Mom Life
Whew! We just traveled from the Midwest to Okinawa, Japan. I have to say, international travel with small children is not for the faint of heart, but it most definitely can be done. Travel with kids is tough. Travel halfway around the world is...a whole other ball game. We kept really low expectations beforehand, and when it goes well, [...]
baby
Schedule / RoutineHow to Lay your Baby Down Awake, but Drowsy
Like I said in my Top Ten Newborn Baby Sleep Tips, laying your baby down awake but drowsy can be kind of tricky sometimes trying to get the timing down and catching your baby's optimal sleep window. It’s also helpful because I believe it is the number one way to help your baby sleep through the night when he is ready. My goal in [...]
How to Handle Baby Sleep Debt Recovery
Today I’m continuing my baby sleep tips and talking about Baby Sleep Debt Recovery and what to do when your baby has missed out on some much needed sleep. How do we help our little ones get back on track? Our son just suffered his greatest sleep debt to date when we traveled from the Midwest to Okinawa, Japan. By the time we reached the [...]
How to Handle Road Trips with a Baby
Our family—my husband, 1 year old son, and I—took a road trip from coastal North Carolina all the way back to the Midwest, hauling a trailer. Yikes! The trailer and baby slowed our trip down immensely, and by the time it was all said and done, it nearly topped 24 hours. Road trips with a baby are tough...but it can be done! I recently [...]
Can you Teach a Pre-toddler to Develop Confidence?
We’re moving to Japan… Currently, we are traveling for a summer vacation before we complete our grueling move overseas. My son is exposed to new and unfamiliar situations and people on a daily basis, and it’s not always an easy situation for a pre-toddler, who is dealing with a lot of change. Confidence or believing in yourself is one [...]
Raising KidsSetting Boundaries Early: Practical Ideas for Getting Started
Setting basic boundaries helps you align with what you are okay with and what you're not okay with. Our son is one year of age and we've been using gentle early boundaries for several months. Parents can typically start as soon as their child understands basic phrases, typically well before a year. The ideal time to start may be when [...]
Best Baby Sleep Tips for Better Naps
If you are looking for baby sleep tips to help with a baby who takes short naps, you are not alone. (Note: You can find Part 1 - Baby Sleep Tips for Longer Naps here.) It's an incredibly common problem and many parents don't know where to find practical solutions that really work. Baby sleep tips are a dime a dozen these days, but I'm a [...]
Teaching Kids Early: The Importance of Setting Boundaries
It’s only natural for every parent of a young child to have that moment where you realize your baby just turned into a little person. They have a mind of their own. They want to do things their own way. You take a step back and notice that things could quickly start to spiral out of control. The saying “Oh that’s just what babies do” is [...]
Best Baby Sleep Tips for Longer Naps
As I first time mom I remember looking down at my infant son, and thinking ‘I was told there would be more naps!’ He was a little guy just doing his own thing. Wide awake. Ready to go. Not a good napper in the slightest. In fact, I read all the newborn baby sleep tips in the world trying to figure his naps out. Naps can involve a lot of [...]
Dear Son, Happy First Birthday
Dear Sweet Son, Congratulations! You’ve survived an entire year with me as your mother. I’m not a big believer in miracles, but I think the fact that there’s been only one trip to urgent care, one allergic reaction and zero calls to child services means we are well on our way to a miracle. At any rate, you are alive and thriving! [...]
