make sure your baby’s development is on the right track.

It is every parents worst fear… but not preparing your children for how to deal with emergencies doesn’t mean they won’t happen.

Here are some tips to help you prepare for the worst:

• Teach your young child to dial 911 and explain repeatedly that the number is only for use in a serious emergency.
  

• Older children will understand that they should only call 911 if their parent is unconscious or they are alone in the home.
  

• In addition to knowing how to call 911, even young children should learn their home address and phone number along with the full names of their parents.
  

• Remind your child that staying calm in an emergency is the most effective way to make clear judgments, but keep your own expectations realistic and know that children will panic.
  

• If you are leaving your child alone for an extended period of time, ask a trusted adult to check in on them occasionally.

Here’s a little trick I use when I need to get my house clean in a hurry.

It’s hard keeping the house clean with two little ones running around. Especially when one is in the stage of throwing food on the floor and the other one is constantly dumping the toy box all over the house. I also like to spend as much time with my kids as possible, so I want to spend as little time cleaning as I can.

To do this, I just set the timer on the stove to an hour, and get as much cleaning as I can done in that time frame. If I’m really stretched for time, I’ll only set it to 30 minutes. You can use your microwave to do this too.

If I don’t give myself a time limit, I’ll end up cleaning all day long! I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so it can take me a long time just to do the dishes. But when I set a timer, I’ll try and get it done as quickly as possible so I can move on to another task before the timer runs out.

If your baby is 6 months or older but refuses to eat iron-fortified infant cereal, don’t worry. At that age, their tiny tummies can actually tolerate other foods like jarred baby food, or homemade baby food like pureed fruit, vegetables and meat.

If your baby doesn’t like cereal, try adding some slowcooked meat into a blender or food processor with a bit of the meat liquid and serve that to them. They’ll still receive iron from the meat, but the iron in vegetables isn’t absorbed as easily. They’ll need to eat a lot more veggies to get the same amount of iron in one serving of pureed meat.

It wasn’t until recently that we were told to feed our babies solids at 4 months of age. However, new recommendations state that we don’t need to start babies on solids until 6 months of age. Until then, formula or breastmilk provides all the nutrients that they need.

At 4 months, infant cereal would be all a little baby’s stomach could handle, but at 6 months, their digestive system is more developed and can digest more foods. That’s good news for you if they don’t like that yucky cereal.

Kids can accumulate so many toys that it can be overwhelming, especially during birthdays and holidays. To help avoid this problem, here are some easy tips to help you keep your kid’s room organized, even after birthdays and holidays.

The key to keeping any room organized is having ample storage. In this post, I’ll discuss a few different options to help keep the toys off the floor.

Some bedrooms don’t have closets, so you may want to buy shelves and bins. Shelves are great for storing things that you don’t want them to play with, like diapers, clothes and other baby or kid accessories. You can find all kinds of different colored bins to add to the decor of your child’s room that provide fun places to store toys.

Clear bins are great because they allow your child to see which toys are in which bins. Hopefully this will prevent all the toys from being scattered all over the floor in the search for one specific toy. Putting labels on them will help you out when you need to do a quick clean up.

Some kids can get quite a collection of stuffed animals going, but it can be hard to find a place to put them. When I was a kid, my mother sewed some string to the head of each animal and hung them up on my walls with push pins. If your child likes to play with them regularly, you can also purchase big Rubbermaid containers with lids at a very affordable price.

Under-the-bed storage is a great alternative for very small rooms. Toys that aren’t played with as often can be stored under here. It’s also a great place to store out of season clothes. Having storage under a child’s bed can also eliminate the opportunity for them to store garbage or important school documents where you’ll never find them.

You can also purchase plastic bins with several containers stacked vertically. Look for the kind with wheels and handles. This will make it easier to move it around when you’re cleaning. This will also help your child to learn organizational skills by keeping items separated in each bin. Legos in one bin, puzzles and games in another, and so on.

Another great storage option are cube ottomans. They come in a variety of colors and the lid flips over to become a tray. Not only does this provide another method of storage, but seating options as well. You can also find round ottomans to add some fun style to a room without compromising space.

Take your kids shopping with you and ask them to pick out some fun bins, baskets and other storage accessories. Getting them involved in organizing their own room will hopefully help them to keep it clean which will make your job a lot easier.

