I originally published this post when M was a baby, in 2014, and it was one of the first posts on my fledgling blog that was read by many. As a woman with a voice, with a following, I measure my words carefully, as I am required to do.

That’s why, with my third child now six months old, with much more experience gained, I feel the need to re-approach this article.

There’s also something the kids’ pediatrician said the other day, during Princess A’s six month well visit. He asked about my blog, how it’s going, if it’s still going strong. And he said “you can really help people”. And I realize that’s true – and that carries with it a responsibility.

So while I try to keep things here more lighthearted, I’m going to approach a subject that is the cause of so much angst for so many moms: breastfeeding.

I don’t know why it’s like that. I think that most mothers want to do whatever they can to give their kids only the best, at whatever cost. And we sometimes ask ourselves: what cost is worth it? Breastfeeding is such a sensitive subject, and yet, I feel the need to discuss this.

Before I share actual breastfeeding tips, I need to share my experience and my history with breastfeeding.

My breastfeeding story

All three of my children started out receiving formula and transitioned to breastfeeding.

I will repeat.

All three of my children transitioned from BOTTLE to BREAST.

I say this because it’s critical for moms to understand that bottle feeding in the first few days is not a breastfeeding death sentence.

I will also say that with my third child, I had the maturity to understand that there was a point where the correct decision might have been to stop breastfeeding, as the extreme pain had a serious impact on my mental health. I remind mothers out there: mental health is real health.

However, I didn’t know what to do with all that milk so I continued trying…

M’s delivery was extremely traumatic. He was too weak and lethargic to latch. We had to wake him for feedings – he wouldn’t cry at all. We bottle fed him, and, starting with a nipple shield, eventually transitioned him. He was also jaundiced, and so we followed medical advice and gave him formula.

I still attempted to breastfeed him, and so, while all feeding (bottle and breast) was touch-and-go, he was breastfed for fifteen months.

Y had low blood sugar when he was born. The hospital encouraged bottles, however he didn’t really take them.

Every time they checked, his numbers were still low, and he had tremors. They really pushed me to give bottles (I wasn’t resistant to it – he just wasn’t taking them nicely). Eventually they offered me an ultimatum: next time they check, if his numbers are still low, he’s going straight to the NICU. So make sure he takes that bottle.

And make sure I did. He drank two ounces, and tested well the next time. We continued to bottle feed until I really had enough milk. We then transitioned smoothly, again, using a nipple shield as a tool, and eventually weaning him from that. Had I not bottle fed him initially, he could have suffered seizures and worse.

At one point, I had thrush, and again, in hindsight maybe I should have quit due to how it impacted my mental health, but I didn’t. He breastfed until nine months old, when my supply dwindled. He was sick a lot, and each time he didn’t eat nicely, causing my supply to decrease further.

Princess A just needed more. For her first 24 hours, she was fine with whatever I had, but then she cluster fed through the entire night, still crying, until I was crying to the hospital staff to give me a bottle for her…

My milk didn’t come in until close to a week after she was born. Had I not insisted on giving her formula, she could have dehydrated or worse!

I did try breastfeeding throughout, giving her a bottle only after breast, but giving her that bottle after every feed. I won’t go through every nightmare with her, as that’s a subject for another time, but eventually she did transition to breast, and, at six months, she is my best breastfeeder.

I share these stories only to encourage those of you who are actively seeking out breastfeeding tips not to take extreme measures and to understand that formula is a lifesaving invention.

However, since you want to give breastfeeding a good go, I am happy to share some tried and true mom-to-mom breastfeeding tips.

These tips go in order of my struggles, with some of them targeted toward any problems you might have. They are also designed to help you make it easier on yourself, so that you’re more likely to stick to it.

I started off with newborn issues, such as latching and a weak suck, and went on to tummy problems, and restlessness. I dealt with thrush, vasospasm, nipple confusion, and more.

One thing I must note: the main thing is that your baby is fed! If you feel like your baby is not gaining weight, always discuss your concerns with the pediatrician. The end goal is a fed baby, not a breastfed baby – remember that! Fed is Best is a fantastic resource for baby feeding education. They are pro breastfeeding and pro formula feeding and that is not a contradiction.

Is breastfeeding for you?

Again, I cannot responsibly share breastfeeding tips before addressing that it’s simply not the only way to be a fantastic mother. I also can’t answer that question for you. You need to be honest with yourself, at every point of your journey. You need to discuss concerns with your pediatrician, with your partner, and if you can with a mentor who truly cares for you.

You are not, in any way, an inferior mother if you don’t breastfeed – even if it’s not because you can’t.

You are not “taking the easy way out”. It’s a pain in the butt to prepare bottles.

Parenting is never easy.

Choose what’s best for your baby and family, and discuss all your feeding decisions with your pediatrician.

These breastfeeding tips are for moms who have decided to breastfeed, have a good supply of milk, and are struggling to make that connection.

Another point: it helps to have a connection with a mental health professional who is a good match for you.

Breastfeeding Tips For the Early Days

1. Seek advice but adapt it to your needs

I’ve gotten advice in all forms. Some was from loved ones, some from experts. Even some of the expert advice was simply not tailored to me.

You know yourself best, and sometimes what an expert might tell you simply might not apply to you,  especially when you hear contradictory advice. You’ll need to choose which to follow according to your needs.

When I first tried to nurse, I held my baby in the most natural position for me. The nurses and lactation consultants who were helping me at the time told me that I should hold my baby a different way – it’ll help us get started.

I was endlessly frustrated, as the different position felt awkward and still wasn’t working. I kept trying this failing technique until another nurse came by and told me that that second position is great for larger women, but for a small women like myself, I should try the original position.

So sometimes following your gut actually works.

2. Try a Nipple Shield

This advice is a perfect example of the point above. Many will say it’s a great tool for breastfeeding. Many people have told me that it takes away from the natural feel and dynamic of breastfeeding. When we live in a world where moms are not only required to breastfeed, but to do it in the “perfect way” – without the use of fantastic tools – we are failing these new moms.

I was handed a Medela nipple shield while trying to get M to latch. While it did not solve the issue of a weak suck, it took us over the hurdle of latching. I can say with confidence that if not for that, I would not have been able to nurse him. This took us through multiple breastfeeding issues with Y as well.

When Princess A was a baby the hospital lactation consultant was extremely disparaging toward nipple shields. I believe that’s why I suffered so much pain later in the game, as I found it to help provide a “buffer” with nipple confusion.

I highly recommend it for babies with latching issues. It did make breastfeeding less convenient, and weaning is a process. We did successfully wean both boys from the shield by three months.

3. Don’t Let them Discourage You!

Sometimes, people will sincerely tell you things like “it should be easy”or, “breastfeeding should come naturally.” I’ve also gotten,  “infants will make their way to the breast on their own.”

Any number other things that may have been true for them might only be true for you in your dreams. Try to filter out these comments. You know your own struggle. Anyone who’s been through it knows it.

It’s not as easy as they make it out to be. Validating your struggles is critical to your own mental health, and can empower you to do it.

4. Let them Encourage You!

While you’re filtering out the unhelpful comments, make sure you absorb the helpful ones. Don’t just absorb them – let them lift you up!

