parenting Archives - Bare Feet on the Dashboard

17
Aug
2015

Helping Babies Learn to Chew with Gerber’s 3rd Foods® Lil Bits™ Recipes

Introducing babies to solid food and teaching them to eat can be a daunting process, but it doesn’t have to be. The Pearl Girl and I were invited to a sponsored party to learn about new Gerber’s 3rd Foods® Lil Bits™ Recipes and today I’m sharing what we learned and how you can win daily prizes from Gerber for your little one. After babies start eating solids they soon must make the transition to chunkier pieces they have to mash and chew. That’s where Lil’ Bits come in. They fill the gap as a transitional food to help babies learn to chew textured food that is developmentally appropriate. Read on to find out more about the development of Lil’ Bits and how to win the #GerberChewU Instant Win Promotion.

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26
May
2015

Using Essential Oils to Get Better Sleep for the Whole Family

categories: essential oils, family

When our family made the decision to try essential oils back in February, one of my top priorities was to try use them to help us get better sleep. I’ve had trouble falling asleep for my entire adult life, and was pretty desperate for help. My son was also struggling, taking almost 2 hours to fall asleep some nights. Some of the oils we’ve tried have really helped us, so today I’m sharing how to get started using essential oils to get better sleep for the whole family. I’m not a doctor and can’t tell you what is best for your family, and this is not medical advice in any way. I’m just a mom who is trying out natural remedies with my family and sharing what has worked for us with you. Click here for more information on why we use essential oils and to see our current oil deal.

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22
May
2015

20 Ideas for Summer Fun with Preschool Kids

categories: play, preschool, summer

Summer is here and we are ready to play! Are you looking for fresh ideas to keep your little ones entertained this summer? Here are 20 ideas for summer fun with preschool kids to help you have fun with your family during the hot months ahead. Need ideas for your toddler? You’ll find five fun ideas to entertain your toddler this summer here. I’ve joined with my favorite kid bloggers to share our favorite summer ideas for kids and families, so be sure to hop around to the links at the bottom of this post.

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11
May
2015

Five Simple Strategies to Help Kids Conquer Bed Wetting

categories: kids, parenting

It isn’t fun to talk about, but bed wetting can be such a frustrating struggle for kids and their caregivers. Our son was potty trained for months, with no accidents during naps or a night when all of a sudden he started wetting the bed again. It was so hard not to get mad and frustrated when we were changing the sheets AGAIN after months of dry nights. When I learned that enuresis (bed wetting) is normal for kids long after the potty training years, I realized we needed to develop a few strategies to make sure we were all getting good sleep and help us conquer bed wetting.

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10
May
2015

Motherhood Changed Everything

categories: baby, parenting, pregnancy

I often think of the befores and afters of my life, how I came to be who I am today and how I evolved from the person I once was. Transformations happen naturally as we grow and mature, and sometimes abruptly through traumatic events or drastic changes. Reflecting on milestones is big part of the human existence. We think about our graduations, weddings, job changes, deaths of loved ones, births of children. I’ve experienced a lot in my almost 36 years, but the biggest transformation of my life has come from motherhood. I am a very different person today than I was five years ago, and the two sweet babies who made me a mama are the reason.

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17
Apr
2015

My Best Cloth Diaper Advice After 4 Years in the Trenches

categories: baby, budget, cloth diaper, green living

My oldest child is about to turn 4, and his birthday always makes me reflect on all I’ve learned in these few short years of motherhood. One of my favorite parenting decisions we made was the choice to use cloth diapers. We have saved thousands of dollars using cloth diapers for our kids, and have kept tons of waste out of landfills. Besides the obvious economic and environment benefits, cloth diapers are super cute and great for my babies’ sensitive skin. Today I’m sharing my best cloth diapering advice after 4 hard fought years in the trenches so you can learn from my mistakes.

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01
Apr
2015

Easy Ways to Give Your Kids a Green Childhood

categories: baby, green living, kids, parenting

Raising kids to appreciate and care for the world around them isn’t easy in our society that loves instant gratification, constant entertainment, and disposable everything. We want our kids to become adults who appreciate the earth, take responsibility for their effect on it, and work towards conservation for future generations. We believe that it is our responsibility as their parents to teach them about nature and how to love it and care for it. Today I’m sharing a few easy ways we work to give our kids a green childhood. April is Earth Month, so this year I’m joining with a group of bloggers for a series on Natural Parenting and Green Living. Join us we celebrate Earth Month and help each live a greener, more environmentally responsible life. We are far from the greenest family on the block, but we are working to become more eco-friendly every day.

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18
Feb
2015

A Babies Don’t Keep Poem for the Modern Parent {Free Printable}

categories: baby, free printables, parenting

My mom always had a plaque hanging on the wall with the last lines of the poem “Song for a Fifth Child” by Ruth Hurlburt Hamilton. You probably know it as the “Babies Don’t Keep” poem. Knowing that our Pearl Girl is probably my last baby has given me a new appreciation for the sentiment behind Hamilton’s poem. Rocking her fifth child became more important than all that other busy work of keeping house.

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02
Jul
2014

Teaching Courage with the Help of Disney Planes #PlanestotheRescue

categories: Disney, kids, parenting, play

This shop has been compensated by #CollectiveBias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

Kids are funny. Just when you think you have them figured out, they throw you for a loop. Our son recently developed a fear of shadows in his room at night. I’m talking a wake up screaming bloody murder, wake the neighbors and his baby sister, traumatizing for everyone involved fear. It came out of the blue and we had no idea what to do about it. We prayed with him and snuggled him and tried to reason with him. Nothing worked until we decided to talk about courage. Being the Disney obsessed family that we are, we used his current favorite movie, Planes, to help teach him to be brave and courageous like his buddy Dusty.

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11
May
2014

Happy Mother’s Day! {Free Printable}

categories: baby, family, kids

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you mamas out there! I hope you feel blessed and loved today. I am thankful today and every day for my precious babies and am grateful for the gift they are in my life. I do not take the challenge and responsibility of motherhood lightly. The role of mother to these darling babes has been the greatest challenge and reward of my life. Being at home with them full time is not something I ever thought I would want, but I can’t imagine life any other way. I’m thankful for and content in this place of joy, messes, frustration, and play, where the Lord has me right now. To each of you who are mothering a child through birth, adoption, foster care, or circumstance, thank you for the important role you play. I cannot imagine what my life would’ve been like without the love and care of my precious mother, my grandmothers, and the many women who stepped in to mentor me when I needed it.

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Tag: parenting