Our Smart Baby

Toddler bedtime battles happen almost every night in our home. It seems as though our toddler just doesn't want to sleep. He no longer takes naps and he doesn't like to go to sleep until late at night. While many experts suggest that our toddler will get the sleep they need when they need it, I think it is only appropriate to atleast have a bedtime routine established to help with the bedtime process. Our area of concern is that we want him to go to bed earlier each night.

When it is nearing bedtime, there are a few things I do to start the process of getting ready to go to sleep. These bedtime routine quick tips may help you out too.

1.) Give your toddler a small snack.
2.) Bath your toddler. I use the soothing/calming Lavender body wash.
3.) Put on toddler's pajamas
4.) Read some books or put on some easy listening or soft classical music. ( I have been guilty of not doing the part of the classical music). We usually read but I have some lullaby music that I am going to try this week in hopes to calm my toddler down more and make the transition easier.
5.) After reading, turn the lights down and if you child needs it, I suggest rocking them. I don't see anything wrong with rocking your toddler to sleep. After all, its's not like you will be rocking them forever. They grow up so fast so cherish the time you have and allow them to need you.

Most parents probably already do these steps above but some of you may find this useful. I hope it has proven to be useful for you.

ToddlerToddler.com offers free activities for Toddlers and the website posts new activities each weekday. Toddlers can also win prizes by doing one of the activities and submitting a photo of the activity they created from the toddlertoddler.com site.

ToddlerToddler also uses modern supplies and technology for many of their fun and creative crafts. I am already loving this site and will be using these crafts and activities with both my toddler and my 5 year old son. This site also stresses more parental involvement and interaction with the crafts. I love this because our toddlers need our time and love more than anything.

Some of their past activities have been:
Plastic Cup Surprise
Flashlight Hunt
Garden Fun
Make a CD book
Go to a Virtual Zoo!
Toddler Newspaper
Cereal Dominos
Felt Pizza Party
Toddler Hopscotch

Go to ToddlerToddler.com today! You and your toddler will have tons of fun!

Toddlers don't need alot of tv. Some parents allow their children to watch tv and that is perfectly fine and normal. However, you should limit the amount of tv time that your toddler watches. You should also monitor the types of tv shows that your toddler watches.

Today I came across an amazing resource site, called InsteadofTV.com

Instead of TV focuses on more time spent with family and less time spent watching tv. Although this site can be beneficial for the entire family I think it can be a great resource for awareness about your toddler and tv.

You can also sign up for their free newsletter and receive for free 100 things to do instead of tv. Wow! This a great freebie for those of you with toddlers looking for more activities and fun things to do with your family.

13 Things For Your Child To Do (Instead of Watch TV)

C'mon, admit it. You sometimes use the television set as a cheap babysitter.
That's ok...we ALL do it sometimes! Ah, but it's a double-edged sword, because kids who watch a lot of TV have trouble keeping themselves entertained, which in the long run makes your job harder!

If you're trying to limit the TV viewing in your household, you might need a little inspiration. Try these TV-free activities guaranteed to keep the kids busy... at least for a little while!

1) Make paper airplanes
Warning: This one is highly addictive! My two boys absolutely love making paper airplanes. Buy them a book on the fine arts of paper airplane making, and then put your feet up and read a book.

2) Make a tower with toothpicks and peas
Go ahead- encourage them to play with their food!

3) Make homemade ice cream
Put two parts milk and cream and one part sugar in a coffee can, with any flavorings you want. Put the lid on, then put it in a bigger can and pour ice around the little can. Put rock salt on the ice. Put a lid on the big can, and give it to your child to roll it back and forth for about 1/2 hour or until it turns into ice cream! (Do this one even if it's winter...I won't tell!)

4) Give them a magnet and instruct them to run it all over the house and see what they find. And loose couch change is fair game!

5) If you have bunk beds, put blankets around the lower one and make a
submarine. Make it a yellow blanket. Then sing the appropriate Beatles tune.

