Four Things Parents Want To Check If Their Child Is Unsettled At Night

Sleep is one thing that many parents want to get right when it comes to their child. A good night’s sleep often means that children wake up refreshed and energized for their day and feel their best. Not to mention how great parents feel when they have an uninterrupted night's sleep. But, sleepless nights do happen, and sometimes there are simple reasons for it. With that in mind, here are four things parents should check if their child is unsettled at night. 

Image source - Pixabay - CC0 License 

Are they feeling well?

One of the first things that you may want to check is whether or not they are feeling themselves. If they are restless at night, waking, getting upset, then they may have an illness. It might be something completely harmless, but it is worth checking their temperature and how they look and feel. You could consider seeking some urgent care to get a second opinion on things such as a cold, winter bugs or even sickness and diarrhea. All of these things can make a child unsettled at night, even when sleep is often one of the best things that they can do. 

Is the sleeping environment right? 

Sometimes there may not be anything up with the child at all, and it can be something to do with the environment instead. Maybe it is the fact that the bedroom is too warm and stuffy, so getting some fresh air in may resolve the issue. Or likewise of the room is too cold, you may want to think about increasing hurt heating such as switching a radiator, or closing windows to prevent drafts. Small changes can often make a big difference to how comfortable a child feels in their room at night. 

Is the bed comfortable? 

Another thing to think about would be whether or not the bed is comfortable. The temperature ei the room may be fin, but the sleeping aids like mattresses and pillows may not feel quite so right for them. It might be worth investing in a different type of mattress, such as something a little softer or firmer, depending on what is right for your child. You might also want to check the thickness of any quilts you use, ensuring that a thinner one is used during the warmer months of the year, for example. This could also help them to feel comfortable at night. 

Do you have a bedtime routine?

Finally, do you have a bedtime routine in place? It might be time to start thinking about whether or not you have something in place that will work for your child. Some parents stick with the same routine from when they were babies, but often routines are not always in place and you develop them as you go along. You could look at adding in a bath, or a story book or a warm drink too start a new princess of relaxing at night. 

Let’s hope these tips help you to ensure that your child has a more settled nights sleep in the future.

Making the World a Better Place One ECOlunchbox at a Time

How many plastic (sandwich) bags do you go through within a week in your home? If you’re anything like me it’s a dozen at least! The girls and I pack lunch at least 3-5 times a week and what do we use? Plastic sandwich bags or a container. I honestly didn’t think anything was wrong it until we ran into a little incident. Maddy tried warming something up in one and needless to say it didn’t go so well.

That got the wheels turning in my head, are we being wasteful, should the things we use be able to safely be warmed up without having to worry about parabens getting into our food?

So, what better way than to start with things that we use the most! Lunch containers, yay! We received the Tri-Bento and Seal Cup Trio from our friends at ECOlunchbox and they are great. The kids immediately wanted to start using them.

We headed to the park to enjoy a picnic before the weather begins to change drastically. The girls were thrilled to open their boxes and see what was inside and they didn’t waste any time digging in. This moment in time allowed us to not only reconnect but doubled as a teachable moment. The girls were very curious about why I began throwing out their plastic containers.

I can’t wait to start adding to my collection and switching out products in our home. One step is better than none!

Check out these articles on how to become more ecofriendly.

Plastic Purging & Upcycling

Back-To-School with Zero Waste

No Plastic Meal Prep Bowls

Let's Make Milk With Pink Stork

My first priority as a blogger is to openly share about my life as a mom. Sometimes motherhood isn’t easy! Recently, I have been struggling with my breastfeeding journey. It’s been rough! I have had extreme phases throughout this journey! In the beginning I was and “oversupplier” and quickly transitioned to a “just enougher” once I returned to work. Here recently, I have only been able to provide Clayton with breastmilk at home and let me tell you, I have not been happy about that.

So what’s a mom to do?! You guess it: Research! I have read TONS of articles about how to increase your milk supply. I can say, it’s true! In order to make milk you have to MOVE milk and when THAT fails you have to try other things. I was at a place where I was pumping around the clock to only end up with 9 ounces in a 24 hour period. That made me feel like a complete and utter failure! And I made up in my mind that I am not a failure and I will do whatever it takes.

