Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts

How to get Baby to Sleep for a Nap

Foolproof ways to tire your toddlers out for nap time


Are you struggling to get your little toddler to take a breather and rest? Nap time can be heaven for both you and your toddler. They get some much-needed rest before carrying on with their day, giving you a chance to get a few things done, or simply take a minute for yourself. You've probably wondered, how to get your baby to sleep for a nap, here are some tips to earn that well deserved quiet time.


How to get Baby to Sleep for a Nap


While nap time sounds like a dream, getting your toddler down and asleep is much easier said than done. Although some days may not run to plan, there are some great ways to encourage a toddler to take his nap, so you can have a moment to get through your to-do list. Here are some infant nap time parenting tips so you can get some things done around the house.


Encourage or play active games with them


Active games are a great way to burn off all that extra energy before a nap. It can be as simple as a game of Simon Says or Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes. Not only are these games fun and easy, but they also require minimal set-up and clean up. 

Simon Says can help kids learn about body awareness and movement, as well as how to pay attention, follow instructions and be a leader. Whereas Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes can help kids with their balance, coordination and learning about their bodies.

Other games like Duck Duck Goose and Ring Around the Rosie lets kids literally run around, but can also help them develop strategic thinking skills and spatial awareness – although you’ll need more than one child (or adult!) to be able to play them.


Get some fresh air and/or exercise


This goes without saying – exercise is a great way to tire your little ones. Ideally, any exercise you choose to do should burn through their excess energy without giving them a second wind and keeping them wide awake. The key is to stay active and keep babies moving, but not to have too much fun so they won't fight sleep when it comes.

The old stand by activities are great for tiring out your baby for outside play: 

  • Bouncing or kicking a ball.

  • Riding a bike or scooter.

  • Playing chase.

  • Blowing bubbles.

You can even go for a light walk around the block or to their favorite playground. Let them loose on the play equipment and they’ll be ready to nap when they get home.

If the weather isn’t the best, you can still get your toddler moving at home. Encourage them to have a dance along to a music video or get them running and climbing with a make-shift obstacle course. 


Put them to work with some household chores


If you’ve got a few jobs to get done around the house, why not get your toddler involved? This will take a little patience, the job will likely take a little longer, but every little chore will get your toddler closer to sleep.

The easiest way to make this nap time trick work is by giving your kids chores that are appropriate for their age, which also keep them active. Start with simple things like picking up their toys or tidying up their room. You can add a touch of fun to the household chores by having clean-up races, enjoying a toy scavenger hunt to be found in the bottom of the laundry pile, or making a game of loading the dishwasher.

Not only will doing household chores wear your kids out, it also teaches them responsibility about how a household functions. These are valuable life skills your children will carry with them throughout their lives. It’ll also help you get through the household chores on your to-do list, even if they’re not perfectly done!

 

Encourage winding down activities


Even with all their energy burnt off, your little one might not just drop straight off to bed. Sometimes they need a little quiet time to help them settle and wind down.

Relaxing activities that will keep their attention are key to quiet time. These activities can be as easy as giving them an age-appropriate puzzlea simple coloring activity, or engaging them in quiet building activities, like a Lego set.

When all else fails, a good-old children’s book is a sure-fire way to help them unwind. You can encourage them to curl up on the couch and read to themselves or mimic bedtime and read to them as they fall asleep.  


Create a nap time ritual


Complement winding down activities by creating a nap time ritual to follow. This should be similar to creating a bedtime ritual. It should be consistent, such as setting aside a specific period of time everyday for the nap, dimming the lights, reading a story to them, and playing some white noise (like rain or wind) to block out outside noises.

This nap time ritual gives your baby's body a cue to fall asleep, rest, and recharge.

Once you start giving these nap time sleep methods a try, you’ll soon be watching your little one drift off to sleep with ease, allowing you some much needed me time.


Recommended:

How to get Baby to Sleep through the Night Tips

Nap time Tips for New Parents

Breast Milk of Formula?


How To Choose A Breast Pump For Your Lifestyle?

How do you choose a breast pump? Tips.

Photo by SHVETS production from Pexels


There are many different brands, types, and styles of breast pumps, including portable and wearable pumps. It comes as no surprise that many moms like you might feel overwhelmed over these numerous choices.


Indeed, it can be challenging to pick the best one, but you might want to consider your lifestyle as a factor for making the right choice.


Here are some helpful tips to help you choose a breast pump that may suit your lifestyle:

How Do You Plan to Use The Breast Pump


Ask yourself how you plan on using the breast pump


Will you be breastfeeding exclusively and only need a backup pump, or will you be an exclusive pumper? 