I had the never ending support of my mother and my husband, plus some other friends and family members, who stood by me, helping me out. My mother celebrated every milestone – whether it was a breastfeed a day, or completely weaning him from the nipple shield.

 I was on a hot bus with M, who was screaming, and we were stuck in traffic. A group of women sitting next to me insisted on holding up blankets for me so that I can breastfeed more comfortably. These little things kept me going.
 

Breastfeeding Tips for the Transitioning Stage

5. Appreciate that it’s a process that doesn’t happen overnight

The first few days postpartum tend to pass in a blur. Personally, I felt out of control then. I had a difficult birth, and was so focused on my pain, anything that happened was very passive. So, despite my best intentions, for the first few days, baby hardly got a drop of breast milk.

But I knew I wanted to nurse. And so, I gradually started switching out a feeding at a time. Breastfeeding can be exhausting, and when you’ve started on bottles, making the switch can be challenging.

With M, at first I did one breastfeeding a day. Then we went to every third feeding, then every other, and then a few weeks in, he was getting a formula bottle a night. Eventually I started pumping for his nighttime feedings, as I still wanted the extra sleep that having a “Daddy feed” gave me. (I highly recommend a good breast pump if you are transitioning! I have this one and love it.)

6. Give Yourself Privacy

In the days when I was first struggling to get the right position, and later when the crying stage kicked in, I found that having absolute privacy was a must. We see all those breastfeeding advocates who seem to just whip out the nips with no concerns, but, especially in those first days, some of us are simply more private. There’s no shame in that!

Trying to struggle under a blanket, or even just trying to be somewhat discreet can only complicate manners. Giving myself space really helped; whether it was simply requesting that those in the room leave, or not look, or going into the privacy of my own bedroom. It also took off the pressure in a MAJOR way.

Eventually, baby and I gained the skills to be able to breastfeed under a swaddle blanket. Nursing tops will really help later in the game as well.

Breastfeeding Tips for the Screaming Baby

7. Try to Make Tummy Feel Good 

In the days when M would go hysterical at every feeding, we eventually decided that it was tummy issues. That was affirmed when it stopped happening regularly soon after the three month mark (which is when many will say the typical newborn stomach aches go away).

I helped sooth it while feeding which did calm him a little (it’s all the small things combined that made a difference.)

I held him slightly upright – so his legs were lower than his head. I also pushed his legs up to his tummy, which helped release gas and soothe the tummy.

8. Rock Baby if Things Get Desperate

I know, its hard enough to nurse without having to rock your baby. But when nothing else worked, sometimes actually standing and swaying while feeding helped. Yes, it was exhausting. Sometimes we even gave a bottle when he needed this – that way Daddy can help. (You can pump, of course, if you’re exclusively breastfeeding).

I did not have a rocking chair. I wish I had one at the time. I HIGHLY recommend this, as it can solve this one issue. Sitting and rocking the baby can provide the movement that is key to soothing. With A I had one and it was really a game changer.

9. Keep Pumped Milk Handy

While many associate pumping milk with having others feed the baby, it’s a great tool in general to maintain breastfeeding. When baby seemed impossible to feed, yet was hysterically hungry, we sometimes managed to “force” in an ounce or two from a bottle that helped calm him down, so that he can actually breastfeed.

Another advantage to pumping: it’ll help keep up your milk supply, even if you’re missing a feeding here and there. I did not have an easy time with pumping, so I did it at the time of the missed feeding. This helped with letdown (I was missing nursing the baby), plus, my supply was at its best then.

Tip: Use an electric pump for missed feedings. A manual breast pump can become very tiring. Also, it gave me a repetitive stress injury (tendinitis), which affected my general ability to care for my baby (I couldn’t lift him!)

You don’t need a double pump, especially if you’re only pumping once or twice a day. Relax with a movie or book, don’t rush the process, and try to enjoy it. However, if you find it stressful, a double pump does the work twice as fast when used with a pumping bra.

Another lifesaver I only had with A – the inexpensive Haakaa pump! When I say not to use a manual pump, I am not talking about this. This lifesaver is not only much more ergonomic to use as an actual pump, it also serves as a milk catcher while breastfeeding the other side. If I use it for the first two feeds of the day, I get a whole “free” bottle of breast milk! One of the best breastfeeding tips that is truly a game changer is to use the Haakaa pump to build up your stash.

10. DON’T STRESS!!!

Do you find that whenever someone yells at you not to be so stressed out, the stress starts mounting? Yup, I’ve got the same issue. And it doesn’t take much to stress me out. But I definitely saw a connection between my stress levels and baby’s willingness to nurse. Babies can sense a mother’s stress levels and it can cause problems.

Right before our big move from Jerusalem to New York, my baby had one of his hysteria phases. As  you can imagine, that was just what I didn’t need. Of course my stress levels were skyrocketing then. Very soon after the move – possibly the first feeding – that phase ended.

While I can probably write a whole new post on ways to minimize stress, I’ll simply try to offer a few small tips:

First, don’t sit and worry about whether baby will or won’t agree to eat. Try to put yourself in a frame of mind that’s focused only on providing for him, and leave baby’s end up to him.

Also, distraction can help when things are rough. Read a little. Listen to calming music. Don’t put all your focus and worries on feeding. You can start the relaxation process before you start feeding as well.

Breastfeeding Tips for Specific issues

11. Distraction – remove distractions and give something to keep baby focused

My baby was active from the start. By the start, I mean about sixteen weeks into my pregnancy when I started feeling movement. Since then he’s been constantly in motion. To this day, he sometimes finds it hard to relax for a meal.

My almost foolproof solution is to bring his favorite lovie or toy to the feeding. I touch the soft blanket to his cheek and he right away relaxes. Throughout the feeding, I snuggle him with blanket or doll and he almost always stays put.

This helps even more if you remove distractions.

That seems to be the obvious answer when that’s the issue, but sometimes it’s hard to find exactly what it is. I’ve found that a dark room helps. Having Daddy in the room doesn’t.

So we close the door, make the room dark, and sometimes even give him something he likes to hold – such as a book, or my glasses. This helps him focus  on that one thing, and makes him more ready to nurse. (Update: at seven, M is still easily distracted!)

12. Diagnose Pain

Breastfeeding can be painful and I think that’s what gets many moms to give up on it. And no mom should have to breastfeed through excruciating pain.

However, diagnosing the pain can make a world of a difference, especially if, like me, you are struggling to stop. With Y my pain was caused by thrush, and fixing that helped. With A, nipple vasospasm was the cause. Treating it was as simple as keeping it warm and taking supplements.

A doctor can often prescribe an APNO ointment which targets a few problems at once.

A few tools that helped me breastfeed

I’m summarizing the top tools, although I did mention some of these above. Some of these made all the difference.

1. Nipple shield – saved my breastfeeding by M and Y
2. Haakaa pump – saves milk without much effort
3. Lanolin – I used a few tubes in A’s first months
4. Thick cloth nursing pads – these helped keep me warm when I had vasospasm (I used them with disposable pads as I had this issue when I was too leaky for the cloth alone)
5. APNO – you’ll need a doctor to prescribe this

M nursed until he weaned himself at the age of 15 months. It’s simply mind-boggling, considering the issues we dealt with.