My lovely friends over at Pink Stork have decided to help me out by allowing me to try out their Smooth Vanilla Tea and Lactation Cookie Mix! 

Smooth Vanilla Tea

Now, I am not a huge tea connoisseur but I DO like all things vanilla and I figured this would be easy to drink. Guess what? It IS!! It has a smooth velvety texture and if you add a little teaspoon of honey and you will be good to go. If you desire to increase your milk supply as I am, then the recommended serving is 1-3 times a day. The satchels are so cute! They are not your average tea bag and for that reason alone it makes me feel like I’m doing something good for my body! 

After 2 days of drinking the tea, I have seen an increase of 2-3 ounces per day! That is now allowing me to save milk for later feedings and that makes me so happy! So, it’s definitely worth a shot.

Lactation Cookies – Chocolate Chip

Sweets are my weakness! I love a good cookie and chocolate chip is one of my favorites. The Lactation Cookies are not very sweet and the overall flavor is savory and delicious! 

These tea and cookies have added so much value to my lactation journey! I am enjoying both and will continue to use them until my breastfeeding comes to an end. There have been no changes in with my baby either! He is still very happy and no tummy issues detected but keep in mind every baby is different.

Happy milking mamas!

Shopping For Kids Made Easy With Kids on 45th

Are you the type of parent that spend countless hours deciding on what to buy for you child? If so, this post is just for you. In my home, we have a thing called “play clothes” and “good clothes.” Funny, I know but I don’t like to spend a lot of money on clothing for my children at such a young age and it comes back home ruined.

I purchased Maddy a really pretty dress for around $50 and was heartbroken when she returned home with it ruined. I decided NEVER again would I do that. I have items that I “splurge” on like nice outfits for holidays and special occasions or jeans but the rest of it…nope, I catch a good sale.

Pajamas from her box!

I recently discovered, Kids on 45th and thought this was genius! Why didn’t I think of this? They offer quality pre-loved clothing for cheap (sizes newborn to 14/16)! They happily sent us over a box for Maddy and they did not disappoint. I was able to tell them what type of clothing she liked and within two weeks the box was on my doorstep. I didn’t have to worry about what color the items were they took all of the guesswork out of it for me, which was actually kinda nice. It was a surprise for us both! Best of all, it’s not like the other kid boxes – NO SUBSCRIPTION required, yay!

Cute Fall dress from her box.

Items range from $1.99 - $12.99 and free shipping when you spend $65! Want to try them out? Use my link below and code: natalie for $10 off your first box.

https://kidson45th.com/natalie  

We received our first box and it was full of goodies that perfectly matched Maddy’s style. She was so excited to see what was inside. She couldn’t believe that the clothes were all for her and that they were something she would’ve picked out for herself.

Be sure to check them out for yourself.

Increasing The Brood: Practical Points If You Want More Children

Denise Benson Photography

When we undergo that journey they call motherhood, it could get to the point where we wonder how much love we have left to give. Not only this, but we have got to think about the practicalities of modern parenting. Some like the idea of having a whole collection of sprogs, but others feel that only two is enough, some even feel that one is plenty! But what is the real answer to this? For those parents that feel they need to expand their family, what are the things they have got to consider?

How Do You Both Feel (Really)?

Sometimes it's surprising, but the parents aren't always on the same page. When it comes to the practicalities of parenthood, especially if you've already got two children, there may come a point when one parent feels they are done with the late nights and long days. Naturally, there are things we can do to make sure we don't have children again, like getting to a vasectomy clinic, but before we get to this point we have to really discuss if we may want children 10 years from now. We might feel like it's a definite thing right now but we could very well change our minds further down the line. We both have to sit down and discuss, not just what we want right now, but if we are truly done with having children.

Can We Afford Any More?

