Fact or fiction? If you keep your baby up late at night, they will sleep longer in the morning.
If you guessed fiction, you are right! We recently met up with the Fussy Baby Network during an NPN event. They helped to debunk common myths about infant sleep and crying and provided us with some interesting information and helpful tips:
Crying typically peaks between 4-6 weeks of age and is thought to be caused by neurological development. Though most babies still experience a crying curve, babies often cry less in cultures where they are often carried.
If your infant cries excessively, you’re not alone. One if every five babies cry excessively.
Babies are pattern seekers and a consistent routine during bed time (even naps!) is important for a baby’s sleep. For example, if your child normally falls asleep to the gentle vibrations of the Sealy Tender Vibes, repeating this routine every night can aide in sleep.
When sleeping on their back’s, a baby has a strong startling reflex and can wake easily. When nestled in their bassinet, swaddling can help keep your little one’s arms down and help baby to sleep more soundly.
Instead of focusing on the amount of sleep your infant gets, focus on how long they are awake. If your baby normally needs to rest every 90 minutes, be sure to watch the clock.
Learn your child’s sleep signals. Do their eyes get red when they are tired or do you notice a change in their activity level when sleepy? Pay attention to these sleep signals to know when your little one is ready for bed.
The most important thing to remember is that all babies are different and have unique needs and experiences. If you live in the Chicago area, the Fussy Baby Network is an excellent resource for parents and care givers who have a fussy baby or are experiencing difficulties with sleeping.
The holidays are over and it’s back to the regular schedule at school. Getting back into the swing of homework may be a bit of challenge after the long break. Here are a few tips from some of our moms here at Kolcraft.
Do the hardest assignment first. Kind of like eating foods they don’t like, get the toughest assignment done first before they run out of steam.
Create a conducive homework environment. Set up a special homework station away from media distractions. Make sure they have all the needed supplies (i.e. pens, sharpened pencils, calculator, etc.).
Get organized. Organizational skills are learned. Help your child stay organized and on top of assignments with a calendar or planner so assignments are not left until the last minute.
Be encouraging. Encourage your child during their homework session, especially if you see them getting frustrated. If they see small victories in their homework, they will be more willing to continue with the task.
Be active. Be active in your child’s homework. If you see he is struggling, set up an appointment to talk with the teacher. If your child isn’t understanding the homework, chances are he is confused in the classroom.
What tips do you have to help your child with homework?
As the holiday season is nearing, so comes the season of the dreaded cold and flu. These prevention tips will help keep your family healthy!
1. Washing your hands thoroughly and often is important in preventing the spread of germs. Singing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice through is a fun way to show your kids how long you should wash your hands for. Don’t forget, the Elmo 1-2-3 Learn With Me potty chair can easily convert into a step stool so your little one can reach the sink!
2. Eating the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables everyday can help keep the whole family healthy! We love these healthy recipes!
3. Getting enough sleep is important for maintaining a healthy immune system. Sealy Crib & Toddler Mattresses help your little one sleep safely and comfortably! And when they get sleep, so do mom and dad!
4. Teach children to sneeze into their arms versus hands to help prevent the spread of germs. We love this fun video that shows kids the proper way to sneeze, featuring your child’s beloved Sesame Street friends Elmo and Rosita!
You have a laundry list of things to prepare before you serve Thanksgiving dinner, you have company milling around and your kids are saying they are bored. What to do? You can have your kids feel part of your Thanksgiving preparations, by giving you a helping hand!
Decorating:
Have your kids make the decorations for the table. They can make napkin holders, place holders, placemats or a variety of other fun table decorations. We love the crafts our own Kolcraft fans have made for our Thanksgiving contest & think your kids will enjoy them too.
Cooking:
Let your child lend a hand in the kitchen with small tasks like mashing the potatoes, helping measure ingredients, snapping the ends off green beans or setting the timer for the turkey.
Setting the table:
Help your child feel special by setting the table: folding napkins, putting out the silverware (adults should put out the knives), serving-ware, etc. Your table will take on the unique feel of your child’s decorative eye.
What tips do you have for involving your children in your Thanksgiving preparations?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released recommendations that babies and toddlers should learn from play, not TV or computers. This is news to the 90% of parents who say that their children under 2 watch some form of electronic media. Parents of good will have bought the many video programs for infants and toddlers that are labeled as educational, but evidence does not support this since children under 2 do not have the needed understanding to learn from TV. Further studies have also shown that unstructured play time is more valuable for developing your child’s brain than electronic media.