These questions will matter because you’re likely going to need a heavy-duty pump as an exclusive pumper. Still, you can even pick a manual pump if you’ll only need one as a backup.


Do you plan on pumping and storing a lot of breast milk in your fridge?


If that’s the case, then you’ll also need a heavy-duty pump that can handle the rigorous task. Picking a double pump can be ideal so you can get more milk more quickly.


Are you returning to work or traveling regularly?


If so, then you’ll probably need a portable pump that you can easily bring anywhere. Better yet, a wearable pump can let you pump discreetly, even in the middle of a meeting or while you’re on the go.


Just in case you opt for a wearable pump, make sure that you pick one that’s quiet yet powerful enough to pump discreetly.


Will you be away from your child for several days?


Bringing a portable pump can be convenient, but it could be costly to buy so many batteries to keep it working while you’re away for extended periods. 


You can opt for a portable pump that comes with rechargeable batteries or simply bring your plug-in pump if there’s a place for you to pump discreetly.


How much time do you have to pump?


As you might already know, pumping varies for every mom. There are also certain conditions or types of breast pumps that can promote better extraction.


If you’re a busy mom who’s always on the go, you’ll surely need a powerful double electric breast pump. You can use this device to pump milk from both breasts at the same time.


What’s your pumping preference?


If you’re a mom who likes to pump the other breast while your baby feeds from the other, then a single pump would be ideal for you.


Where will you use the pump?


As a working mom, you’re entitled to a breast-pumping break.


Your workplace is required by law to provide you with a quiet, private place where you can collect your milk. 


But if you feel uncomfortable about others hearing you pump, you can pick quiet models or brands that still provide great suction power, even with the silent motor.


Do you need to transport the breast pump regularly?


Plug-in breast pumps are usually more powerful than portable, battery-operated ones, yet they also tend to be bulkier. If you need to regularly transport your breast pump, such as bringing it to work daily, then it may be more practical to opt for a lighter, portable pump.


What about a backup plan?


What if your batteries run out or there are no power outlets for plugging your device? You can create a backup plan using a manual breast pump or bring along extra batteries at all times.


In Conclusion


You can pick the right breast pump by considering your lifestyle and needs or preferences. 

But just in case you’re still unsure, you can also seek help from a lactation consultant.


Looking for 1 Year Old Birthday Gifts?


Best Toys and Gift Ideas for 1 Year Old Girls




Have a one year old baby's birthday coming up? So, what are the best toys and gifts for a one year old? Nothing feels better than watching your baby girl grow. You want to be there when she makes her first step, and you want to be the first one to hear her alter her first word. These moments are magical. Believe me, it gets even more exciting when she turns a year old. It's her first birthday and it's normal to feel super excited and overwhelmed. How do you make it special and unforgettable? Other than holding a birthday party and inviting all your friends and their kids to celebrate, getting the perfect gift is the best way to ensure that your baby girl never forgets the day.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.


Best Toys and Gift Ideas for 1 Year Old Girls


But wait! Which is the best gift for a one-year-old girl? A toy is the best catch here. You want the best for your daughter, something that she will like and even if you were to keep it and show it to her when she is already all grown up, she would have the same smile she had when you first showed the toy to her when she was one year old.


What to get a 1 year old girl on their Birthday? 

Choosing such a toy can be a daunting task. This article aims to make the work easy for you by outlining a list of the best gifts and toys for a one year old girls.

A VTech pull and sing puppy

Kids love puppies, and they find them to be the cutest thing, and it gets even better when puppies and toddlers are combined. Not all girls are into barking, taking dogs for walks and having a pooping pooch. You do not have to get a real puppy to match the experience for your baby girl. If she loves puppies, a VTech pull and sing puppy is an excellent choice.


Gift Ideas for 1 year old birthday baby


The little guy can do tricks and other stuff that real dogs can do and more. He can sing, teach numbers, body parts and colors as the baby pulls him around his leash. It comes with over 50 songs and melodies to keep the kid entertained, and she will never get bored even if you were to leave her alone as you do chores around the house. You, however, need to include a battery.


Baby Einstein take along tunes

Kids are sensory. Its smell and touch alone are enough to make the baby glued to the creature as she tries to figure out how the machine can respond to her queries. If your kid is already a young jammer trying to get her tune in line, this toy will do her good. It's a kind of jukebox that switches between a total of seven melodies.

