Four Ways to Reduce Baby’s Colic Symptoms-Giveaway

April 11, 2018 by Kathryn 13 Comments

Disclosure: I am part of the PTPA Media Brand Ambassador Program with Philips Avent and I received Compensation as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Through raising and breastfeeding three babies, I’ve been lucky that none of my boys have suffered too much from colic. Aside from some slight fussiness, they were all good-natured and healthy babies.

But of the three of them, Cormac has definitely been the one with the most digestive issues. From constant hiccups to spitting up unusually large volumes of milk, I’ve made more than one trip to the doctor about my unique youngest son!

That’s why I’ve incorporated some ways to help minimize any colic symptoms that might appear. If you want to help your little one feel better when his stomach is sore, these are the techniques that have been working for me: [Read more…]

Tips and Advice on Choosing the Best Baby Bottle for Your Little One

April 2, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

Baby gear has come a long way over the years, and that’s especially true of baby bottles. The standard bottle has evolved from a clunky and somewhat dangerous glass bottle to a lightweight and shatterproof plastic design with an infinite number of specialty shapes, nipple designs and sizes.

While some women do manage to stick solely to breastfeeding a little one, the vast majority of parents will use baby bottles at some point…even if only when a baby is finally old enough for other beverages! So choosing a bottle that works well for you and for your baby is a must.

Why Use a Baby Bottle?

Ideally, babies should be exclusively breastfed for at least six months. But there are still occasions when mothers need to have a bottle handy, whether because mom is still working or just enjoying a night out. Thankfully, affordable and easy-to-use breast pumps mean that Baby can still get the breast milk he needs. Make sure to use a baby bottle that protects the breast milk quality! And when your little one is older, a baby bottle is handy for letting him drink water, milk or juice before he is able to use a cup.

What Kind of Bottle is Best

There is no shortage of choice when it comes to finding the best baby bottle. But no matter what brand you choose, a good baby bottle should have some features no matter what. It should be comfortable, and include an anti-mastitis breastfeeding latch. It should be made of high-quality, BPA-free material and be easy to use. And, perhaps most important, the perfect baby bottle should have multiple sizes and nipple designs to suit babies at different ages.

Tips for Bottle Feeding a Baby

While some babies may be happy to hold their own bottle as they eat, bottle feeding should still be a time to bond with Baby, so make sure to still play an active role! Keep a proper hold on the bottle to help minimize the air that is swallowed, especially if your baby suffers from colic. And make sure that bottles and nipples are properly sterilized for newborns!

Benefits of Baby Bottles

There are so many occasions when using a baby bottle makes life a little bit easier for a busy mom. But while baby bottles can also help feed Baby when Mom is away, they also give a dad and extended family members the chance to bond with baby a little bit more. While Mom takes a break, Dad gets the chance to interact with the baby in a very special way. If your little one uses a baby bottle, consider handing over one feeding a day to a family member.

With so many different baby bottles to choose from, finding the best baby bottle for your little one can take some trial and error. If you also breastfeed, make sure the nipple flow on the bottle mimics the slower flow of breast milk. And if you’re planning on bottle feeding often, choosing a bottle with a design that’s comfortable to hold is a must. In the end, a bottle that you and your baby both enjoy is the most important consideration of all.

Prep Your Family for Holiday Travel with Netflix Downloads

November 28, 2017 by Kathryn 1 Comment

With the holiday season fast approaching, I’m sure that our family isn’t the only one that’s planning some travel to visit relatives in other areas. And even though I’m excited about taking Baby Cormac to spend Christmas with his grandparents, I’m also bracing myself for the inevitable hassles and hurdles of flying with three kids.

And it doesn’t help that available services and entertainment on airplanes continue to dwindle. Many of our recent flights haven’t had in-seat entertainment, leaving my boys to get quickly restless on longer flights. Paying for Wi-Fi is usually an option, but with current flight costs, I don’t want to spend even more just to keep my boys occupied!

[Read more…]

Questions by Netflix, Answers by Google!

November 8, 2017 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

My boys have inherited a few different traits from me, and one of the ones I see most often is their insatiable curiosity. I can never be sure what random questions they’ll come up with as we’re chatting, but I always enjoy finding or explaining answers!

Sometimes, the questions are ones that have me wondering too. When my kids asked what the crease between the nose and mouth was called, I wasn’t sure. But I wanted to know the answer as much as they did! (It’s a philtrum, by the way.)

[Read more…]

Make Your Child’s Birthday Extra Special with Netflix Birthdays-on-Demand

September 22, 2017 by Kathryn 16 Comments

When I was a child, my mom’s birthday parties were known for being amazing. They were always at home, never the arcade or restaurant parties some of my friends had. And my mom always cooked all the food and planned all the games herself.

As a parent myself, I loved throwing the same types of parties, and coming up with different themes was one of my favourite activities. My oldest son still talks about his DIY Super Mario Brothers birthday party five years ago to this day!

[Read more…]

Moms Know Best: University Student Care Package Essentials for Your Kids-Giveaway

August 23, 2017 by Kathryn 97 Comments

No matter how old your kids get, you’ll never stop being their mom. So naturally, when that bittersweet milestone finally becomes a reality (yes, I’m talking about college or university), you’ll sleep better at night knowing that you’ve equipped them with the tools and the advice they need to succeed.

Of course, kids can be stubborn about taking advice from Mom and Dad. So keep it short and sweet with a few quick tips and some great university student care products from Church & Dwight that will have them ready for anything!

[Read more…]

Help Your Family Enjoy an Organized School Year with 4 Simple Tips

August 11, 2017 by Kathryn 26 Comments

Disclosure: I have partnered with YMC and Mabel’s Labels/ Bear Paws and have received compensation for this post. All opinions in the post are my own.

The new school year is almost here and that means it’s time for me to stock up on my must-haves for keeping my house and my boys organized throughout the coming months. For the first time, Zackary and Benjamin won’t be going to the same school, which means that ensuring their supplies and homework are in order will be more important than ever before.

Luckily, keeping my scatterbrained boys at least somewhat orderly is something that I’ve been practicing for years. And if you’re trying to prepare for an organized school year as well, these four tips are the ones that have helped me the most over the years!

Label All The Things

If your child walks out the door with it, make sure that you’ve labelled it! From ski pants to water bottles, I’m often amazed (and annoyed) by the items my boys have misplaced over the years. Near the end of last school year, Zackary even managed to lose his prescription glasses! [Read more…]

Three Ways Team Sports Like the Danone Nations Cup Build Life Skills for Children

June 21, 2017 by Kathryn 13 Comments

Disclosure: I have partnered with YMC and Danone and have received compensation for this post. All opinions in the post are my own.

In our house, spring is sports season. And it’s a time we take pretty seriously! In fact, three out of every five weekdays are spent either on the soccer field or the baseball diamond, with practices and tournaments in between as well! While it can sometimes be hard to get kids interested in a team sport, finding one that suits them really is worth the effort. Not only is it a great way to ensure kids stay active, it provides so many other benefits beyond physical activity. These are just a few of the life skills I’ve seen my boys develop since they started playing team sports:

Cooperation

One of the best things about team sports is that no matter which one a child chooses, the sport will have different positions that play different essential roles in the game. My baseball-playing oldest is usually on second base, a position that suits him well since he has a strong arm and good base skills. But that same strong arm means he’s often also put in the outfield, a position any baseball fan knows isn’t always the most exciting. That’s the thing about a team sport, though. The player in right field is just as essential to the game as the pitcher, and just as likely to win a game with a great catch. [Read more…]