It always comes down to cost, and if you feel like you want more children, but your bank balance is being stretched to its limit already, is it really fair on everyone? You have got to think about the cost of one child, and as the years go by the costs increase exponentially. Can you afford any more? You really have to look at your bank balance, your income, as well as your outgoings and see if it's really feasible. Sometimes that need to have another child overrides any common sense. It's only natural because we have this feeling within the core of ourselves that we need more children in our lives, maybe your son or daughter could benefit from having a brother or sister, and maybe you grew up with a sibling yourself so you feel that they need to experience this as well. And naturally, if you have one child, another one can create a sense of symmetry. But you have to look at these practicalities, especially when it comes to buying gifts. If you buy one child something, you’ll have to buy the other child something else. And before you know it you're relying on things like credit cards, and taking out personal loans. And as nice as it is to see your children on Christmas morning opening the presents they really want, is your bank balance going to struggle for the rest of your lives?

Could You Cope With Another Child?

It's something you need to ask yourself. If you spent a long time wading through diapers, cooking meals, and rushing around even before 6 am has hit, it's only going to increase. Having one extra child can feel like you have three more! It's important to think about your own ability to cope as parents and sometimes that need to have another child in a biological sense can soon become a thing of the past. We're proud of our children no matter what, but we all experience those moments where we just need to get away. It all becomes too much, and rather than feeling guilty about this, it makes us realize that we human. But we’re still going to think about if we can cope with having another child. Financially speaking, it's one thing, but when you've already got two or three children and then you add an extra one, you have got to think about the dynamics changing, and if your attention goes to this baby more than your other children, is it going to cause specific issues? We have to remember that when another child comes into the family, the other children can experience regressions. They can become jealous and behavioral issues can follow. And while this is natural, you still have to think about if you can cope with this in a physical and emotional sense. Being a parent is a 24-hour job, and when you add another child, it seems like there aren't enough hours in the day to do everything. Things can calm down eventually but you have to think about your own abilities to deal with the situation as well. Do you have the resources?

Why Do You Really Want Another Child?

We hear so much about band-aid babies, where they have a child because they think they can repair the relationship. A lot of people have had a child to fix the problems, but if they think having another child will make things better if they've already got children, will it exacerbate issues? Every couple experiences relationship problems, but if you think having another child will make things better, are you actually distracting yourself from the real issues? It's important to focus on the relationship. Having a child keeps you busy, and having another will keep you even busier. Does this mean that you will suffer? If you don't have time to even hang out with each other now, it's only going to increase for the next couple of years. While it's important to make time to be together without the children, if you want another child because you think it will help the relationship, you've got to get your priorities straight.

Sometimes having another child is a great thing for the entire family. but when you look at the practicalities, the emotional components, as well as the obstacles associated, it might prove to be a mountain that's difficult to climb. By no means is this a message to say don't ever have more children, but you sincerely need to make sure you know what you're getting into.

Beating The Modern Illness: Helping Your Baby Overcome Food Allergies

Pexels - CC0 Licence

It seems that food allergies are more common than ever before, and this modern illness needs overcoming. It what happens when you have children that find themselves allergic to pretty much everything common and while sensitivity to certain foods can be, to an extent, normal, if you really want your baby to overcome food allergies, what are the best ways to do this?

It All Begins At Pregnancy

The most important thing to find out is that there are various foods to eat in pregnancy that can help you out. Having a rich diet is crucial, and while a lot of people feel that it's something that can be done when the baby's born, in actual fact, it's all about what you consume. Think about improving your gut bacteria, having a wide variety of foods, but also ensuring that you have a good diet with a lot of fiber.

Do Your Best To Breastfeed

As they say, breast is best, but if your child is unable to drink breast milk, or it's too late to try and introduce it, and your child already has an allergy such as a milk allergy you can get a lactose free baby formula to help you out. If it's possible, getting your child into breastfeeding as soon as possible can be beneficial in terms of getting healthy fats and doing everything for the immune system. Breastfeeding can help prevent the development of food allergies, but you have to remember that if you restrict your diet during pregnancy, this can hinder your ability to provide appropriate nutrients to your baby. It's also important to remember that if your baby starts to develop symptoms of allergies, you can use breast milk to limit this, such as by giving them a bath in breast milk. 