What's more? It lights up as it sings. It also comes with a volume control button and two AA batteries. It's a perfect toy for small hands, and your kid will not struggle as she plays with it. Even better; it is made of a soft polypropylene surface which makes it safe for children. The color and design are cute, so it does not scare the baby away.


Fisher Price brilliant basics first doll

Girls love trying to play-pretend at this age, and a baby doll is a perfect gift to help foster her imagination. She can tote the doll around as she tries to learn new words and understand different body parts like the mouth, legs, hands, and eyes. Dolls are soft and cuddly which makes it ideal for helping the baby in social recognition and giving them a sense of comfort when playing with it. She will carry the doll where she goes which is also a way of learning a sense of possession.


Fisher-price Baby’s first Blocks playlist

Your child will have a blast with this gift set on her birthday. It features two Fisher-Price toys a baby’s first block and a rock-a-stack. What she has to do is sort them for fun, which is a perfect way to keep baby busy and put her mind at work.


Best Toys for 1 year old child


Such toys help develop problem skills too. The toy is meant to prepare kids for preschool through mental development. Grasping, sorting, and stocking the blocks is a fun way for your baby to stay happy as she explores. It will teach her a sense of discovery as she tries to see what happens after all the rings are sorted and stacked.


LeapFrog count and crawl number Kitty

Get your child on the move on many skills with this unique, cute kitty. The doll is designed to enhance a great push and play experience for little ones, keeping them busy and offering them a positive way of having fun. It comes with keys, that when pressed, make the cat start counting in a rhythm. How exciting is that? That's not all.

There are also music mode keys that command the cat to play meows in low and high modes as she makes silly sounds. Pushing the kitty makes her produce fun counting songs that your baby girl will want to listen to the whole day. The kitty can sit, bat, scoot, and crawl. This toy is a perfect way of nurturing mental development and balance in your baby as she explores and counts numbers one to twenty and learns new music. It comes in beautiful colors to keep your baby's attention.

The choices are endless, and these are only a few of the best and highly reviewed toys. The best part is that they are all durable and you can keep them and show them to your baby girl when she is all grown up.


How do you choose a good toy for a one year old?



You shouldn't choose the first toy that comes when conducting an online searches in sites. Let's take look at what should inform your purchase of a one year old's gift. 


Considerations when buying a present for a one year-old girl

Safety – some toys are just not safe for babies and they even come with a safety warning signs. You will realize that some of them have been written to explain that they aren't recommended for kids under the age of five. This is probably because the toy has some aspects that could compromise the baby’s safety. Kids at this age love putting things in their mouth and you have to ensure that what you get cannot choke your baby. Also, make sure that the toy is non-toxic and doesn't have sharp edges.


1 year old birthday gift ideas


Go for educational toys – it shouldn't be all about play and fun. The child should be able to learn something when interacting with the toy. This is the developmental stage, and therefore, the toy should at least sharpen her mental development, communication skills, and cognitive capacity. Your baby will probably be spending most of her time with the toy, and therefore, it should be in a position to help her learn.


The toy should enhance coordination – it's around this time of her life that a baby girl will be learning how to roll over and pull up as she tries to take her first step. Choose a toy that can help her enhance her motor skills and coordination as she starts to stand and walk. Keeping baby's hands and legs busy improves her strength too.


Color and material – these are also aspects to keep in mind. You want something that will attract a baby girl and you should choose brightly colored toys over the dull ones. Pink, blue, yellow, red, and white are the most recommended colors for girls. The material takes you back to safety. Choose something soft but durable.



Recommended:


Baby Articles for New Moms from Kids Creative Chaos

Best Selling Toys for One Year Old Girls

Gift Ideas for Girls





Party Plan a Baby Shower with a Fun Theme

Baby Shower Ideas

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of HotRef Party Favors for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Do you know someone who has a bun in the oven? Chances are you will want to throw a baby shower for them. This is a time to celebrate life, enjoy each other's company, and have fun. We've got some cute ideas to help you plan a baby shower. We found baby shower gamesbaby shower free printables, and fun baby shower favors. Enjoy!

To plan a great baby shower, you need a fun theme. Traditional baby shower themes include ducks, teddy bears, or pink or blue baby carriages.

We found adorable baby shower favors in various themes at HotRef.com. So, here are some cute baby bottle theme ideas for a baby shower.


Baby Bottle Baby Shower Theme


This baby bottle key chain makes an elegant gift for guests. Use it in a goody bag of favors for all attendees or as a prize for winning a fun, baby shower game.


