Evan Porter

When you’re planning your baby’s nursery, two of the things that you’ll want to consider are the temperature of the room and the airflow.

If you live somewhere where the climate can be hot and humid in the summer, then putting a ceiling fan in the nursery can be an efficient way to cool the room.

A ceiling fan is a permanent fixture, you may need to call in a professional to install it and it could be very expensive.

So before you bite the bullet, let’s chat: Should you put a ceiling fan in the nursery?

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Putting together a new nursery before baby arrives?

There are lots of decisions to make from:

• Color scheme
• Theme
• Layout
• Furniture
• And, of course, the crib!

If your nursery is small, you have twins, or you’re putting the crib in your older child’s room, you might consider a mini crib to save a little space.

What is the difference (in size and features) between a regular crib vs a mini crib?

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Preparing the nursery for the arrival of your new baby is such a fun task, but it can also be pretty stressful.

You’ll need to come up with a list of things to buy for the nursery, as well as tasks that you need to do, like painting and assembling furniture.

All in all, from planning to final touches, it can take a long time to get everything done.

So, when is the best time to start working on, designing, and decorating your baby’s nursery? And when should the nursery be ready?

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Burping a baby is truly an art.

There’s no one way to do it, no one technique that always work.

Every baby is different and has different needs. And every parent will have a slightly different touch.

(In your household there’s probably one parent who just seems to be awesome at it for whatever reason).

But regardless, burping your baby can sometimes be a time consuming and frustrating task.

So it’s fair to ask when you can stop burping your baby, or around what age to stop burping your baby.

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Stop me if this sounds familiar.

You’ve just fed baby a few ounces of breastmilk or formula.

Now, time for the burp.

You pat. And pat. And rub and rub. And bounce and bounce.

And nothing comes out!

Worse still, it’s the zillionth night in a row that baby just won’t burp.

What do you do when baby won’t burp? How do you burp a baby that’s hard to burp?

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There are so many things that both children and parents look forward to in the elementary school years.

There are fall festivals, holiday performances, field days, school picnics, and learning to read just to name a few.

One of the simple joys of childhood that many parents remember and children look forward to is show and tell.

Have you ever wondered why Show and Tell is such an elementary school staple? Is it just a fun activity, or is it actually an important part of the lesson plan?

Let’s take a close look at the Show and Tell activity, from why teachers do it, to how parents can help their kids prepare.

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You’re likely here for one of two reasons. 

First, you might be the first-time parent researching how to prepare for your little one’s arrival, trying to decide which nursery items you need to pick up.

Or, you could be the parent of a baby who just won’t sleep when you want them to! You’re the parent with the sign on the doorbell saying “Please don’t ring, baby sleeping,” flinching at any noise during naptime, and you’re ready to try anything for some relief.

After all, babies can be a lot of work, and we all just need a nap to last more than 30 minutes (or at least some peace and quiet).

Blackout curtains, essential oils and sound machines are among the most popular options to turn to for a baby in need of some kind of sleep aid.

Blackout curtains are proven to have a positive effect on baby’s ability to fall asleep more easily and sleep longer, but are also not for every baby.

So should you put blackout curtain in a nursery?

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Your baby is unique, but all babies have one thing in common: bottle-fed or breastfed, your baby’s gotta eat.

Not only does your baby have to eat, but your baby has to eat a lot, all day and night! 

Even though you love your little one to pieces, you’re also looking for any shortcuts to take care of them so you don’t wear yourself out. 

One idea you may have seen around the internet is to install a mini fridge in your nursery. Keeping milk on hand right next to where the baby sleeps seems like a great idea.

But is it a good idea to put a fridge or mini fridge in a nursery?

Overall, having a mini fridge in the nursery can be convenient for parents who need to store formula or breastmilk and want to keep it separate from the rest of the household food. It’s also a great place for mom and dad to keep their favorite snacks for late-night feedings and other time spent in the nursery!

The main downside is, of course, that even a mini fridge can be quite bulky and expensive. It’s also a hazard that your curious baby might get into as he or she gets older and more active.

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I love taking my kids to the aquarium.

It’s so fun to introduce children to new things, especially new living things. Their excitement and enthusiasm are contagious.

The low lighting, the huge tanks, the bizarre creatures – it was all pretty awe-inspiring for my twin boys and their brother, who was less than two years older.

Kids tend to behave better when they’re in awe of something and make less noise than usual, so it was generally a pleasant visit for me as well as them.

For these reasons and more, an aquarium visit can be one of the highlights of the year, and preparing ahead of your visit will make it even better.

Before you go: here’s a complete guide to visiting the aquarium with babies, toddlers, and older kids.

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Need something fun and different to do this summer (or any season)? Why not give your local zoo a visit?

The zoo is a place to see your favorite critters, of course, but it’s also a place to discover the world, as most zoos have animals from the furthest corners of the earth. 

Plus, even the adults in your crew will enjoy themselves and learn some new things, too!

But before you go: here’s a complete guide to visiting the zoo with babies, toddlers, and older kids.

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