Introduce Potential Allergens At 6 Months Of Age

If you want to minimize the risk of developing food allergies in your child it's worth introducing food allergens as soon as possible but primarily you should think about introducing egg and peanuts before any others. As foods like peanuts are one of the main culprits, it's important to introduce them as soon as possible in peanut butter form. Introducing allergens at around 6 months minimizes the risk of developing this later on. After introducing a few solid foods, you need to offer the main food allergens one at a time. And if you are using leftover breast milk this can help in terms of baby-led weaning, and mixing it in with other foods so the baby is still getting nutrients from the breast milk but are still trying new things.

While food allergies are commonplace now, the trick is all about a combination method. You can do a lot to minimize the potential for allergies in pregnancy while at the same time ensuring that as soon as they turn 6-months old, you expose them to the potential allergens right away. And if you have major concerns, it's always worth speaking to a doctor.

Never Underestimate the Importance of Exercise for Your Kids

Infographic Design By CiscoAthletic.com

When we think of our kids’ wellbeing, we take all sorts of things into consideration. We do our utmost to make sure they’re getting everything they need in their diet - their vitamins, their minerals, their nutrients. We want to get them into the best education possible so their minds can grow and expand. We want to make sure they’ve got positive social circles who aren’t being a bad influence to them. But one thing we don’t often take into account enough is whether our little ones are getting sufficient exercise on a daily basis.

This is understandable. Kids tend to run about and wear themselves out of their own accord. But some structured exercise could be a great addition to their weekly routines and they could even develop a love for a sport or area that they pursue for the rest of their lives for the sake of enjoyment alone! So, where can you start out?

Well, the infographic by CiscoAthletic.com below can help you to see common trends in youth sports participation and give you some ideas as to what your kid might like to get involved in. Remember, any exercise is positive, so even the smallest participation can go a long way. Whether that’s group sports, individual sports, or even soft and gentle exercises like stretching and flexibility work. Whatever your kid takes a shine to, pursue it. If your kid doesn’t seem to be enjoying something they’ve tried out, don’t force them to continue. There’ll be something out there that they like. It’s just a matter of maintaining the patience and persistence to finding it.

DIY: Baby's 1st Halloween Photos

I’ll be the first to admit that I love dressing my kids up for different holidays and taking cute photos of them but hiring a photographer can get expensive quick. So, I decided to take a different approach and do some photos myself!

I found this really cute one-piece outfit from Target for Clayton. It was easy to put on and could double as something for him to wear during the week. I love outfits that have multipurpose!

I love this option for a little girl! I think it’s perfect and easy, you will not spend a lot of time having to worry about decorations. You want the focus to be on the child.

Target Baby Halloween

I would have normally done these photos in the grass but the grass was wet so I opted for blanket and the back of the pickup truck! I turned on some music and brought my oldest daughter outside to help get Clayton to smiling. He was not really in the mood and he knew I had my camera. Every time I put it down he would laugh, so know your baby!

Friendly tip: Avoid doing this before nap times, you’ll end up with a cranky baby.

Trick or Treat Pumpkin

Before you get ready to post to Facebook or Instagram be sure create a cute design using Canva and print it out to share with family and friends. You’ll want to cherish this memory and it will be great for the baby book!

Canva is really easy to use and they have templates! The templates are so easy to work with even my 11 year old can use them.

Most of all make sure you have fun!

Hiring A Specialist Correctly

As a busy mom, there is always so much to do. Some of us go to work or stay at home and still have more household duties to tend to. Although I love a good DIY, nothing beats hiring a professional. We can’t do it all and shouldn’t have to. So here are a few tips to help you choose the best person for the job.

We often think of businesses as being comprised of many employees, assigned to many departments. You have your support professionals, your HR people, your PR people, and your managers just to name a few. Some might even double up on roles. For example, a chef in a restaurant might also clean it deeply each night, meaning that they also take up the role of cleaner and help you save money through that.

