parenting

Simple Words Every Child Needs to Hear

Here's a post from our partners at BabyCenter!

Here's a post from our partners at BabyCenter! Every week, we bring you the best parenting and lifestyle stories from the experts at BabyCenter, including this post about encouraging our children.

My baby was just born 10 weeks ago, and my daughter isn't even 3, but I constantly find myself asking what I can say or do for my children to help them be grow up to be happy and successful human beings. What can I do as their mother, to guarantee they always remember they're loved? Especially once they reach those awkward teenage years where life itself seems to revolve around high school status.

Related: 54 Reasons My Kid Won't Go to Bed!

They can't possibly doubt how much I love them. I mean, they're small, but I never stop telling them, and I never plan to. But will that be enough to hold their trust, and keep them on a path to happiness? Is there something I can say, maybe one sentence that will forever have impact on their life?

Turns out, I'm not the only one asking myself these types of questions. Actually, I'd be surprised if most moms at some point or another didn't ask themselves these same sort of things. Rachel Macy Stafford, also known as Hands Free Mama, has searched for similar answers.

While reading an article about what makes a good or nightmarish sports parent, Stafford honed in on this paragraph:

". . . College athletes were asked what their parents said that made them feel great, that amplified their joy during and after a ballgame. Their overwhelming response: 'I love to watch you play.'"

Stafford called this a life-changing sentence, and in her post, describes how she's since practiced telling her children how much she loves to watch them swim, sing, play, read . . . All things she would normally over-elaborate about. She's focused on saying this simple phrase, when compelled, and she's noticed a difference with her children.

Keep reading to see what we need to tell our kids.

Eco

10 Crib Mattress Makeovers You Have to See to Believe

Once your kiddos have transitioned into full-size beds, and your family's baby days are officially over, every mom faces the question of what to do with their very first sleep space.

Once your kiddos have transitioned into full-size beds, and your family's baby days are officially over, every mom faces the question of what to do with their very first sleep space. You may have seen our gallery of the best ways to repurpose your crib, but then there's the question of what to do with that miniature mattress. Here, we've rounded up 10 clever ways to give your crib mattress a new life — from a dog bed to a reading nook, and beyond!

Kid Shopping

Should Kids Read the Book Before Seeing the Movie?

From The Hunger Games to The Perks of Being a Wallflower, a number of movies today are based on popular books.


From The Hunger Games to The Perks of Being a Wallflower, a number of movies today are based on popular books. Some moms say there are good reasons to read the book first, while others prefer their child just see the movie. To help you decide whether your teens should only be allowed in the theater after they finish the book, here are four questions to consider.

parenting

How to Treat Different Diaper Rashes

Who knew the term "diaper rash" could mean so many different things?

Who knew the term "diaper rash" could mean so many different things? All rashes do have one thing in common: they make your baby miserable, and understandably so! Here's a look at the most common diaper rashes and the best ways to treat them, as shared by Circle of Moms members.

Keep reading.

parenting

Pediatricians Rank Best Children's Hospitals

None of us want our children to get sick, but it's good to know where to find the best care for them, just in case they do.

None of us want our children to get sick, but it's good to know where to find the best care for them, just in case they do.

U.S. News recently released its annual report of the best children's hospitals, and as the Huffington Post reports, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia garnered the No. 1 spot.

For the survey, U.S. News asked 1,500 doctors where they would send the sickest children for treatment. Eighty-seven hospitals were honored in the report, and 10 pediatric specialists, in everything from cancer to urology, were ranked.

Find out how your local hospital ranks at the Huffington Post.

Source: Shutterstock
parenting

Bullied Teen Jumps in Front of Moving Train

Nothing is a more urgent reminder of the dangers of teasing in the age of social media than the story of a kid who takes her own life.

Nothing is a more urgent reminder of the dangers of teasing in the age of social media than the story of a kid who takes her own life. Earlier this week, a 15-year-old New York teen named Felicia Garcia committed suicide by leaping in front of a moving train. The Staten Island freshman made her tragic jump while her classmates watched, allegedly because she "dwelled on rumors" from bullies, The Huffington Post reports.

Friends said they never suspected she would take her own life as they waited for the train after school, but Garcia's Twitter account revealed otherwise. Shortly before her suicide, she wrote on Twitter: "I can't, I'm done, I give up."

