Sometimes, despite a child's readiness to potty train, they still need a little help getting the idea down. That's why we asked moms their secrets to potty-training success. Here, moms share everything they've tried that worked, from a free downloadable potty-training app to sweet-treat positive reinforcements. Remember to be patient, encouraging, and try one of these tricks!
It's time to accept the cold, hard truth.
I'm not a crafty mom. I'll never be a crafty mom.
One of my goals for 2013 was to actually try some of my pins on Pinterest. I love looking through what other people have pinned, I love seeing good ideas, and I love pinning things of my own. However, I'm not great when it comes to following through and actually putting some of these great ideas into practice.
Therefore, I gave myself a goal. One pin per week.
At first, I was flying. I found several recipes that were hits with my family, from the 10-month-old to the picky 2-and-a-half-year-old to the 30-something husband. I tried a couple of cleaning tips (apparently blue Dawn plus warm vinegar is the cleaning elixir!). I wasn't just meeting my challenge — I was exceeding my challenge.
Then I realized that I had two boards I was great about adding pins to, but those boards remained untried: "Crafts I Can Handle" and "Crafts For the Kids." Hmm . . .
If Pinterest, Facebook, and many, many blogs written by moms are any indication, doing amazing crafts both with and for your kids is the new benchmark. Why spend your money on a bin from the store when you can cover an old diaper box? Why put hair bows in a drawer when you can work together and create a gorgeous hanger? A good mom is a crafty mom. She creates amazing products and engages her children in a wonderful way. They aren't just crafting — they are making wholesome, quality memories.
My toddler is part of an art playgroup. One of my friends has really embraced her inner preschool teacher/wholesome-crafty-mom persona. She gathers a group of 2-year-olds together, and every week we do something different. We paint with pine branches, we experiment with homemade puffy paint, we stamp with muffin tins, and we marble paint with shaving cream. The kids adore it.
I can do that . . . right?
One of the things I realized about myself last year was that stepping out of my comfort zone brings me unexpected joy and pride. Crafts are definitely out of my comfort zone, so it was time to try.
If your toddler has ever had a nightmare, then you know how scary it can be for him. But if, like Maggie C.'s 17-month-old son, he's "thrashing around" with "no regard for what's around him," then you're dealing with something that can be quite scary for you: night terrors.
You've heard that a critical factor in potty training success is waiting until your child is ready . . . but what exactly does "ready" mean? Keep reading for five signs that typically indicate potty training readiness.
Want to encourage your child to grow a green thumb and eat healthy, fresh foods this Summer? Follow the lead of Burlington, VT-based mom Ariela of Sweet Happy Life, who recently built a toddler snacking garden for her 2-year-old son. Though Ariela lives in an apartment with a small balcony, she still found the space to create a green, growing play area and garden. "The idea for a snacking garden came from one of my favorite books on gardening," she says. "It's called Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots, and in it author Sharon Lovejoy shared the concept of an edible garden filled with tasty treats that kids could pluck off the plant and pop right into their mouths." Keep reading to find out how to build your own snacking garden.
Source: Sweet Happy Life
Choosing the right book for your little one's bedtime routine can be tricky. It needs to help wind down the day instead of making your child hyper, but still be a kid-favorite. Meanwhile, you don't want to be stuck with a book you'll be tired of after a few readings. To help you decide which stories to add to your shelves, we've compiled a list of moms' top seven bedtime books for little ones, ranging from affirmations of love to all-time classics. Happy reading!
I've had many people ask me the very same question posted by Marcy H. here on Circle of Moms: when is the right time to start potty training? Since I've potty-trained six kids, they figure I'm an expert. I'm not sure I'm an expert, but I do have a wealth of experience in the diaper-changing arts. So, I came up with a list of the things I consider most important when deciding when to start potty training.
Moms of kids with allergies have to do double duty to keep their bundles of joy safe, happy, and healthy. In the Moms of Allergic Children community, moms are sharing their concerns and questions about allergies. Here are some quick tips from Dr. Oz for them and others on how to treat — and prevent — some common allergies.
Although many potty-training tips apply to boys and girls alike, potty training boys does pose some unique challenges. Whether you're wondering when to start potty training boys, whether to teach sitting or standing first, and how to encourage good aim, Circle of Moms members have offered great toilet-training tips to help you potty train boys with confidence.
Taking candy from a baby might be easy, but pacifiers are another story entirely. If you have a toddler or even a preschooler holding tight to the bink, you're not alone: pacifier weaning is a common challenge. While dental problems generally won't result from pacifier use unless the habit continues beyond age 3, many parents find that pacifier weaning is easier before a child reaches 2 years old. (If you're concerned, though, check with your pediatric dentist.) For a smooth transition, try these brilliant pacifier-weaning strategies from Circle of Moms members.