When hiring a specialist for your business, things can seem just a little out of the ordinary. First of all, a particular job that you’re hiring for might not be on a permanent basis, but temporary, or covering several frequent contracts over time. On top of that, it might be difficult to communicate with the specialist exactly what you need. This will be due to your own lack of expertise in said field, which is of course the first purpose of hiring them in the first place.

Luckily, hiring a specialist correctly needn’t be a horrendously difficult scenario. We believe you can achieve some great results, especially embodied through the following advice:

Know Their Portfolio

It’s important to look through the portfolio of a specialist. Sometimes, it’s not the huge, spanning projects they have completed and placed front and centre that matter to you, but the smaller conducted work they have completed that holds the most relevant to your task at hand. A portfolio might take the form of testimonials, work examples, or perhaps verified tasks they have completed outsourcing to other businesses. For example, vinyl cuttings www.vinylcuttingmachineguide.com or potential workshop implementation experience could help you set up your art studio correctly, despite them moving into a more creative space as of late. Carefully discussing the relevant parts of a portfolio with said specialist can help you both get a better idea of said mutual suitability.

Outsource Effectively

Outsourcing effectively is an important task to consider, and can actually make the most difference in the long term. Working with sites that allow you to contact freelancers can be worthwhile, or putting out a job listing for temporary contracts can allow those professionals to come to you. It depends how quickly or immediately you wish to hire, and if you have a direct idea of what job you wish to fulfill, or wish to liaise with a specialist in this manner. Often, professional websites (such as Upwork for writers) can connect you with more established freelancers.

Referrals

It could be that some of your allied business partners are able to discuss particular referrals with you, giving you a clearer depiction of a professional to use. Sometimes, you might find that someone who directed the full advertisement campaign for a business you respect is available through the sources you are using, and so you wish to contact them. What matters is finding a verified professional, and also building worthwhile relationships that could potentially last into the future. If you achieve this, you can make the most difference in the long term.

With these tips - you are certain to hire a specialist correctly.

Early Introduction to Peanuts | Lil Mixins Peanut Powder

I received this product for free from Moms Meet to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided. 

This opportunity from Moms Meet and Lil’ Mixins came right on time! At Clayton’s last doctor’s appointment we were told to start introducing peanut butter and eggs into his diet. I’ll be honest I was shocked. I’m like he’s only 6 months old, should we really be doing this? I thought that eating peanut butter and passing it through my breastmilk was enough. Studies say otherwise – early and regular exposure to peanuts can reduce the risk of babies acquiring a peanut allergy.

I’ve seen firsthand what can happen when a child has an allergic reaction and it’s not pretty!

My doctor suggested that I put a teaspoon of peanut butter on a spoon and just give it to him. That made me extremely nervous. Well, Lil Mixins solved that problem for us.

According to their website, “We take organic peanuts, powder them using a special process that preserves the proteins, and put them into a jar. Our process assures that when you add our powder to your baby's food, milk or formula, it won't turn back into peanut butter and choke them. Instead, it stays safely suspended in their food or milk.”

I started slow with introducing this to Clayton and I even tasted it myself. We began by trying it in his cereal. It was extremely easy and blended very well! He ate it all with no problems. I watched him over the next 3 hours to see if anything happened and we were in the clear.

Now he is ready when he sees me scooping powder from the jar!

The jar recommends using it 3x a week for the perfect introduction and even tells you how much to put in. One jar will last you for 3 months which is equal to over 40 servings! Now do you want to get your hands on some? If so, click here and use the promo code: MOMSMEET20 for 20% off your entire purchase!

Products they offer:

Infant Egg Powder

Infant Peanut Powder

Sample – Peanut Powder

Infant Tree Nut (Coming Soon)

 Food Combo Ideas:

Banana Puree + Peanut Powder

Cereal + Peanut Powder

Carrot Puree + Peanut Powder

Applesauce + Cereal + Peanut Powder

Blueberries + Cereal + Peanut Powder

Happy tasting!