Gosh, breastfeeding is tough. Kudos to all the moms who have done it, and to all the moms who knew when the right time was to stop…

You’re doing great mama!

Did these tips help you? Share your own breastfeeding tips in the comments below!

The post 12 Mom to Mom Breastfeeding Tips appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

When you have kids, you will find that the amount of clothes in their closet likely surpasses the amount of clothes hanging in your closet.

Especially when they are babies.

Babies often need multiple outfits per day due to drool, spit up, and even diaper leaks and blowouts. They also outgrow their clothes so quickly it is necessary to have numerous sizes in their closet to keep them covered through growth spurts.

However, once the clothes are outgrown, it can lead to numerous storage totes. If you are looking to free up some space, offload those baby clothes and make some cash off of them. Here are some great places to sell used baby clothes.

Where to sell used baby clothes for cash – garage sale sites:

If you are not a fan of filling up your garage, while strangers roam around and shuffle through your belongings, consider selling your clothing online. There are an incredible amount of garage sale groups on Facebook, so find a few that are local to you, and start listing.

Are you one of the few that still does not have a Facebook account? Not to worry, Craigslist.com is still a great way to list your items!

No matter where you choose to list your clothing, just be sure to meet your buyers somewhere safe, like your local police station parking lot. I have sold so many items on these garage sale sites, especially having four kids. Safety is always super important. I like to do bin pickups. This is where you set the item out and then the person comes to pick it up on their leisure. I have them leave the money in an envelope or somewhere else safe.

Where to sell baby used clothes for cash Locally:

Consignment shops sell gently used clothing for girls, boys,  and all sizes and brands. Going this route is great when you are looking to sell lots of clothing, instead of just outfits here and there.

While you may not get quite as much cash back, from selling the articles of clothing individually, it is your safest route.

Children’s Resales are basically a massive children’s garage sale. They most often occur in early spring, and late summer. Some resales will have you purchase tables or space, and you can physically be present to sell your children’s clothing. Others simply ask you to price and hang your items on hangers, while the resale volunteers hang, organize and cash people out.

Weeks later you will have a check in hand! One of my favorite children’s resale shops is Once Upon a Child.

Where to sell used baby clothes for cash online:

Resell on eBay

Yes, there are still people who do eBay out there. If you don’t want to leave the comfort of your own home and want to earn cash, eBay is a great option.

People head to eBay for their “lots.” This means you can sell your baby clothes online in bulk and people will buy them. As long as the baby clothes are in good shape, you can expect to make a good chunk of money selling everything online.

If you don’t want to resell on eBay, there are TONS of online shops for reselling your kids clothes. Here are a few favorites:

• My Kid’s Threads
• Kidizen  

Sometimes you can sell to friends or family to make cash for those baby clothes. Whatever you don’t sell, you can always give away too.

I have a small box of baby clothes put away from my daughter, sometimes the items are more sentimental and not worth selling. For those items you are ready to get rid of, you can make some serious cash for them! I will say that the baby clothes that are in better shape make the better money, as do designer brands.

Want to share where to sell used baby clothes for cash? Comment below with your most successful spots!

About the Author:

Jess Weaver has been a work at home mom for almost 8 years. She owns www.jessleewrites.com and specializes in copywriting and ghostwriting. She’s the mom of 3 boys and 1 girl. Her time gets filled with writing, baseball, teaching her kiddos, and exploring the world with the fam.

The post Where to Sell Used Baby Clothes for Cash appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

What is the best video baby monitor – Parent Unit or WiFi?

There are two main kinds of video baby monitors featured here:

1. Those that include a parent unit with a display for viewing the baby
2. Those that require you to use your phone for viewing over WiFi

When searching for the best video baby monitor, there’s one thing you’ll need to keep in mind: they simply do not have the crisp, clear images that they are advertised with. In that way, they are all equal. You need to see photos in the reviews for the real image quality.

In that way, I have found that my WiFi connected monitor was my best video baby monitor that I tried. I believe that this is due to the fact that your phone in general has a much better video quality, so they can invest more into making a quality camera and not worry about the display.

The downside of a Wifi monitor is that I find the connectivity to a bit more complicated to get going. That being said, I’ve scoured for the best reviewed monitors even beyond the ones that I personally tried and came up with FOUR for you to choose and decide what’s the best video baby monitor for your needs.

You’ll find a budget-friendly and a top-rated option for standard video monitors and for Wifi-connected ones that work with your smartphone.

In each section, I’ll outline the pros and cons of that type of video baby monitor too.

The Best Video Baby Monitor with an Included Parent Unit:

Pros of video baby monitors with a parent unit:

• You don’t need to drain your own phone battery
• You don’t need to spend any of your phone resources: memory
• Connection is easy and seamless – no complicated setup

Cons of video baby monitors with a parent unit:

• You can’t view baby remotely (from a different location – meaning, it doesn’t work as a “nanny cam”)
• You have another thing to keep charged and keep track of
• I have personally found screen quality to be lower than on phone apps

The top rated best video baby monitor: over 17,000 4-5 star reviews:

The Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor has consistent glowing reviews – and with an average of 4.4 stars out of over 20,000 reviews, I know I can rely on them. And it’s not even the most expensive one out there – surprise, surprise!

It’s the Amazon #1 best seller as this article is being written, and let’s explore why.

Some cool features:

• The lens of the camera itself is interchangeable. While it includes one specific lens, that means that you just need to replace the lens to customize it to your needs. For example, you can add on a wide-angle lens to see more of the room for just a few bucks.
• The LED display is sound activated, so that you’re not draining the battery while your baby is quiet.
• One feature that is SO convenient and often missed when  you get the wrong baby monitor: remote pan, tilt, and zoom! This best video baby monitor has it, allowing you to reposition the camera from the parent unit.
• Long battery life: 6 hours active, 10 hours in battery saver mode
• It takes just a few steps and a few seconds to pair or re-pair the camera and the parent unit.
• Night vision is a MUST considering your baby usually sleeps in the dark, right?
• Expandable up to 4 cameras
• Displays baby room temperature on the parent unit
• Talk-back feature – you can talk to your babies from your parent unit (my kids call our baby monitors “the robot” for this reason – much cooler, no?)

There are more features, way to many to list, so check it out for yourself!! And you’ll want to pop into the reviews section too – multiple customers gave feedback on amazing customer service, something that’s essential when choosing the best video baby monitor.

The budget-friendly best baby video monitor with a parent unit:

Once I shifted goals to saving money, as opposed to getting the best out there, my standards dropped. I scoured many products for those whose complaints were simply on par with decreased quality due to decreased price.

The one that I felt had the best balance of save vs. still good enough was the incoSKY one. It’ll do the job for more short-term use, for an older child, or if you’re not too picky. So why’d I choose it? It works without a lot of bells and whistles. And while at this price point you WILL need to make some compromises, these are the ones you may be willing to make.

Some bullet points:

• It has a star light projector that projects stars on your ceiling
• It features talk-back so you can sooth your baby, and it can also play lullabies.
• It does not pan and zoom remotely – it actually has no zoom feature at all
• It’s limited to a single camera – you can’t connect additional ones
• There’s a perk to paying less: it’s small enough it can probably even fit in  your pocket!
• The screen quality works but doesn’t compare to higher end models
• Reviewers reported low battery life  as well as a lag, and poor viewing angles

This budget pick for the best video baby monitors seems to have a good percentage of satisfied customers, and downvotes for the right reasons.

