Evan Porter

It literally just happened to me.

Or, it almost did.

I had just finished grabbing a bite to eat in the kitchen, and I went to open the bedroom door.

And it wouldn’t open.

No doubt my 3-year-old had (accidentally? Or not…) pushed the lock from the inside.

Thankfully, she wasn’t home, and she wasn’t stuck inside. But it felt eerily like a close call. She could have easily locked herself in there!

So what do you do when your toddler locks him or herself in a room? And how can you prevent your child from locking doors?

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Let me hit you with a common dilemma…

You’ve got a baby on the way and you’re looking to buy a new crib.

But maybe you just don’t have the space…

… or the budget …

… or you just don’t feel like putting it together!

Or maybe you just want something a little more portable.

A lot of parents wind up wondering if it’s okay to use a pack ‘n play instead of a crib, and what the differences are between a crib vs a pack ‘n play.

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Babies are like little incomplete humans.

Sure, all the major parts are there, but there’s a lot of stuff missing.

They don’t have a lot of hair. They can’t walk. And they’re just figuring out how to breathe on their own.

One thing there seems to be some confusion about when it comes to what babies are born without… is kneecaps.

Do babies have kneecaps? Are babies born without kneecaps?

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Having trouble choosing a daycare or preschool for your toddler?

I don’t blame you. The choices can be completely overwhelming.

Not only do you have to figure out location and monthly budget, but you also have to choose between many different educational philosophies that sometimes differ drastically from one another!

It’s a big decision to make. That’s why I started this Curriculum Comparison series, where I’ll break down the similarities and differences between some of the biggest schools and approaches out there.

In this article, we’ll dive into Goddard vs Montessori.

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If there‘s any one product that can help you live life with your new exploring partner in tow, it’s a baby carrier.

Babywearing is a practice of carrying a baby on one’s body in a sling or any other type of carrier. It’s also extremely convenient for both the parent as well as the baby.

With the baby safe in a wrap, sling, or a classic carrier, your hands will be free — and you could do household chores, cook, shop, or even have a mini dancing session!

But there are so many types of baby carriers to choose from, how do you know which one will work best for you?

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Sending your little one off to go spend the night with grandma and grandpa is supposed to de-stress you.

It doesn’t always work that way.

What if they get sick? How do we handle it if they act up? Will they eat their dinner? What if grandma and grandpa let them do whatever they want with no rules?!

Oh, yeah, and where the heck are they going to sleep?

Well, those other problems are probably best saved for another article, but there are actually some pretty great toddler beds for a grandparents house out there that will make this whole parents-night-out thing easier (on you, your kid, AND the grandparents!)

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So you’re feeling brave…

… and want to take the little one camping!

You’re definitely in for an awesome time. But camping with a baby or young toddler definitely has its challenges.

Here’s a big one: How do you keep an eye on them when they’re sleeping in the pack and play or travel crib and you’re awake, having fun?

If you’re just planning on quietly sipping cocoa (or wine) outside the tent or trailer, you probably won’t need a baby monitor. Just keep your ears open.

But if you want a little more freedom to wander from the tent, visit others’ camp sites, or just want a little extra reassurance that the baby is OK, you might want an actual baby monitor you can bring with you.

(Alternatively, you could get an awesome portable battery pack and plug in your normal baby monitor from home.)

Let’s take a look at some of the best baby monitors for camping, battery operated baby monitors, and alternative portable baby monitor options!

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Looking for a ‘be quiet’ hand gesture?

Quiet coyote is a hand signal which is often used by teachers and parents as a non-verbal sign to instruct children to stop speaking and listen.

To use it, you simply make your hand into the shape of a coyote with a closed mouth and pricked-up ears.

Featured in the Disney movie Soul, the quiet coyote signal can be a very effective method of silencing a large group of children in a positive and empowering way.

However, the hand signal is very similar to some other gestures and salutes, some of which have negative connotations.

Read on to find out where the quiet coyote sign originated from, the meaning of quiet coyote, the psychology behind it, and why you may want to think twice about using it with your children.

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Have you ever sat in the store staring at boxes in the baby aisle …

… and wondered:

“What the heck is the difference between diapers and pull-ups?”

They look almost exactly the same, come in similar sizes, and do the same thing, too!

(Though one usually costs a little bit more than the other.)

So what’s the difference, and how do you know if you should be using one or the other?

Diapers vs pull-ups in a nutshell:

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Installing car seats is no one’s idea of a good time.

Most of us parents want to, ideally, do it once and then never think about it again.

But it’s not always that easy.

Whether:

• it’s your first time putting the seat in
• you’re moving it to a new car
• you’re installing a rental car seat
• you’re adjusting a seat that’s come loose
• you’re turning the seat around for your toddler
• or you’re putting in a brand new car seat

SO many people run into this problem: They can’t get the car seat tight enough!

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