Baby Shower Inviitation Baby Bottle Frame Theme


To continue with the baby bottle baby shower theme, start with baby bottle invitations. They come in blue or pink and make perfect keepsake mementos.


Blue Baby Shower Baby Bottle Placecard Holder


For the baby shower decor, add baby bottle placecard holders. These are fun to use as place settings or to display baby shower snacks. You can also use them to hold questions for a get-to- know-baby card game.


Baby Bottle Cookie Cutter


These baby bottle shape cookie cutters also come in pink or blue. Sure, you can add them to a goody bag, but to make it extra special, make your own cookies for the baby shower with this baby shower sugar cookie mix.


baby shower sugar cookies


If they haven't decided on a name for the baby, decorate each cookie with their top name choices and have the guests vote for their favorites.


Baby Bottle Bank for Baby Shower


Don't forget the Mom to be, display this baby bottle bank on the gift table with a placecard holder asking the guests to spare a dime for new baby!


Fun Baby Shower Games 


We mentioned some ideas for baby shower games above, but here are more fun game ideas for baby showers including a free printable baby bottle theme baby shower game.


Fun Baby Shower Games from Buzz Feed.


Baby Shower Game Ideas from Parents.com.


Free Printable Baby Shower Games from Temecula Blogs.


To help plan the perfect party, the baby shower party favors at HotRef Party Favors can be personalized to include the event name, date, and a little phrase if you like. See, planning a baby shower isn't so hard. You can do it!



Visit Sponsors Site

ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products. *We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)


Get Pregnant Calendar: Fertility Calculator and Tips

Looking for a Fertility Chart, Calendar, or Calculator?


Are you dreaming of having a family? Excitedly wishing and hoping for a positive pregnancy test? When you make the big decision to start a family, it can be exciting, scary, and overwhelming. When is the best time to try? Are their tips to help you get Pregnant? What can you do to help the process? Scroll Down for a Fertility Calculator and a Printable Calendar ChartEnjoy!
It was difficult for us. Once we made the decision, we were eager to have a little one join our family. It was not an easy journey for us and as our friends excitedly announced their pregnancies, we were thrilled for them, but anxious for it to be our turn. Maybe you are in the same boat or maybe you have just started trying.


Get Pregnant Calendar: Fertility Calculator and Tips
Get Pregnant Calendar: Fertility Calculator and Tips.
What if you knew there was an over the counter product that could aid you in your journey to natural conception? A product that was proven and safe.

Conceive Plus® Fertility Lubricant can help achieve pregnancy.



Fertility Products to help get pregnant.
Conceive Plus® Fertility Products to help you get pregnant.
Conceive Plus® fertility lubricant is an excellent product for all couples trying to conceive. This trusted and side-effect free lubricant can work for you. If you have just started trying or have been trying for a while, Conceive Plus® fertility lubricant can help increase your chances of getting pregnant naturally!



Conceive Plus® is a fertility friendly personal lubricant that is isotonic and has a controlled pH that is safe for sperm, embryos and the process of fertilization. 

Conceive Plus is different to other sperm friendly lubricants because it contains Calcium and Magnesium ions, these are essential for the process of fertilization and actually help increase the chances of getting pregnant, naturally. It is available in both convenient pre-filled applicators and also in a multi-use tube bottle. The pre-filled applicators can be used up to 15 minutes discreetly before then use the multi-use tube together with your partner.

Conceive Plus® Fertility
Recommended by hospital, doctors and fertility clinics globally since 2008 Conceive Plus is FDA cleared and now available in the United States from just $14.90. There are several retailers who carry it.

Conceive Plus® has been available since 2008, and there are thousands of user reviews and success stories from couples trying to conceive. Visit their website to find out more. Follow them on: Twitter Facebook Pinterest

We love being parents and are so thankful for each of our kids. While our journey to parenthood wasn’t as easy as many of our friends, it was totally worth it. Wishing you the best on your journey to parenthood.
We found this helpful fertility calendar chart to help you on your journey. Hop over to TheBump.com for a free printable PDF.


free printable fertility chart get pregnant calendar
Free printable fertility calendar
 chart to help you get pregnant.

Recommended:

What Every Woman Should Know About Fertility and Her Biological Clock*

Our favorite Baby Carrying Slings

Fertility Calendar: Know your body. Know your cycle.*

Afghanistan Country Study Lesson


If you have just started trying or have been trying for a while, Conceive Plus® fertility lubricant can help increase your chances of getting pregnant naturally! Now available from selected online retailers from just $14.99. SASMAR Conceive Plus® sponsored this blog post. The opinions and text are all mine.