In 5 minutes, you can prep this fine motor activity for infants and toddlers. Around 6 months old, infants can grasp and handle toys and balls pretty well. They may even be rolling or lightly tossing a ball to you during playtime. Infants develop so much over the course of their first year, but it is fun to see all the changes. This activity can be done with infants as young … [Read more...]
How to Prepare for Having Twins
Are you having twins? When I told my husband the ultrasound showed two babies, he said, “How did that happen?” Perfect dad response isn’t it? He is a silly one, but preparing for twins is serious business. If you are having twins, prepare now. These are the tips that helped me prepare for having twins. I hope it will be encouragement that YOU CAN DO IT! What you need to … [Read more...]
DIY Books for Babies and Toddlers
Creating DIY books for babies is a simple way to introduce babies and toddlers to reading and books while creating an infant activity they can play with for months and years. I made DIY books for my oldest daughter (baby #2) when she was less than a year old and we still have the book I made for her 4 years later! They are pretty sturdy , but you should always supervise. … [Read more...]
Peek-A-Boo Boxes: DIY Personalized Toy for Babies
Finding activities to occupy your infant can be tricky. Not all activities listed as "for baby" are really appropriate for children younger than 1 year old. This DIY personalized toy for babies is perfect for infants who are able to hold onto toys and are beginning to use their fine motor skills to grasp. A good age range for this activity is 4 months and up, but you know your … [Read more...]
Essential Oils for Pregnancy, Babies and Children
Essential Oils for Babies, Pregnancy and Children There are so many uses for essential oils whether you are pregnant or already have children. From aiding restful sleep, to minimizing tension, to dietary supplements that support the body, essential oils are a way to maintain wellness and encourage your health as well as the health of your children. I will be sharing … [Read more...]
Essential Nursery Gear (for Twins or Single Babies)
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Levana. The opinions and text are all mine. Please view my disclosure. We have had single babies and twins, so setting up a nursery multiple times has taught us about what gear is essential for caring for babies. As a mom, I have spent a lot of time in my baby's rooms: breastfeeding, changing, rocking and night … [Read more...]
Tips and Benefits of Finding Your “Mom Tribe”
{Guest Post}My 19 month old daughter and I wandered down to our local library the other day so she could pick out books that featured Elmo on the cover (her cute new obsession). When we arrived, I noticed a "Baby Story Time" taking place in the kids' section - mamas and their new little babies all in a circle reading books. I was a little taken off guard because I used to know … [Read more...]
Sensory Bin for Babies with Cloth Napkins
Infants often dislike tummy time. Giving them a simple sensory bin for babies can keep them playing (and getting stronger) longer. Simple baby activities are a nice way to introduce sensory exploration and language to infants. (PLUS, as moms, it gives us a feeling of actually teaching our infants and engaging with them.) … [Read more...]
Complete Guide for Stay-at-Home Moms: Child Loss and Miscarriage
Child loss and miscarriage is something I grew up with. It was part of my childhood. My parents lost a baby 10 days after he was born. Justin, was 1 1/2 years younger than I and considering that my mom had a c-section, she had to recover from that surgical birth longer than her baby was alive. My parents had Justin cremated, and he was always with us, in his little box, … [Read more...]
Complete Guide for Stay-at-Home Moms: Pregnancy and Caring for Baby
Are you a pregnant mom or just gave birth to a baby? We have gathered resources for pregnancy and caring for baby from stay-at-home moms who have been through single pregnancies, twin pregnancies, high risk pregnancies, and ultra calm pregnancies. We have experiences here from moms who have given birth naturally, had c-sections, had VBACs and moms of twins! You will … [Read more...]
For the Moms Who Have C-sections
As soon as I found out I was pregnant and we told our parents and emailed everyone we knew (before Facebook), I started thinking about delivery. I hoped to have a c-section. Yep, I just said I actually wanted to have a c-section.Left and right mothers share their natural birth stories, but surgery was more comfortable for me. I had had multiple surgeries already, so that route … [Read more...]
Moms Share Together: Baby Carrier Recommendations
You learn a lot as you grown as a mom. I remember the list of gear that my husband and I registered for was pretty light. I had very honest friends who offered their advice on what we needed as well as what we did not. When the twins were born, we had very few people we knew who had twins, so we started from scratch on some things like gathering baby carrier … [Read more...]
Can Babies Be Bad News?
Until my twin pregnancy, I never thought pregnancy and a baby were anything other than blessings. They are gifts from God, rewards one verse calls them. That is what I thought until we traveled down the road of genetic testing with the twins. I still remember the phone call like it happened yesterday: "Hello, may I speak with Mrs. Erickson?" "Yes, this is … [Read more...]
Homemade Baby Food
Making your own baby food allows you to buy in bulk, cook large batches and store in bulk. For me this means less running to the store and less expense. Don't have an infant? Read on for an amazing tip for moms of toddlers and preschoolers, from a fellow mom and reader of this blog, to make your own pureed food snack pouches! Simple, easy snack idea. … [Read more...]
9 Tips for Painting with Infants
This post is sponsored by Language Launchers. All opinions are my own. Please see my disclosure. Painting with infants does not have to be scary and it is a great way to explore with your baby at home. Many moms are always searching for activities to do with their infants. I decided to expand my list of tips for painting with infants to include in The Ultimate Guide to … [Read more...]