Archive for Tips
A tip for cooling kid’s food in a hurry
Posted by: | CommentsMy kids have recently taken a liking to oatmeal. Zane especially. He asks for it at every meal.
Anyway, today, like most days, they had it for breakfast. I wasn’t paying attention, and got the water too hot. So, after mixing the oatmeal and water to the right consistency, I added a handful of frozen blueberries to each child’s bowl full. The berries cooled the oatmeal down immediately, and I didn’t have to worry about giving them other fruit with their breakfast!
You can do the same to hot soup or spaghetti! Just add a handful of frozen corn or peas!
Natural bug repellent- Coconut oil
Posted by: | CommentsCoconut oil has so many uses!!!!! We recently started using it as a bug repellent. We just rub it on like a lotion or oil before going out. It has a low odor, is great for the skin, is edible (making it GREAT for infants and toddlers), and has been doing a great job of keeping the bugs away!!!!
Keeping hydrated and combating headaches
Posted by: | CommentsI’ve seen a lot of people posting recently about headaches. In my opinion, a lot of them are due to dehydration. Some say they drink water all day, but that doesn’t always do the trick. Why, you ask? Electrolytes.
When I was pregnant with the Wondertwins, I drank water all the time. I got headaches almost daily. So, I consulted with my chiropractor. He said one option is to drink a bottle of gatorade. Personally, I don’t like all the additives in the drink. So, he gave me another option.
Drink a glass with 9/10ths water, 1/10th juice (I prefer cranberry or apple with no sugar added), and a sprinkle of salt.
I drink this throughout the summer and give it to my kids, especially when they aren’t feeling well. The natural sugars in the juice and the added salt help replenish the electrolytes.
Toddlers love to shut doors… my easy solution
Posted by: | CommentsRecently, we redid some of the rooms. So instead of sharing a room, the kids each have their own room. Both rooms are pretty much baby proofed. They now have run of the whole house, minus the bathroom and our bedroom. They are so much happier!
One problem I have found is the doors. We have handle covers on the “no enter” areas. Those are doing a good job of stopping them, but they LOVE to shut the doors to their rooms! The last couple of days have found one child on one side screaming to get into the room as the other has shut the door. I wasn’t sure what to do. I know they have all sorts of locks and babyproofing stuff… but things cost money.
This morning I had a brilliant, but so simple idea. If it had been a snake it would have bit me! I put a folded towel over the top of the door! Now, it won’t shut fingers (which hasn’t happened, but likely would at some point) and no one can shut the doors! In addition, a towel is so easy to remove to shut the door for nap.
Natural remedy for Fever Blister/Cold Sore
Posted by: | CommentsAll 5 of the kids in my family are plagued by these… generally when we are stressed. Seems my sister and I always got them around finals. Now, it seems I get them most when I have a cold or major allergies. I get run down and stressed with feeling yucky and trying to take care of everything with the house and kids
I usually get them on my nose. Weird, huh? It is likely because I get them during colds and allergies when I am blowing my nose a million times a day. They generally last about 2 weeks. I have tried Abreva and some of the other recommended solutions… they don’t do much.
NOW, I found a natural solution. And guess what???! From start to finish, my fever blister lasted about 6 days!!!!!! Less than half the normal time! I still have a little redness, but overall, it is gone!
I had gotten one last weekend when my allergies where flared and I couldn’t stop blowing my nose. I used the neti pot religiously! It helped to prevent a sinus infection, but I still had to blow my nose. As the allergies got under control, I started feeling the tingly feeling on the inner wall of my left nostril. I was ticked. I started researching.
Fever blisters are highly contagious! So, whatever you do, please try to clean your hands and throw away any que-tips or kleenex you use. Anyway, I found a suggestion to use tea tree oil. I had some. So, I thought it would be worth a try.
I put some tea tree oil on a que-tip and rubbed it over the tingly area. It stung for just a second… not bad, but noticable. The strong scent of tea tree oil lasted for a few minutes, but helped to clear my sinuses. By day 2, it was already starting to dry up.
Now, I am fever blister free! I’m so happy at how quickly it dried up and healed! I hope you try this and it works quick for you too! (By the way, put a bit of tea tree oil on your arm to check for allergic reactions first.) Oh, and it works for fever blisters on your lips too.
10 quick, healthy snacks for toddlers
Posted by: | CommentsHere is a list of some of our favorite snacks. I pack snacks in the morning, before heading out for the day. I put them in small reusable containers… each with a serving for each child.