Unstructured play helps children:
To think creatively
Problem solve
Develop reasoning & motor skills.
It’s not easy to turn off the TV, but we have seen moms who are doing just that. Kristin from Our Ordinary Life decided to ditch TV & our friends at the National Wildlife Federation have great resources for helping kids turn off the TV and turn on creativity. We love that turning off the TV and playing with your child has health benefits for parents as well as helps your family to bond. We know it’s possible to limit TV, but we want to hear from you!
Do you set screen time limits for your children? If so, share your tips with us!
Snowstorms in October on the East Coast. Unusually warm weather in the Mid-West. Despite the strange, unseasonable weather across the nation some things are necessary – like changing your summer clothing for warmer pants, sweaters, etc. because cooler weather will inevitably arrive. If you are like me who has limited space, you need to store away one season of clothes while you swap clothes for the current season.
A great chemical-free alternative to mothballs and the like is to soak a few cotton balls or cotton squares in pure lavender essential oil and wrap them in cheesecloth. Put a few of these satchels in each box of clothes before storing. The scent repels pesty bugs and it keeps your clothes smelling like a spring garden!
What tips do you have for storing clothes for the winter?
Reading with your children is vitally important for their success, both in academics and in life. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is recommended that parents read to their parents each and every day (even to newborns)! The Healthy Children Organization offers parents great tips for reading to and with children of all ages. To celebrate National Family Literacy Day, Kolcraft staff members are sharing their favorite books to read with their children!
Brent, Kolcraft’s graphic artist, loves to read his 2 year old daughter Time For Bed by Mem Fox. The book’s soothing rhymes and beautiful illustrations are perfect for bedtime. Another of his daughter’s favorites is Miss Spiders New Car by David Kirk.
Sam, one of Kolcraft’s engineers, enjoyed reading Mr. Brown can Moo! Can you? by Dr. Seuss to his kids when they were little. The antics of Mr. Brown are fun for young children learning their sounds. Another family favorite is The Napping House by Audrey Wood.
Hyon, the head of Kolcraft’s fashion team, has two daughters who love to read magical Disney princess stories. Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson is another of her daughters’ favorite books. Young kids will love the hilarious tale of woodland creatures and a hibernating bear.
Shannen, Kolcraft’s resident stroller guru, loves to read her son Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems. Her son also enjoys reading Baseball by Murray Books. This fun fact-filled book is shaped like a baseball and is sure to delight any young sports fan.
The fall season brings a change in colors, temperature, and schedules for your family. It also marks the return of new television seasons. While television can give mom time to organize the family dinner, it also can take away time to enjoy with your child. We thought of some fun kitchen activities that will help mom and your child will fully enjoy!
Cooking with your child
There are many opportunities for your child to help you create the family meal. Baby Matters blog has several meals and ideas for families to create and enjoy together. Also, you can arrange your ingredients for your child to pour into a bowl, they can help mash the potatoes, create their own pizza, and be the ultimate taste tester!
Organizing your kitchen
Children love to play with pots and pans, eating utensils, and in your cabinet. Having your child help sort between your spoons and forks, fruits and vegetables, cups and bowls can be a great experience. You can talk about the different purposes of each item and they will feel part of the kitchen experience.
Family Place Mats
While you cook the family meal, set your child up at the table to create place mats for everyone at the table. They can use a large piece of paper and create a themed place mat based on the meal, upcoming holidays, or whatever you dream up!
Do you have any favorite activities for your family in the kitchen?
Ghosts, witches and jack-o-lanterns are popping up around the neighborhood. A great way to decorate your own house with the help of your kids is with these homemade Halloween decorations. We have found a lot of great ideas and we hope you try some of them out.
Halloween banners are an easy way to add some flair to your home. Party Planner Center is offering free bat cut outs to help create your banner. Add some googly eyes and the bats will really pop!
Mini pumpkins offer a variety of options for your kids to decorate. You can paint the mini pumpkins or decorate them in a variety of ways. We loved this idea from MarthaStewart.com. Cut out a mouth on the mini pumpkin, add fake teeth, and use a pin to create two eyes.
Using themed picture frames around your home can quickly create a Halloween feeling. We found the picture frame, above, on the blog I Heart Nap Time. Using your old Halloween photos or leave a Halloween message.
We had a great time getting to know the people at New Parent while at the 2011 ABC Show Expo. We love their site for all of the great content and resources to help mom, dad, and the entire family. One article that caught our attention was the 11 Best things To Do For Your Newborn. We are sharing some of their list here, but make sure to visit their site and get insight into the rest.