The Best Video Baby Monitor that connects to your iPhone or Smartphone via WiFi:

Pros of video baby monitors that connect to you phone:

• Remote viewing: many of these double as a nanny cam and allow you to view your baby remotely by viewing over the cloud.
• Most phones have better displays than baby monitor parent units, so with the right camera you get a clearer picture
• Many of them offer the ability to record your baby or take photos
• App features: many of these offer various extra functions through the apps – check your cameras features list before purchasing.

Cons of IP video baby monitors with no parent unit:

• There are security concerns with others being able to access your camera. Make sure you use secure WiFi passwords always.
• Typically, IP cameras have some lag time/gap time between the event and when it shows on your camera
• I personally find it annoying to use my phone as a baby monitor. It drains the battery if I keep my screen on. It takes up precious space on my phone (I’ve only recently switched to a phone with decent internal memory.)

The top rated best WIFI video baby monitor: The Nanit

To be honest, it wasn’t easy to choose which best video baby monitor to put in the “top rated” spot – there are so many new and emerging ones that the ones with top reviews don’t have THAT many. But reading through the reviews on each, I chose the Nanit Smart Baby Monitor because users seemed to consistently love it.
 

 

The crisp, clear overhead view results from the “showerhead” design and is just one of the reasons that reviewers have made statements such as “Buy this one, Momma. Yes. This one.”

Some cool features:

• The showerhead design allows you a direct view into baby’s crib – by far my favorite way to mount a baby monitor. It extends out more than others, making it the perfect pick for that overhead view.
• Built-in nightlight
• Temperature and humidity sensors allow you to monitor your baby’s comfort level too and make sure that the room isn’t too warm.
• Remote viewing – you can check up on baby even when the sitter is there!
• A cable management system is included – I mean, EVERY baby monitor should have one of these. Cables can be a strangulation hazard and this video baby monitor tackles that head-on!
• The app that manages the Nanit includes insights into your baby’s sleep with scientifically-backed tips as well!
• Background audio means  you can listen without watching, saving your phone’s battery so that you can “wake up” your phone and peek in if you hear something
• It includes local streaming as well so even if your internet is not working, you can continue to monitor that angel.
• Recordings and timelapsed summaries: you can go quickly through hours of sleep or wake time, and not have to skip all the empty crib footage.

Once again, there are so many more features – check out the full list here!

If you’re looking for the remote viewing WiFi capabilities, this is the best video baby monitor according to my research.

Some comparable options in case you’re looking for other features:

• Lollipop for cool design and a lower price point
• Arlo Baby  for a smart home connected option
• Cocoon Cam for a breathing monitor that doesn’t require you to wire up your baby…

The budget-friendly best baby video monitor that connects to your phone:

Once again, when you’re saving you’ll be getting lower quality, less features, and since we’re working with IP cameras here, a poorer quality app.

The LeFun WiFi camera isn’t necessarily designed as a baby monitor (although they do promote it as such). It’s quite inexpensive, and with 3.8 star average reviews at the time this post is being written, it outperforms the budget option with a parent unit.

Some bullet points:

• Reviewers reported decent video quality, although it clearly underperforms in comparison to the high-end alternative.
• It’s got night vision – a must on any video baby monitor!
• It has a talk-back feature so you can soothe your baby through the microphone
• You can add a high capacity micro SD card or store up to 1TB on the cloud giving you generous video storage options for when you’re away
• Reviewers have reported that it’s hard to connect, but once you do it usually stays connected
• As with other inexpensive WiFi video baby monitors, your screen needs to be on – there’s no standby audio-only mode, so your battery will drain fast.
• You do have remote access as well

From the various options I’ve explored, this seems to be the best video baby monitor for WiFi connections if you’re on a tight budget.

So, what is the best video baby monitor?

If you’re the kind of person who needs someone to tell you “just get this one!!” I’m happy to share what I’d do the next time around.

The Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor is hands-down the top-rated, with an extremely high number of positive reviews. I personally prefer NOT to occupy my phone, and the easy connectivity.

I’ll remind you that it’s very easy for a baby monitor to get negative reviews, there’s so much that can go wrong, so for a product like this to have so many positive reviews makes me really trust it.

Many video baby monitors that I’ve tried and have worked for me, although not “like a dream” have ridiculously negative reviews, leading me to believe that the Infant Optics video baby monitor is the king of all monitors.

Which do you think is the best video baby monitor out there? Have you tried and loved something that I didn’t mention? Comment below!

Loved learning about the best video baby monitor? Check out these posts below!

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With M growing faster than a blue whale calf, I’ve been hunting for the best kids clothing stores online – because who’s got the time to shop in-store? I’ve put together this list and I hope you love it! If you’re looking for the best baby clothing brands and sites check this out instead. Disclosure: this post contains commissioned links.

As you can see, I’ve split this list into the best kids clothing stores online for YOUR needs: be it budget, dress, boutique, or designer clothing. I hope you love it!!

Bonus tip: Shop via Ebates for cash back on your purchases! You’ll also get a gift card or cash bonus from them the first time you shop through them. Install their browser extension and it’ll find coupon codes for you when you shop too, saving you even more! I use them almost every time I shop online.

Table of Contents:

• The Best Kids Clothing Stores Online on a Budget:
• The Best Kids Clothing Stores Online for Dress Wear:
• The Best Kids Clothing Stores Online for Boutique Clothes:
• The Best Kids Clothing Stores Online for Designer Outfits and Gifts:
• What are your best kids clothing stores online? Do you usually shop kids clothes online or in store? Comment below to help a fellow mom!

The Best Kids Clothing Stores Online on a Budget

If you’re on a budget like I usually am, check out the best kids clothing stores online with the most competitive prices. Of course, you’ll find quality here too – at least good enough quality to last through two active brothers (my own sons…

Target:

Target is a favorite among myself and almost every other mom I speak to on the subject. They have primarily their own brands – such as Cat & Jack (my personal favorite) – as well as collaborative lines with national brands, such as OshKosh. You’ll also find licensed clothing with your kids’ favorite characters, and plenty of fun prints, with fewer sassy sayings.

Walmart:

While Walmart is often overlooked when it comes to the best kids clothing stores online, I personally love shopping there. Kids grow out of their clothing quickly, and I can often find cheap basics, especially pajamas there. I’ve found some amazing things at Walmart.com and always check in when I’m looking for something specific. They have a couple of new private labels with even more fashionable choices (look up their Wonder Nation line!)

The Children’s Place:

I’ve gotten amazing deals through Children’s Place, and a huge chunk of my kids’ clothing has been purchased there. They have free shipping every day and their online prices are often a fraction of their in-store prices. My favorite: their pants with adjustable waistbands! With a long ‘n skinny kid, it’s hard to find affordable pants that work for them, and The Children’s Place’s skinny pants are one of the few that work. Get a $10 credit here!

PatPat

I discovered this website with Baby A and got a little obsessed. They’re fashion-forward and so affordable. The quality isn’t the best, but they have decent customer service and how much wear does your kid get out of it anyway?