6) Play First Family Savings and Loan
Save your cancelled checks and fake credit cards that come in the mail. Supply the kids with a calculator, pencils, small table and Monopoly money. This one was my favorite as a kid!

7) Build a mini log cabin with twigs

8) Have a tic-tac-toe tournament

9) Make your own soda.
Here's an easy recipe: http://www.easyfunschool.com/article2052.html

10) Make a card for Grandma
Get out the rubber stamps, art supplies and construction paper and make a greeting card for Grandma or another loved one.

11) Bake a cake
Buy the kids an easy cake or brownie mix and let them loose in the kitchen. Tell them they can enjoy the fruits of their labors as long as they clean up all mess.

12) Make up a treasure hunt
Buy cheap dollar store toys. Hide in your closet. Make a list of items they must find outside. (A white rock, a feather, a red leaf, a penny, etc) Tell them an exciting booty awaits when they bring all the items to you.

13) Make a cave inside the house.
Put old blankets over the backs of chairs or over a table to make a tent.
Grab a flashlight and instruct child to go read scary stories inside it.

www.InsteadofTV.com is a resource for parents trying to turn off the TV and turn on life. Sign up for our free newsletter and get "101 Things To Do Instead of Watch TV".

By the way, Turn off TV Week is just around the corner starting April 24 through April 30.

My soon to be 2 year old toddler has a passion for crayons and coloring books. He also has started drawing on everything including our walls. Below is a great crayon removal tip for you so that you can remove crayon marks from your walls.

At first I thought that their is no way we can get these HUGE crayon marks off of our walls. You can view the pictures in my crayon king blog entry here

I assumed that we would need to paint the walls. Someone suggested Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. I didnt think they would work since I had used them before on our old walls and they just crumbled. Well, I thought I would try them again. I was at a local dollar store yesterday and saw some store brand magic crayon erasers for only $1.00 I got 2 magic erasers for only $1.00. I bought one package to see if the store brand was as good as the name brand and they were BETTER. I got all the marks off and our walls look great.

You can find these at your local dollar store and it is a very cheap way to remove crayons from your home walls.

My toddler is a picky eater with stomach issues. It has been hard to find healthy quick and easy toddler snacks for him. The article below presents some healthy quick and easy snacks for your growing toddler. Parents should provide quick healthy snacks throughout the day for their toddler.

Quick and Easy Snacks For Your Toddler by C. Steendahl

Your growing toddler needs to snack quite a few times a day in addition to eating regular meals with the rest of the family. Here are a few quick and easy snack ideas that you can put together in just a few minutes. You toddler will enjoy these yummy snacks.

Ham and Cheese Crackers

Cut up some pieces of ham and cheese and serve them with some crackers. If you want to make it fun, use a cookie cutter to cut fun shapes out of the cheese.

Fruit Dip

Caution, this can get a little messy!

Cut up some fruit in bite size chunks and serve with a small bowl of yogurt. Encourage your toddler to dip the fruit in the yogurt. This is an easy way to get your toddler to eat a serving of fruit, while also getting some extra calcium and protein in his/her diet from the yogurt.

Low Sugar Cereal

I always keep a box of low sugar cereal like cheerios in my pantry. They make a great snack with a little milk, or even just a bowl of dry cereal. Dry cereal also make a great take-along snack. Just throw a serving in a Ziploc bag and toss it in your purse.

Veggies and Dip

Keep some cut up veggies in the fridge. Small pieces of carrot, peeled cucumber, celery as well as small sections of broccoli and cauliflower all make great finger food for toddlers. Make sure the pieces are very small to prevent choking or steam them to soften them up. Serve with a little ranch dressing if desired.

Peanut Butter Sandwich

A PB&J has been a snack staple for ages. Mix things up by toping the peanut butter with some thin slices of apple or banana instead of the jelly. Or try smearing the peanut butter on a tortilla. Add jelly and roll it up. Cut the rolled up tortilla into strips for a fun new way to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Quick Cheese Quesadilla

Place a soft tortilla on a microwave safe plate. Top one half with cheese and fold the other half over it. Microwave 30-60 seconds or until the cheese is melted. Cut into wedges and let it cool a little before serving.

