Dad Fixes Everything Contributor The British summer – a time for ice creams by the beach, picnics in the park, and endless adventures in the garden. As the school gates swing shut and the sun graces us with its warm embrace, there’s no better time to ensure that the little ones make the most of the season with outdoor … Read more
Got an old hand-me-down pack and play from a sibling or friend?
Maybe you found a good deal on a Pack ‘N Play at Goodwill or the Salvation Army?
That’s great! These things are super expensive new, so whenever you can save a few bucks on baby stuff, that’s money that can go towards endless refills of diapers and wipes.
But are old Pack and Plays actually safe? Do Pack and Plays expire, the way car seats do?
I made it five days into my dream vacation before bursting into tears in the middle of the elevator in my hotel.
I was in London, giving myself the break everyone told me I needed — the break I’d wished for so many times. Finally, I could put down the weight on my shoulders that never goes away. No work. No responsibility.
And, most significantly of all, no kids.
I’d never been away from my kids for longer than a day. I’m a single dad, and they’re teenagers, so it was a long time coming.
And it was great… until it wasn’t.
Parents in search of daycare for their kids don’t have a lot of time to shop around. By definition, they’re already torn in a few different directions and not viewing the search as a leisure activity. Why then, do daycare websites tell you everything about their centers except the cost? Talk about piling on stress! … Read more
Parents often have a plan or a vision for the type of parent we want to be, and an ideal way that we want to handle conflict. We want to be calm, assertive, authoritative, and loving all at the same time. But in the moment, we tend to lose our cool. We’re human after all! … Read more
Babies can be fussy, unpredictable, and difficult to please, leaving parents feeling frustrated and exhausted.
While every baby is unique and has their own preferences, there are certain things that many babies universally dislike.
Let’s look at the top 15 things that babies hate — including the major reasons your baby is crying or upset. Some of these are unavoidable, but we’ll explore a few tips on how to keep baby as happy as possible during normal day-to-day activities.
As new parents are sitting in the hospital holding their precious newborn, it may feel like time and the world is standing still. However, very quickly after the newness starts to wear off and the adjustment to life with a child begins, parents are figuring out how to manage life on the go with a baby.
As this transition happens, a house often becomes filled with all the items needed to transport a baby, including car seats, baby carriers, and of course a stroller.
Nearly every family with at least one child aged 4 and under has a stroller in their home, and often more than one. There are literally hundreds of different stroller options out there!
For physically active families, a jogging stroller is usually considered as an option, but is it a must have?
How do you even know if you are buying a jogging stroller vs a regular stroller? Do only avid runners use jog strollers? Someone help explain!
When do babies get easier?
This question usually comes from new parents who are tired, stressed, and did we mention tired?
So, the first thing you need to hear is “Don’t worry – they do get easier.”
I won’t ever forget the distress I felt when I asked that question of older parents. I was looking down at my two-year-old and twin babies, all stuffed in a triplet stroller so we could safely leave the house, only to be told, “Oh, it never gets easier, you just have different problems at different ages.”
I heartily disagree. There are different problems of different ages, but you don’t have to face them in a state of sleep-deprivation to a creature that can’t live without you for more than a few minutes.
So let’s break it down: Does babies get easier at 3 months? 6 months? Do babies get easier after one year?
Figuring out baby sizes is like walking through a bewildering maze of cuteness.
Darling dresses, cuddly rompers, or teeny tiny suits grab for your attention as you’re shopping for your one-year-old, but when you have to choose a size, you could be offered 9-12 months, 12 months, 12-18 months, 1T, or 1-2T.
You won’t see all of these sizes everywhere, but in case you do:
What’s the difference between 1T vs 12 months clothes?
There’s a lot to be said for just getting your kids out there and doing the things you love with them as soon as possible.
I’ll never forget the pride I felt in my three little boys as they hustled through an airport in a line behind my husband, each with his own Sesame Street roller bag and backpack.
They were five and under, so it was pretty cute, and at 9 pm at night after a long travel day, it was also impressive.
We’d worked our way up to that kind of preschool competence by getting them out a lot – to restaurants, pools, church, shopping, and games. It definitely wasn’t the easy way to go at the time; often I would have rather stayed home, but it paid off over the long haul.
One big challenge a lot of parents aren’t sure if they should tackle (and how) is a pro or college football game.
Should you take your kids, babies, or toddlers to a football game? Here’s a complete guide.