Get $10 off through the PatPat referral program!

The Best Kids Clothing Stores Online for Dress Wear:

When it comes to the best kids clothing stores online for dress wear, much of it is seasonal. Around Christmas and Easter you’ll find that most of the stores have beautiful dress wear for kids available. However, if you need things in the “off-season”, these are some some of my best kids clothing stores online where you’ll always find great dress wear

Janie & Jack:

With a generous selection of blazers and vests for boys, as well as ruffly and lacy dresses for girls, this would be my first stop for dressy kids clothing online. Since they have plenty of choices, you’re more likely to find what you need, in the color and style that you want, at any time of the year. They even have a dedicated “special occasion” section for that really special event.

Returns ship free so you don’t need to worry about getting the size just right!

Zulily:

My absolute favorite limited-time deal site, Zulily has regular kids’ clothing deals, but my favorites are the dressy ones. It’s hit or miss, but when they have stuff it’s good, and usually very affordable.

Burlington Coat Factory:

Yes to shopping Burlinton-style deals online! They  have a dedicated section for boys’ dress wear under $25 as well as girls’ dressy dresses under $25.

If you want free returns, you’ll have to do it in-store but with these prices it may just be worth it.

The Best Kids Clothing Stores Online for Boutique Clothes

If you’re looking for that special touch or style that comes with boutique shopping, these favorites will make you smile. Some of these best kids clothing stores online for boutique fashion are very small and privately owned and some are more established but still specialize purely in what they do, in their own unique way.

Zulily:

Yep, we’re back to Zulily, with limited-time deals – many of them from small, boutique brands! The deals are always changing, but I think you’ll have at least a few boutique brands there regularly.

Tea Collection:

Made in a unique style, with global influence, Tea Collection features beautiful outfits that are ethically sourced! They also feature adorable outfits for siblings to coordinate.

Jojo Maman Bebe:

A brand fit for a princess (literally – it’s been worn by Dutchess of Cambridge as well as Princess Charlotte). Since they have their unique style, it’s easy to match up a whole family here too. I absolutely love how they manage to keep things playful but stylish.

Etsy:

Oh, how I love Etsy! You can get just what you want, how you want it, all while supporting a small business, a fellow stay-at-home mom! Etsy sellers include a huge selection of boutique baby brands, and a very diverse set of options.

The Best Kids Clothing Stores Online for Designer Outfits and Gifts

Whether you’re looking for an upscale gift for a special baby, or you personally want to dress your child in the best, here are some of the best places to buy designer kids clothes online.

Gilt – Gilt features daily deals on top notch brands including many boutique and designers. It’s easy to shop, has a huge assortment of brands and styles, incredible prices for what you’re getting, and is a favorite pick for me. From 7 for All Mankind to Little Marc Jacobs and Jacadi, you’ll find only the best there! They have free in-store returns too!

Saks 5th Avenue – Once again, find all the top brands in an easy-to-shop experience. They also have a beautiful selection of toys, kids’ decor, and baby gear – so you can go all the way!

What are your best kids clothing stores online? Do you usually shop kids clothes online or in store? Comment below to help a fellow mom!

Looking for more cool shopping resources? Check these out!

• Dad-to-be Gifts he’ll absolutely love!
• Elmo Toys for Toddlers
• Gift Ideas for Everyone
• Paw Patrol Gifts – 26 PAWsome Gifts for Preschoolers
• Subscription Boxes for Kids – 18 Favorites
• Big Sibling Gifts for when your new baby arrives
• 20 Amazing Gifts for Crafters
• DIY Gift box from scrapbook paper

The post The Best Kids Clothing Stores Online for every budget! appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Avoiding sibling jealousy in your toddler when the new baby is born is possible – it just takes a simple strategy. This goes beyond getting big sibling gifts and encourages a certain kind of interaction. Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links and images.

M was two and a half years old when Baby Y was born.

I was determined to do everything right so that he wouldn’t be jealous. And while some things are simply out of our control, taking the steps below helped minimize what could have been drastically.

I can’t say they get along perfectly -they fight like siblings do (Baby Y is now 21 months old, and M is four) but as a toddler with a new baby brother, we simply did not experience crazy amounts of jealousy.

I wanted to share with you the tips to avoid sibling jealousy below, but before I do, a few words of encouragement:

The insane sibling jealousy of a toddler with a new baby in the house is a stage that passes. It’s a natural reaction of a child who feels like his or her space was invaded. And if your child reacts violently, yeah, it can be scary, but it doesn’t mean that your toddler has a problem with rage. Toddlers don’t know how to express themselves, and they sometimes act out in surprising ways. If you’re concerned, of course, you can (and should) talk to your doctor about it.

Try to empathize with how your toddler must be feeling and where the sibling jealousy is coming from.

But most importantly, make sure that you discuss any concern pertaining to your children’s health and safety with your pediatrician or family doctor. Do not take any advice that you read on blogs as anything more than a chat with a fellow mom, and always consult with a professional if you are concerned.

6 simple ways to avoid toddler sibling jealousy:

Try one of these strategies, or try all – every little bit helps!

1. Realize that each child reacts differently:

It’s easy to compare, but each child is different. Realizing this is the first step toward empathizing.

My niece really lashed out when her baby sister was young. Not only was she much  younger than M was when his brother was born, but she was also a first grandchild on one side of her family, and really pampered.

Having that competition really confused her.

Not comparing can be hard when you’re in a large family where people are always having babies, but if you’ve done what you can and your child still reacts, don’t feel guilty about it, or like it’s your fault.

It’s also important to realize this BEFORE you take steps toward preventing sibling jealousy, because if something doesn’t seem like it’ll work for your child, it might not. You know your child better than I do. I’m just sharing what worked for mine.

2. Buy a gift from the baby:

Note: I said FROM the baby.

I learned this cool trick to avoid sibling jealousy from Katie of Pick Any Two and it really took an edge off the “big bad baby” aspect of sibling jealousy from the start.

Katie suggests exchanging gifts in the hospital, and to be honest, we just had Baby Y “give” M a gift when he came to visit. That means that the first time M visited his new brother, he was received a cool new toy from his brother, creating a positive first impression.

A perfect gift idea: a customized sibling book! We love this one.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQjhts8hbJK/?taken-by=momsandcrafters

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3. Gifts for the big sibling instead of the baby:

Building on the point above, it can be very difficult for a two year old to see all those gifts come in… and they’re not for her.

With Baby Y, since we pretty much had everything we needed from M, I created a baby registry mostly with things for the big brother. Having two kids of the same gender does help in this respect.

I created this list of big sibling gift ideas with some real winners that worked for us, and I also listed some tips for creating a baby registry for a second child here.

While I did register for a few things for Baby Y, most of my registry was for M. People who asked me what to buy were told to think of the big brother. And I gave him a small gift almost every day for those two weeks where I was really bedridden and couldn’t give him enough of me.

It doesn’t have to be as big as a new tablet (that was our one BIG gift). It can be a new outfit with her favorite character. It can be an inexpensive book. The idea is, the big sibling is the one that is receiving, and that will make him feel special.

Another great idea is to schedule a Mommy-kid date or two in the months following the baby’s birth, once you’re up to it. It can be an ice cream date, or even an at-home play date. The main thing is: it should be one-on-one.

