I’ve been wondering how I could contribute to starting the third world war. I decided that blogging about infant sleep training would be a good next step. I mean, if there is anything that can get some mommas’ panties in a bunch, it’s talking about sleep training or breastfeeding philosophies. But seriously. Here’s my disclaimer….
Parenting Tips & Advice
Helping Older Siblings Cope With the New Baby | 11 Tips from a Mom of 4
There’s an ongoing poll in my mom-friend circles about which transition is the hardest: Having your first kid, going from 1 to 2 kids, 2 to 3 kids or adding more kids after 3. Each transition is different but going from 1 to 2 kids is REALLY REALLY HARD! If the first child is a…
The Newborn and Toddler Circus: 28 ideas for keeping your toddler alive while feeding your newborn
We had 4 kids in 5 years, and the hardest part of every newborn (after the first) was always the toddler. The clingy, confused, barely verbal, highly active toddler who does not understand why it takes you 45 minutes to feed the baby or why he can’t thrust his elbow into your chest for leverage…
How to Discipline a 1 Year Old & Teach a One Year Old “No”
Our 4th child just turned 1, and I can say for sure: it’s never too early to start setting expectations and training your little ones. 1 year olds understand WAY more than we realize. It might seem silly because those 1 year olds are so darn cute! Toddling around, giggling at peekaboo, pulling everything down…
Want to Start Sleep Training your Newborn? Here are 10 Reasons to Start Sooner than Later
There are a million articles, books, and blog posts about sleep training on the internet. With a million different thoughts and opinions. Much of parenting boils down to personal preference, and our personal preference has been to sleep train our 4 kids from birth. We recommend sleep training your newborn! (Good thing we did… because…
How to Sleep Train with a Parent Led Method & Teach Your Newborn to Sleep Through the Night
There is a lot of advice about how to sleep train out there… everything from “dictate your baby’s life down to the minute” TO “my baby sleeps whenever they want and I never know what to expect.” We have taken what we call a holistic, parent-led approach in our sleep training. The philosophy of a…
Wondering how to get baby to nap longer? Your baby is probably over tired!
One of the most common sleep-training problems I encounter is moms wondering how to get a baby to nap longer. I hear a version of this naptime problem a lot! “My baby only naps for 30-45 minutes. And they wake up screaming.” “I try to keep them awake for 2 hours or so because they…
Everything You Need to Know About How to Transition Toddler to Their Own Bed
Okay, are you ready? This is probably going to be the world’s shortest blog post, but I finally decided to write it because I get this question a lot! How do you transition toddler out of their crib? Don’t. There. The end. (Just kidding – I’ll flesh our our theory on moving toddlers to big…
A Practical Guide to the Parent-Led Grace-Filled Home
Our 4 year old’s bedtime habits had gotten out of control lately. One more toy, one more kiss, one more hug, one more drink… if we said no to something, dramatic tears ensued. Perhaps you can relate? Any one of those things on any given night wouldn’t be an issue. But, slowly we had let our 4…
Stop Yelling at Your Kids | 3 Parenting Lessons From Losing My Temper
(Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a commission off purchases from customers I refer, at no additional cost to you of course. Read my full disclosure policy here.)Have you ever said something to your kids impulsively? You know… where the words are coming out of your…
The Best Parenting Book I’ve Ever Read
You guys. I have read a LOT of parenting books. And there are a lot of good ones out there. But this one is the best parenting book. If you have a kid or think you ever want to have a kid, this is a must-read book for you. It easily soared into my top 5 best…
I Used to Feel Like My Kids Were in My Way
Several months after our first baby was born, I found myself thinking that she was in my way. I had lists and agendas and time tables, and if her nap schedule was off, or she was teething or sick, the change was an inconvenience to me and my plan. Because I had plans, gosh darn…
Lessons I’ve Learned from My Kids: Helping Them Clean Up Their Mess
Most toddlers are clumsy, I assume, but I think my 3 year old is particularly so. She comes by it honestly… I may or may not have broken 6 phones in 3 years. (Death by toilet, glasses of milk, roof of car, etc.) I remind little miss to move slower, watch what she’s doing, keep her eyes on the bowl…
Yelling at Kids Too Much? Try This Simple Parenting Tip Instead
My simplest solution for how to stop yelling at kids is to practice an idea I call “one-downing.” One-downing is the opposite of one-upping. You’ve heard of one-upping, right? You know… First Mom: “I make my own granola.”Second Mom: “Oh well I make organic granola AND use essential oils.”Third Mom: “Oh, of course that goes…
Encouragement + Practical Survival Tips for Life with 2 under 2
Our first 2 kids are 17 months apart, and the first few months with our second baby were SO hard. I basically felt like, “WHAT DO YOU TINY PEOPLE NEED FROM ME AND WHY DO YOU NEED IT ALL THE TIME?” While our 17 month old could communicate decently with 2 word phrases and hand…
How to Survive a Road Trip with Toddlers
We have always lived out of state from one or both of our families. As newly weds, we used to enjoy the 7 or 8 hour car rides together… listening to new music or podcasts. Sometimes I’d read out loud while Ben drove. Then when he fell aleep at the wheel to my soothing voice,…
bonus phrases for your kids
I wrote about some helpful phrases to use with 1 year olds and 2 year olds (and all their emotional drama). And since that’s as old as we get around here (until December when we’ll have a 3 year old), I’ll have to end this mini series here with a couple bonus phrases good for kids of…
Not-So-Terrible Twos: specific ideas for 2 year old discipline and thriving with a toddler
We have a full blown 2 and a 1/2 year old around here. A limit-testing, boundary-pushing, bedtime-delaying toddler. Interesting how much a toddler’s behavior tells you about human nature. The desire to be in control, in charge. The desire to be right. The desire to get what you want. RIGHT NOW. The desire to be…
a weekend of poop & a messy house
I recently wrote about ways I keep my house clean. Lest that post in any way communicated that our house is always clean, please know we were a hot mess by Friday night. These pictures are proof. And sometimes, there’s a strange encouragement in camaraderie – in knowing you’re not the only one who sometimes…
Thoughts on Potty Training in a Weekend (after it didn’t work)
This is not a “how to” potty train, but rather an in-the-thick-of-potty-training survival guide and humorous though sharing session. If you are potty training a kiddo and about to pull all their your hair out , you are not alone! I read all the right books and did all the research and talked to all the all the moms I knew…