Another tip to keep the toys at bay is to get rid of older toys every time some new ones come in. There are plenty of organizations that accept donated toys, and this could give your child a very positive feeling that they’ve done something for someone else. Any toys that are broken should be thrown away.

One thing that can be hard to deal with is getting rid of toys that have sentimental value. What you have to remember is that every toy creates memories, but they will always be with you in your mind, not in the actual toy. You may want to keep a box stored away for really special toys that were gifts or that have a special story, but don’t let it become more than one box.

By keeping every toy and article of clothing your child has ever received, you’re passing on these tendencies to your child. It’s much easier to avoid developing the pack-rat habit than it is to break it. In the end you’ll be glad you did, and you’ll have a much cleaner and more organized kids room to show for it!

Baby Teething Remedies

Teething normally occurs in babies between the ages of six and nine months and can last for months at a time. Some common symptoms of teething include cranky moods, swollen gums, drooling, fever, diaper rash, and excessive biting on objects.

You should expect your baby to be fussy, as her gums are in an extremely tender state during the teething process. She might even refuse to eat or take her bottle if she is uncomfortable or in pain.

Here are some common baby teething remedies that will help ease your baby’s discomfort:

* Rub his gums with your finger. Remember to wash your hands before doing so.

* Soak one end of a clean bath cloth in water. Place the wet cloth in a refrigerator. Once chilled, let your baby bite or suck on the cold cloth.

* Chill a teething ring or teething toy in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. Let your baby chew on the cold toy.

* Offer your baby a frozen banana (with adult supervision). Be sure to freeze the banana thoroughly before giving it to your baby. Cut the banana in half to make it easier for your baby to hold.

* Use an OTC (over the counter) teething gel. These gels are specially formulated to be safe for your baby. Read and follow the instructions on the package carefully before applying the gel to your baby’s gums.

* Administer Tylenol or Motrin, for pain and fever as recommended by your pediatrician. If your baby has trouble sleeping at night, consider giving them a dose of pain medication just before bedtime. If you’re unsure of what pain medications to give your baby, make sure to check with your pediatrician first.

Everyone has heard horror stories about flying with a baby that cries non-stop. It’s stressful for the other passengers, for the parents and most of all for the baby.

On a recent trip to Washington DC with my nearly 7 month old, I learned a few tricks that I thought might benefit other parents flying with a baby:

1. Plan your flight around baby’s schedule. If your little one has a melt down at 8pm every night like mine does, that’s not the best time to be boarding an airplane! Try choosing a departure time when baby will be awake and happy. Once on board you can make him or her comfortable and deal with any problems that come up.

2. Help baby pressurize his or her ears by encouraging swallowing. Whether this means nursing, fedding a bottle or using a sippy cup - swallowing is the best way to help your baby avoid uncomfortable ear pressure. The most important times are on take off and landing. 

3. Make sure you have a change of clothes. For baby and for you! There will undoubtedly be spitup and spills so make sure you have something handy so that when you land you can both have a clean, fresh outfit.

4. Take a fully stocked diaper bag as one of your carry on items. Not only will you be thankful to have all of your supplies if you need them, but if for some reason your luggage is not waiting for you when you land you’ll have everything you need for baby. 

4. If your baby’s bedtime occurs during the flight, try to keep your usual routine. Most babies take their normal bedtime routine as a cue that it’s time to settle down for the night. If you usually put baby into pajamas and then read a bedtime story, do the same thing on the plane.

5. Ask for help if you need it. Flight attendants are generally very good about helping passengers with babies. If you need someone to give you a hand with something, don’t be afraid to ask.

Halloween safety is an important issue at this time of year. As all the little ghosts and goblins prepare to take to the streets, make sure you share with them these important Halloween safety tips:

1 Be visible. Have them carry a flashlight, attach reflective tape to their costume or wear glow lightsticks as bracelets/necklaces. All of these will make them more visible to cars.

2. Stay on the sidewalks. With the excitement of the night, kids sometimes forget to stay on the sidewalk. Make sure you discuss with older children how important it is that they not walk on the road. 

3. Stick to neighbourhoods you know. If you’ll be taking your kids trick-or-treating you can take them only to houses that you know are safe. But make sure older kids are given strict instructions on what neighbourhoods they’re allowed to visit.

4. Know how to get help. If a child is ever in danger, make sure he or she knows to run to the nearest house with a light on. It’s also a good idea to make sure your child has a quarter to phone home if needed.

Have a safe and happy Halloween!