4. Be aware of the interactions that are happening:

This is possibly my best tip for avoiding sibling jealousy and possibly the hardest.

Imagine: your toddler is used to being the absolute center of your attention. She missed you for the past day, and when she comes to visit you, you’re with a new baby. But wait, we’re taking that thing that stole my Mama home too?

It gets worse.

Some toddlers are old enough to already get a sense of how Mama is doing. M is a sensitive soul, and he definitely would get worried every time I wasn’t well, already at that age.

Some things can be stopped, some can’t. But we can try out best to nurture a better understanding of the new sibling in our little ones.

When people came by to visit the new baby, I insisted that they first say hello and talk to M, even if it’s about the new sibling. When M first came to visit me in the hospital, I put the baby down before he came into the room.  I did not hold the baby if he was not being cared for, and while I couldn’t hold M, I made sure that he could sit near me, read a book, cuddle a bit – with the baby down.

There are some non-negotiables. The baby was breast-fed – that was going to happen if we could manage it. So M had to deal with it. But giving him enough outside of those moments helped them not be as bad.

It’s also important to make sure not to take away any comforts from the toddler too soon.

For example, moving the toddler out of her crib, into a bed can make her feel displaced. We had the baby in a play yard in our room and moved M to a bed a few months after baby Y was born.  M actually begged to have a roommate and told us “He can sleep in MY crib!” when Y was about six months old.

The same goes for the high chair, stroller, or whatever it is that your tot might feel is being taken away.

Including M in “Baby Y” activities really helped too! Tummy time was always a family affair (hey, it can be good for toddlers too!) instead of focusing exclusively on the baby.

5. A baby doll might prevent sibling jealousy by helping your toddler feel more involved:

In addition to sending a gift home from the hospital, we let M bring his own “baby” home too! I’m not sure how much of a part this played in avoiding sibling jealousy – he wasn’t really interested in playing with the doll much afterward. He was excited to bring it home from the hospital.

This worked better with another niece of mine.

It awards kids the opportunity to play Mommy (or Daddy) too. It gives them the chance to practice some nurturing and feel involved in the care of the baby, instead of feeling like their place was taken.

And while M did NOT play with his doll once he was home from the hospital, he did practice “breastfeeding” his Elmo doll, so there’s that…

6. Don’t let your guard down – sibling jealousy sometimes comes later:

My wise mom (who raised ten of her own and went through the sibling jealousy thing NINE TIMES!!) warned me of this, and so I was aware.

A new baby isn’t really cute. Yeah, it’s charming how tiny he or she is, but there’s no interaction, no “look what she did!” – or at least less of it. There’s less to play with.

As the baby grows older and starts to open her eyes, interact, roll over, say clever things, etc, the attention can really shift in a way that can cause sibling jealousy.

Especially if you’re dealing with an older toddler like I was, the big sibling is STOPPING to be that adorable toddler, doing cute things every day. And in a subtle way, the dynamic of who the “cute one” is can shift.

I’m not saying that either child is loved more or less. It’s just how we react to the things our little ones say or do that changes. And  your toddler WILL notice it.

Just because you’re a few months in and are “fine”, doesn’t mean you’re in the safe zone. Continue to be aware of your child’s sensitivities. Your toddler is making major advances, even if they’re not “cute” ones. Give her credit for it. And remember to show your love at any given opportunity.

While sibling jealousy might be somewhat inevitable, it’s something that CAN be reined in. And while some things aren’t in your control, doing your best for your child is simpler than you might think – it just requires a bit of foresight and a lot of love. Since you already have the latter, I hope these tips to avoid sibling jealousy have helped you with the foresight angle!

What are your best tips to avoid sibling jealousy in a toddler with a new baby in the house? Comment below!

And if you want another favorite sanity-saving solution, check out the best baby products that I wish I’d known about sooner! These are sanity savers, all under $25.

Loved this? Check out these favorite posts on Moms & Crafters:

The post Sibling Jealousy – How to Avoid Toddler Jealousy with a New Baby appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

I confess, I might be a boy mom, but I am so girly, that when it comes to mythical creatures, my brain immediately turns towards unicorns.

I actually made these unicorns in a mix of colors that I knew M would like – including greens and blues – because who said unicorns are for girls? M was so excited when he saw it, he asked me to hang it in his room.

Totally clashes with the half safari, half Paw Patrol thing we have going on there, but it makes him happy and that’s what counts, right?

Anyway, I joined up with the Coloring Tribe this month on a mythical creature theme and obviously my brain took me to faraway places and I way overdid it.

First, in the spirit of the actual goal – to create a fun adult coloring page – I made a color-in version. It’s only somewhat complex, which means that the whole family can color it together. But it’s still totally mature enough for grown-ups.

I could have added all sorts of intricate detail to the hair, and I almost did, but I decided that sometimes adding more takes away, and I left it out.

Instead, I left you with plenty of space to experiment with adding your own vibe to it. I practiced using Prismacolor Premier Double Ended alcohol markers (particularly the brush end) to get a soft, blended look. You can see how professionally-illustrated it looks. I may or may not be a bit too proud…

I have both the regular colors and the portrait colors (FYI if you’re thinking of getting these, you CAN get them on Amazon but I got them at Blick Art Materials for a fraction of the price last I checked.) The portrait colors includes some really soft tones that helped me get a nice color on the unicorn’s face instead of just leaving it white.

I used the pretty metallic nail polish I was wearing at the time to “color” the eyes – I’m not sure if you can tell from the photo, but it adds that little touch of magic!

I created the mobile from the full-color version of this unicorn paper craft. I simply didn’t have the patience to color it all in separately. I colored two for M to play with and just used the full-color set to create the mobile.

I made the ears so that they stand up and you can curl them in too. If you want, after you cut them out, you can color them, but I like how they look white. The front part that you see of the ear is actually the back of the paper, which is why no color was added.

The unicorn’s hair sits at the back of his head. I hung the unicorn from the horn, however you can also choose to punch a hole at the top of the head and hang it from there if you prefer a different angle.

You can also add to this unicorn paper craft by creating your own hair from colorful yarn.

You can find the form for the free version at the end of this post.

Or get the full-color set on Etsy or Gumroad below:

What you need to assemble your Unicorn Paper Craft Template

•  The template. Enter your email in the form below, and then check your inbox for the download link.
   
  
   Note: you will want to print it on card stock for durability. However, the horns of the smaller sizes in the paid full-color bundle can be hard to assemble if they’re card stock, so you can print those on regular paper if you’re struggling.
• A metal ruler (or other stiff ruler)
• A craft knife
• A scoring tool
• A cutting mat
• A craft-strength glue stick
• Tape
• A toothpick, skewer or something similar
• Markers to color it with!

For the mobile:

• Cotton twine or baker’s twine in fun colors
• An embroidery hoop – anything between 8-12 inches should be good (mine is 12″)

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How to assemble your Unicorn Paper Craft

Watch the video below to see it in action, or scroll down for step-by-step instructions:

1. Color your unicorn!

2. While you can definitely cut out your unicorn paper craft with a pair of scissors, you’ll get a much straighter edge if you use a craft knife with a metal ruler to help you get your lines straight. Cut out the triangle hole on the unicorn  head too.