Quick Smoothie

Throw half a banana or some berries in a blender along with some vanilla yogurt and a splash of milk. Add a little ice if desired and blend until smooth. Serve in a sippy cup or with a straw for a quick fruit smoothie. Your toddler will love drinking a milkshake for a snack.

Give these fast, easy and healthy snack ideas for your toddler a try. By the way, these make great snacks for everyone else in the family as well – including mom.

Christine Steendahl Is The Founder Of Dine Without Whine – A Family Friendly Weekly Menu Planner. Eliminate Your Dinner Hour Stress And Re-Discover The Pleasure Of The Dinner Hour! For A Free Sample Menu Visit http://www.dinewithoutwhine.com/info

Article Source: www.ladypens.com

I have discovered the cutest diaper change gadget for baby and toddler boys. It is called the Pee Pee Tee Pee. The product description says it's for protecting yourself from danger during diaper changes of baby boys. Strategically place the Pee Pee Tee Pee on your baby boy so that both of you stay dry during a diaper change. This is one of the cutest gadgets I have seen thus far for babies and toddlers.

You can purchase the Pee Pee Tee Pee from Modern Tots

Since Mother's Day is coming up and our audience is filled with many moms and parents, I thought I would share this article with each of you. There will be more Mother's Day posts to come.

Mother's Day is the one day you get to show your mom exactly how much you love her. Why not give her a gift of all of her favorite things, all put together to resemble a cake. She’ll know how much she means to you when she receives one that has her own special soft fluffy bath towel, kitchen hand towels uniquely matching the kitchen she works so hard in, or perhaps her favorite flavored coffee. You can fill the towel cakes with all the items your mom loves the most.

Some unique ideas also including making a tea cake, coffee lovers cake, gardeners cake, or spa cake. Add some ribbon or tulle and flowers and you have made the perfect design cake, that mom is sure to love and never forget.

Try these tips to make a towel cake for Mother's Day:

1) Making a template for the cake base is very simple. By folding the towels a certain way and using corsage pins, ribbon and some patience you to can make these wonderful gifts.

2) To make a Spa Cake - First ask yourself is Mom a bath person or a shower person?

For the Mom who loves to soak in the tub use-Bath teas, Bath salts, Scented Candle, Bath Bombs, and some nice silky body butter for after the bath.

For the Mom who loves taking long hot showers, use-Shower Gels, Body Scrubs, Scented soaps, a long handled Body Sponge, Sea Sponge, and some nice Body Lotion for after the shower.

3) To Make Tea Cakes-Take a kitchen towel with pictures of a teapot or teacups, gourmet teas, gourmet honey, and lemon cookies or Mom’s favorite chocolates. You could even fit a cute mug in the cake.

4) Coffee Lovers Cake-Same as above but coffee themed. Flavored coffee, mints, mug, chocolate spoons, flavored sticks for stirring and maybe Mom’s favorite magazine or book.

5) Put your creation on a pretty round plate as a keepsake for Mom. Take some tulle from the fabric store and wrap cake up, tie with ribbon add a nice card and you have made the gift Mom will never forget. Best of all everything can be used with these cakes.

For more information stop by our site at http://www.makeadiapercake.biz and chat with some of our more than 300 members who are sharing ideas and tips on the cakes they are making. This is also a perfect opportunity for those looking to start a home-based business. Unique, fun, and profitable. What more could you ask?

While looking for stylish shoes for my toddler, I came across the cutest toddler shoes today. These are soft-soled shoes for toddlers and babies. These soft soled shoes come in a variety of colors, styles, and sizes for your precious toddler. There are several styles for both boys and girls. You can find these shoes at CuteBabyShoes.com starting at only $24.95

Many pediatricians recommend soft soled shoes for babies and toddlers up until age two. These are the perfect and most stylish shoes for your child if you are looking for comfort and soft soles. You can read more about the benefits of soft soled shoes over here