MomTrustTipsCanada

Three Road Trips with Kids You Should Make this Summer

July 15, 2014 by Kathryn 44 Comments

In my mind, the cold winter months are the best time to fly, while summer is the best time to drive. So every year when the weather warms up, I start planning vacations within driving distance of our small-town Saskatchewan home. And luckily for me, there are quite a few!

Want to plan a road trip and you’re not sure how to get started? This month, as part of the Playtex Mom Trust, I’m sharing my top three choices for summer road trips with kids that the whole family will enjoy.

Wilderness Adventure

When my boys and I want to spend a week away without having to drive too far to reach our destination, camping in a nearby provincial or national park is always something we enjoy.

From spending time on the beach to running around the playgrounds to biking along the campsite paths, there’s always plenty to keep the whole family entertained. And it’s a vacation that’s suitable for everyone from babies to adults. Even better, many campsites now offer rentals of ready-to-camp tents so that you don’t need a lot of gear to have a lot of fun outside! [Read more…]

Top Three Ways to Spend Time Outside with Your Baby this Summer #MomTrust

May 27, 2014 by Kathryn 31 Comments

Maybe it’s because I live in a province that’s known for harsh winter weather, but as far as I’m concerned, there is nothing more wonderful than being outside once warm weather has arrived in Saskatchewan. In fact, for the last two weekends I’ve been in the back yard relaxing in a lawn chair reading almost from dawn until dusk!

While my boys are usually outside with me as well, they spend those sunshine-filled hours playing on the swing set, jumping on the trampoline or running through the sprinkler. But even when they were younger, I found plenty of ways to have fun outside with them. This month, the Playtex Mom Trust asked me to share a few of my favourite outdoor activities with infants and toddlers. If you have a baby in the house, these are my top three ways to have fun outside with your baby this summer!

baby boy in stroller — Baby Zackary relaxing in his stroller at just a month old!

Get Walking

Not only is walking great exercise, it’s a chance for your little one to see more of the world around him. Even a simple walk around the block exposes a baby to new sights, sounds and smells that help expand his knowledge of the world. I used to make a daily trip to the post office each day pushing my baby in the stroller, with occasional longer walks to run errands or visit the park. He loved relaxing in his seat in the shade as we walked! [Read more…]

Challenges and Solutions Using Bottles After Long-Term Breastfeeding #MomTrust

April 2, 2014 by Kathryn 2 Comments

When I gave birth to my oldest son, I was determined to breastfeed right from the beginning. My mom had breastfed all five of her children, sometimes for quite extended periods, and I didn’t even really consider not doing the same. I think I assumed it would be easy because it always looked so easy for her, so when I started breastfeeding and my nipples ended up cracked and bleeding, I was upset and confused. About two days after returning home from the hospital, I even considered giving up altogether. But I didn’t. I stuck it out and within about a month, breastfeeding was as natural as breathing to me.

Even so, a time came when my boys used bottles as well. At about one year of age, I would give my children whole milk in a bottle during the day or with meals as I gradually reduced their number of feedings. And I learned very quickly that finding the right bottle was HARD! Most of the bottles I owned had been designed for much younger babies, though I didn’t realize that at the time, and that meant that my boys simply weren’t getting milk quickly or easily enough. They had a tendency to chew on the nipples of the bottles to make the milk flow faster, which of course completely destroyed the nipples fairly quickly. [Read more…]

Baby Sleep Schedule – Three Tips to Help Your Baby Sleep Better

February 22, 2014 by Kathryn 32 Comments

The day my oldest son was born, my days of sleeping in until noon ended forever. But it wasn’t just my own sleep that became an issue once I had children. I had to learn about the baby sleep schedule of my boys as well.

And understanding the sleep needs of a newborn is no easy thing! All babies sleep differently, so learning what works best can be difficult! These were the three tips that helped me ensure my boys were sleeping properly.

Set a Regular Bedtime

I knew that babies under a year old needed lots of food and lots of sleep, so when I had my first son, I followed his cues as to when he wanted to eat and sleep. But as he reached about six months old, I found that I was staying up with him later and later. In fact, he’d often be up until one in the morning, sleep just a few hours and then be up again at five in the morning. Needless to say, I was a zombie.

Finally somebody convinced me of the importance of a regular bedtime even for babies. The first two days were hard, but after a week I couldn’t believe the difference. I only wish I’d set a baby sleep schedule from the very beginning! [Read more…]

Increasing Family Time-Goals for a New Year #MomTrust

January 6, 2014 by Kathryn 35 Comments

I often say that I think of the New Year as a time to set goals rather than resolutions. My goals change every year. Sometimes a goal gets renewed for another year. But the most important thing is taking the time to evaluate and see how I can create the best life possible for myself and my family.

My boys are a huge part of that goal setting process and this year in particular, spending time with them is a focus for me. It’s so easy to get caught up in the busy routine of our lives and not realize that time, and our children’s youth, is quickly slipping away. As part of the Playtex Mom Trust program, I was asked to share my goals for the coming year and hopefully provide some inspiration to other parents setting their own goals. So to ensure that my boys and I are both enjoying their childhood, these will be three of my goals for the coming year:

1) I Will Make Time for Fun

My boys and I got to have all kinds of amazing experiences last year, from our first trip to Disneyland to a fabulous vacation at the Beaches Resort in Jamaica to a road trip to the West Edmonton Mall. Those are memories that will last a lifetime, but they were interspaced by weeks and weeks of routine. Some of life’s best experiences are ones we have at home, so one day each weekend, I will be exclusively planning a fun activity with my boys. Whether we head to the kitchen to make cookies together or pack a picnic and spend the day at the park, I will be making consistent quality time with my boys one of my top priorities. [Read more…]