3. Use a scoring tool to score on the dotted lines. I made them very faint so that they don’t show much when you’ve colored it. If this is a problem, just refer to an uncolored version as your guide.

4. Flip your template over to the back and use a toothpick to roll the ears in a bit. Note: if you didn’t cut them out properly, make sure you do first! You cut down to the bottom of the ear, and a bit in under it, on the fold-down tab. Just follow the solid line…

5. Fold your unicorn paper craft on the score lines you made earlier.

6. Make sure to assemble your unicorn horn too! The tabs fold outward.

7. Glue your unicorn horn shut as pictured.

8. Insert your unicorn horn into the triangle from the inside out. It should fit right in (the open side of your horn, where you connected it, goes in front.)

Tape it in place (you can glue it too, I just found it easier to deal with tape since it doesn’t show here.)

9. Assemble the rest of your unicorn paper craft, connecting the tabs from the inside. You’ll need to pinch the sides from the outside so that they stick well.

How to turn it into a Unicorn Baby Mobile:

You’ll be assembling the horns with the strings intact, and then assembling the rest of the unicorn paper craft as you did above, threading the whole  horn with the string through the triangular hole.

1. Cut a length of twine and triple knot the end. The length should be a bit more than double the length you want that unicorn to hang.

2. Place your twine so that the not lies inside the horn, and the string comes out the tip of the horn.

And then assemble your horn around the string.

3. Remove the outer ring of the embroidery hoop and discard it (or save it for another project). Tie your unicorns at even intervals around the horn, ensuring that they hang at the height you want them to. You should have plenty “extra” string.

4. Gather the extras of the string together and tie them into a knot to form the hanger. It should be about the length you want it to hang.

5. To add a larger unicorn to hang from the center like I did, just tie the larger one onto the hanger knot last. I tied it so that it forms a loop which I used as the actual hanger.

That’s it! Your unicorn paper craft is complete!

What will you be using your unicorn paper craft for? Comment below! Enter your email into the form below to download it.

The post Unicorn Paper Craft Template – Make a Mobile! appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Click on the image and scroll through each post to find some great gift ideas for the people on your list, incentives for your kids, or birthday gifts for your loved ones.

Gift Ideas by Age

Sometimes the easiest place to start looking for gift ideas is the recipient’s age. Here, I’ve sorted my guides by age: you have babies, toddlers, preschoolers, tweens and teens (school-age), and of course, moms and dads.

I’ve also included in this section ideas that would work for the whole family, as well as subscription box ideas for kids of all ages.

Gift Ideas by Interest

My favorite place to look when buying gifts for anyone is at their obsessions and interests.

M tends to go overboard with obsession when he likes something. As a toddler, it was Elmo. Now he’s obsessed with Paw Patrol.

He gets it from me – I’m obsessed with coffee. Get me anything coffee-related and I’m sure to love it. I also love decorating the home and obviously I thrive on crafting.

I stuck to the “things I know” here so that you can be sure you’re getting authentic recommendations, so I hope this makes your shopping easier!

Gift Ideas to DIY

If you’re looking to save a little ca$h, you can make your own gifts! This is a very in-comprehensive list of DIY gifts on my site – since most of the crafts I’ve created are totally giftable.

I put the lists that are organized by theme here since I simply can’t link to it all here!

What are your favorite gift ideas? Got any ideas for finding the perfect gift for the people on your list? Comment below!

The post Gift Ideas for Everyone appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

With a long winter ahead of us, I’ve been gearing up my home and children to get warm, cozy and healthy. I dread spending a week indoors with all of us sick, so I do what I can to prevent that. In the event that does happen, these winter survival tips help us be more comfortable and prepared. 

I’ve partnered with Braun Thermometers to bring you some of my best tips and tricks for surviving a long winter with young kids.

Sometimes, it can be difficult to “winterize” properly, especially if you live in a place where temperatures drop rapidly and unexpectedly overnight.

My main trick is to be prepared. That’s why NOW, as the cold and flu season is arriving, is the perfect time to go through that checklist and make sure you have what you need.

Expect it to happen, be equipped when it does, and avoid those late night emergency trips to the pharmacy.

For every family, being equipped looks different. For us, it meant checking that Baby Y’s inhaler hadn’t expired – and replacing it when it was. For others, it might mean being educated on what to do in the case of a febrile seizure.

You know your family’s needs, what your kids’ “sick symptoms” are.

The one thing that every family needs ready and handy: a good thermometer. Braun thermometers are the #1 brand recommended by doctors and are perfect for the entire family. They are especially good for young kids, since it can be harder to get them to cooperate.

Winter survival tips for families with young kids: the 5 point checklist:

1. Get control over your home temperature:

I’ll never forget the winter that we lived in a small, rented apartment, and my bedroom was not properly outfitted with heaters. I came down with the flu and spent nearly two weeks at home and away from work. It took me months to actually recover and get back to work.

You can imagine the havoc it wreaked on my family and life. Before the next winter could come around, we made a hasty move to a better and warmer apartment.

Heat isn’t the only important detail. My pediatrician always instructs me to crack the windows open occasionally in the kids room to let it air out as a stuffy room can breed germs. I like to do this during the day, when they’re not sleeping, so that I can ensure that the room is a comfortable temperature at bedtime.

2. Stock the medicine cabinet:

I also make sure my medicine cabinet is adequately stocked with everything I may need, like vitamin C, vapor rub, children’s acetaminophen and accurate, working thermometers.

I love Braun thermometers because they are highly recommended by pediatricians to be the #1 brand. A quick drive to Walgreens is all I need to stock my medicine cabinet, including Braun thermometers. And you can even get a discount on it using this coupon through the Ibotta app!

Too many times I have grabbed a thermometer out of the medicine cabinet only to find it totally inaccurate or just completely broken. I’ve also struggled with the need to wait until the next diaper change to get a baby’s rectal temperature, only to have him kick so hard, I couldn’t wait the full minute I needed for an accurate reading.

I’m sure you can relate.

It’s important to always know your child’s correct temperature, so that you can tell the pediatrician your child’s fever history. The Braun ThermoScan 5 is clinically proven to give precise readings – more so than forehead or rectal readings. It is pre-warmed to minimize the cooling effect of the tip on the ear canal. The filters helps us avoid cross-contamination, because the one thing our family doesn’t like to share is germs.

The Braun No touch + forehead thermometer gets me a reading in seconds, so that even finicky Baby Y isn’t quick enough to fight it! The color-coded readings help me understand what’s “normal” and what’s not.

3. Ample outerwear:

I start off by making sure all jackets, coats, sweatshirts and thermal underwear is purchased before the winter starts; ideally, even before autumn starts. You don’t want to be caught in a sudden temperature drop unprepared. 

I make sure that they have car-seat ready options (since puffer jackets and bulky outerwear aren’t safe).

Tip: Keep some warm, fleece blankets in the car for the kids to cuddle up under on cold mornings! 

Scarves are a must as well, and don’t interfere with the car seat buckle. A friend of mine suggests getting infinity scarves for kids to avoid loose ends.

4. Layers, layers, layers:

I think many of us tend to overdress our children. A child can always take a sweater off, but we don’t want them to be caught unprepared.