1. Little sweet pickles (My kids LOVE these)
2. Pretzel sticks with peanut butter to dip (you can also use other butters like almond, sunflower, etc)
3. Apple slices (Sprinkle with lemon juice to prevent browning)
4. Frozen edamame beans (My friend, Kimberly, showed me this… the gobble them up frozen, and won’t eat them raw!)
5. Edible Play-Dough (This is a FAVORITE of ours!)
6. Cut up grapes
7. Mini boxes of raisin (This is a perfect for a snack AND building fine motor skills!)
8. Cheese sticks (I buy a large block and just cut off sticks of the desired size)
9. Cut veggies (Our favorites are green bell peppers, carrot sticks, and peas)
10. Freeze dried veggies (We discovered these at Whole Foods. My kids ESPECIALLY like the green beans and corn)
The thing is, you don’t HAVE to use the prepackaged snacks. Though, we have used some small packs of crackers in a pinch, you can give your kids a healthy alternative. You are helping them build a base to continue their life of making healthy choices. You are giving them the best for their body and growth!
Sleep tips (a few things I learned)
Posted by: | CommentsSleeping seems to be an issue for every baby at some point. So, here are a few tips I learned and want to pass along.
1. Have a routine.
We have dinner every night around 6. Afterward, we take the kids for a short walk. On bath nights, we give baths on their return. Then, we dress the kids in pjs. We give them a smoothie or a cup of milk. We play for a bit, read books, or watch a short (educational) show together. Then we brush teeth, put them in their sleep sacks, give hugs and kisses, give them their lovies, and turn out the light. We don’t go back in unless it sounds like someone is hurt. They talk to themselves, each other, and their toys… but generally, they soothe themselves and go right to sleep.
2. Make the room dark.
We put a blanket over their window so their room is very dark. There is a nightlight, but it is around a dresser. So, it is not glaring, but allows us to sneak in to check on them.
3. Have some sort of white noise type machine.
We have an air purifier in their room. But I also bought a travel machine that is small and compact. By having constant noise, they are not disturbed by outside noises. I have recommended this to MANY parents of children who were having trouble sleeping through the night… it does WONDERS!!!! You can also use a fan (don’t point it at them) or a dehumidifier. Just make sure it is in a safe place and can not be disturbed by little fingers. In a pinch you can use a radio tuned to static. We did this when visiting my sister last summer.
We even have a noise machine in our room… and let me tell you, it makes a difference for adults too! I no longer jump ever time someone coughs or rolls over.
Some people do music before sleep or routines that can only be done at home. The key is, make sure whatever you do, it can be repeated no matter where you are. And that you are prepared for things like power going out (another situation where the travel noise machine would come in handy).
Birthdays and twins… a quick tip
Posted by: | CommentsWe have been to many birthday parties of playmates in the last two years. For multiples, I give one gift to each child. They are individuals and like to have their own item. Often I get something similar so there is less fighting. For example, I gave some of our boy/girl twin friends strollers for their birthday. Though they were both pink/purple, I knew from experience that ONE stroller would be fought over. Both kids have enjoyed loading them up, racing, and pushing them around on walks.
For singleton kids, I make it a point to give a gift from each child. It can be something that goes together, like coloring books from one and crayons from another. Or something totally different like when Zane gave an truck and Bree gave clothes. Why do this? Because my kids will also have a birthday… and if they weren’t twins, kids would be getting them each a present. In addition, often it reminds parents of singletons to get two gifts (one for each) instead of one to share (since sharing is not big in the toddler mind).
New toy… and how to clean stuffed animals without chemicals
Posted by: | CommentsDH found this Melissa and Doug, giant, stuffed lion . Since it was used, I cleaned it, using natural products. First I used white vinegar (I used my steam cleaner, but you could just use a mist sprayer and wash cloth). Then, I went over it with water (just wipe, don’t submerse). I put it out in the sun to dry. For extra precautions, I dusted it with baking soda. I let it sit over night. Then I used a dry towel to get the dust off. I was AMAZED at how much dirt the baking soda actually picked up!
Since I dusted it in my tub… I then used vinegar with the baking soda all over my tub, to scrub my tub clean! lol
Anyway, here is the lion… and the wondertwins. Everyone is happy!
Toddler learning activities
Posted by: | CommentsFor those of you that don’t know, I am a former teacher. I now stay at home with my twins, while keeping another child, Ms. R.
Since my kids don’t attend a preschool or daycare, I try to create my own daily lessons. I decided I would start posting some of the activities we do. That way, you can apply some of your own… or, I can give you some ideas if you are doing your own home school lessons.
Our most recent work has been centered around Easter. The first, was coloring Easter Eggs with a 1 year old and twin 2 year olds. I dyed them, using the simple tablets and vinegar dissolved in water. When they dried, I put the kids in their high chairs. I gave them small circular stickers and crayons. They went to town and had a blast!!!!