Kid Shopping

Sienna's Whimsical, Sweet, Pink and Gold Nursery

If you're a fan of Green Wedding Shoes, you're already familiar with founder Jen Campbell's refined aesthetic and style.

If you're a fan of Green Wedding Shoes, you're already familiar with founder Jen Campbell's refined aesthetic and style. While the blog's focus is beautiful weddings, you needn't be a bride to appreciate the design inspiration that GWS offers.

When Jen welcomed her daughter, Sienna, this February, she incorporated a baby series into her site's coverage, including, of course, a truly special nursery. The new mama worked with Serena & Lily and The Land of Nod (two of our faves!) to create a "pretty and girly (but not over the top girly) modern nursery with a touch of whimsy." We think she nailed it! Click through to see the highlights of Sienna's very sweet space.

Kid Shopping

Paperless Post's New Baby Collection Is Over-the-Top Adorable

We've been fans of Paperless Post's design-friendly digital greetings since the site's launch a few years back, and its offerings just keep getting better and better.

We've been fans of Paperless Post's design-friendly digital greetings since the site's launch a few years back, and its offerings just keep getting better and better. The team has recently partnered with the likes of Jonathan Adler, Petit Bateau, and Kate Spade New York for what's surely the chic-est collection of baby stationery on the web.

Consider yourself more of a traditional type? Many of the designs are also now available to have printed on card stock and sent via good old-fashioned snail mail. Check out 10 of our absolute favorite Paperless Post birth announcements, and get a taste for just how sweet the new collaborations are!

Kid Shopping

Ready or Not, Here I Come! 15 Adorable Outfits For Baby's Homecoming

When it's time for your new addition to make his or her "real world" debut, what you choose to dress them in can be a big decision — especially when snap-happy dads and grandparents are going to be there to capture every moment on camera.

When it's time for your new addition to make his or her "real world" debut, what you choose to dress them in can be a big decision — especially when snap-happy dads and grandparents are going to be there to capture every moment on camera.

Eighty-one percent of PopSugar MOMS readers say that they bought a special ensemble for their newborn to wear on this momentous day, and if you're planning on following suit, we recommend an outfit that's soft, cozy, and easy to get on and off. Converter gowns and kimono styles are especially desirable, as are pieces that don't go over the new baby's head. Check out our 15 favorite finds, and tell us, what did (or will) you bring home baby in?

Swimming

What Does Drowning Look Like? Not What You Think

Here's a post from our partners at BabyCenter!

Here's a post from our partners at BabyCenter! Every week, we bring you the best parenting and lifestyle stories from the experts at BabyCenter, including this post about drowning. I took my eyes away for seconds to check on my 4-year-old swimmer. "Great job!" I shouted out, so proud that he had reached the other side of the pool without any help. He was coming along quite well as a swimmer! I wasn't surprised; we've practically lived at the pool since he was 2 years old! Related: If hospitals don't teach new moms how to breastfeed, who will? I turned my head back to my 3-year-old whose quiet desperation was begging for me to grab him. He was bobbing for a breath. His hands weren't splashing. Without a word, his wide panicked eyes were imploring mommy to HELP! Seconds ago, he was playing on the steps. Seconds ago, while my head was turned, he had decided to swim to mommy. Seconds ago, I didn't realize I may only have seconds left. I pulled him up and rushed him to the side of the pool. He gasped and coughed. I had been right there with him the whole time, but with one moment it could've been bad. So bad. It all could've happened so fast. We were lucky. This week, the BabyCenter community has been abuzz with an article about what to look for in drowning—the first paragraph alone should shock anyone into reading and memorizing the whole article to learn more about what to look for when it comes to drowning. None of this is new though, BabyCenter blogger Kristina Sauerwein wrote about her experience a couple of years ago in the post "In a blink, my son began to drown." "Drowning is not the violent, splashing call for help that most people expect," writes Mario Vittone, author of "Drowning Doesn't Look Like Drowning." Drowning is quick and silent. Have you ever had a close call while swimming with your kids?

More great reads from BabyCenter:
Unhelpful parenting tips from Game of Thrones
10 tips for going green in your laundry
B Kids launches line of wooden toys
6 questions that will free you from clutter