However, overdressing can unfortunately cause a fever to rise. When Baby Y was really small, we had to rush to the emergency room when he spiked a fever (he was under two months old, and any fever is a concern at that age.) He was wearing a thick sleeper at the time, and I don’t think I need to elaborate on the mom guilt I felt…

If you child seems cranky, or sniffly, it’s good to know their body temperature so we can dress them appropriately.  The Braun no touch + forehead thermometer is a great choice; you can easily check up on your child touching the forehead or from up to two inches away. It’s the first thermometer to take professionally accurate temperatures with only a gentle touch or no touch.

The on-screen instructions let you know how your positioning is and if you need to move closer to your child. 

The thermometer also has a silent mode for sleeping children. So when I do my nightly check-up, I can get a discreet temperature reading, and remove or add a quilt.

5. Always have a backup:

When I purchase winter accessories, I always buy an extra pair of anything that can get easily lost. This way, we’re not stuck without a full pair of mittens on a cold morning, rushing off to school. 

Need a backup of your own? I have an awesome giveaway for you!

You can enter to win the chance to stock your medicine cabinet with this cool giveaway from Braun. To enter, just comment on this post answering the question below. Then make sure to enter your information into the GLEAM form so that I can know how to contact you. One lucky commenter will receive (1) $50 Walgreens Gift Card and (1) Braun No touch + forehead thermometer (ARV: $110). Prize is sponsored by and will be fulfilled by Braun Thermometers. Winner will be drawn on 11/17/2017 and will be contacted via email. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to claim the prize after which a new winner will be chosen.

Braun Thermometers Giveaway

 

What are your best winter survival tips for families with young kids? How do you plan to winterize for cold and flu season? Download your Ibotta coupon here and comment below!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Braun Thermometers. The opinions and text are all mine.

The post Winter Survival Tips for Families with Young Kids appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

To make this Baby Zuma PAW Patrol Costume, I half-used a pattern – just to get the cap of the hat right. The size was slightly large – with the perk being that M can now wear it when he plays “PAW Patrol” with his friends.

This DOES require a teensy bit of understanding how sewing works – even if you’re not sewing, but if you want to make it easier, you can just work with an orange trapper hat or helmet – just pin/tape things on temporarily instead of gluing so you can use it afterward!

I had to redo the vest twice (!) Because I accidentally measured with a skin-tight romper, and it was too small for that pudgy belly. Make sure you use a loose-fitting shirt to measure the size of the vest.

Just like I did with our previous DIY PAW Patrol costumes, I did not sew it. I glued these together using Fabri-Tac, creating seams as you would with any sewing project. Of course, if you prefer, you can sew it.

The boys had so much fun wearing these easy DIY costumes, and of course, to this day, the nickname “Zuma” stuck with Baby Y.

What you need to make a Baby Zuma PAW Patrol Costume:

• This pattern
• Orange fleece
• Fabric glue
• Brown felt + a strip of royal blue soft felt
• Fabric scissors
• This template and these printable badges (print and cardstock and laminate with packing tape)
• Hook and loop closure
• Mod Podge and a foam brush
• A bit of string

How to make a Baby Zuma PAW Patrol Costume:

Make the Baby Zuma Paw Patrol Costume Hat:

1. Use the pattern to cut out two of the pieces labeled “side hat pieces” from orange fleece.

2. On that piece of the pattern it tells you to also cut a strip. Follow that instruction too. If you are making a baby hat (not a toddler, as the pattern states) you may want to measure with an existing hat of your baby’s to make sure the sizes are matching up (make sure to allow 1/4 inch seam allowance).

3. Start gluing the arch of the sides of the hat to the long side of the strip. Your good sides should be facing each other.

Continue along the curve until you have completed the curve.

And repeat it on the other side of the strip with your other “hat side”.

4. Flip your hat inside out. You now have the cap of your hat!

5. Because the hat pattern was too big, I did not use the pattern to create the flaps – I just made my own. You definitely can use the pattern if you’d like, if it’s the right size. I just created two flaps in the size I wanted to and glued them on.

6. Create two long, rounded triangular dog ears from brown felt.

7. And glue them to the sides of your hat!

8. Add a strip of fleece to the ear flaps to serve as a strap – measure for size. Add a hook and loop closure to the end.

9. Print your PAW Patrol badge template.

10. Cut out the parts. Trace the middle section – the smaller badge shape – and cut it out from gray felt or construction paper. Assemble the badge.

11. Apply a generous coat of Mod Podge to the back of your assembled badge. Attach it to the front of your hat.

12. Spread a thin, even layer of Mod Podge on top and allow it to dry completely.

Make the Baby Zuma Paw Patrol Costume Collar:

1. Print and laminate your anchor badge and punch a hole at the top.

2. Cut a strip of royal blue felt or fleece. Tie your badge on.

3. Add hook and loop closure to the ends to make it easy to take on and off.

Make the Baby Zuma Paw Patrol Costume Vest:

Since this tutorial is the same for all of the Paw Patrol-inspired costumes, I created a single image tutorial for you:

I hope you enjoyed this easy DIY Baby Zuma PAW Patrol Costume! What was your favorite DIY costume ever? Comment below!

The post Baby Zuma PAW Patrol Costume DIY appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

For Baby Y’s first birthday party, I designed a cool giraffe print, which I implemented in two ways:

• As an overall giraffe print and
• In a giraffe silhouette that I shaped like a 1.

I also used a straight giraffe that I designed in some of the elements (such as this shirt).

For this giraffe birthday hat, I made the giraffe print one for all the kids at the party.

The 1 hat was created only for the birthday boy.

It’s pretty easy to implement the giraffe print on this free printable birthday hat into a jungle theme too. I personally liked using both options because the print added life to the party, while the 1 giraffe broke up the print to stop it from being overwhelming.

Assembly is pretty quick and easy, especially if you’re buying your pom poms. I liked the idea of a big homemade pom pom for our photo shoot, but didn’t have time to make a lot, so I just did it on the baby’s hat.

Download your free printable giraffe birthday hat below and then scroll down for instructions!

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Or purchase the entire giraffe birthday party printable pack here. You can also get some cool coordinating outfits and accessories, invitations, and paper goods below:

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What you need to make your giraffe birthday hat:

• The template (see above) printed on card stock
• Hot glue gun
• Optional glue stick
• Scissors and something to score with (a straight edge like a ruler works too)
• Elastic
• A hole punch
• Pom Poms, or yarn to make them, in a deep yellow

How to make a giraffe birthday hat:

(Pardon the birthday-party-prep mess on my counters).

1. Cut out your hat and fold down the tab with the dotted markings.

2. Use a glue stick or hot glue to turn it into a cone. I confess, this part wasn’t the easiest, but it did work.

3. If you want, make your own pompom.

4. Use your hot glue gun to add your pom pom. Just apply a blueberry-sized dot on the tip of your hat and attach your pompoms.

5. Punch holes and tie on your elastic.

Your giraffe birthday hats are ready to be worn and enjoyed!

Did you ever throw a giraffe themed party? Check out the full giraffe theme here! What was  your favorite party theme ever? I hope you enjoy your giraffe birthday hat printable!

The post Giraffe Birthday Hat – free printable and craft appeared first on Moms and Crafters.