Q. Our house looks like Santa's workshop with stuffed animals, race cars and art supplies scattered throughout. We try to get our children to keep their items in their own rooms, but it seems like a losing battle. Should we get rid of stuff or is there a best way to organize goods to encourage tidiness? A. Santa’s workshop has elves to maintain order, mommies typically don’t. We all have Read more

Q. My son, 1, and daughter, 3, share a room. Is there a certain point when they should be moved into separate bedrooms? A. Other cultures do not have the luxury of space to create gender-exclusive rooms. We are a bit phobic about having our sons and daughters together too long. I personally think it is a lovely experience for both as long as they feel like they have privacy; typically this Read more

Q. My two-year-old son is incredibly active. He is always on the go and has a hard time sitting still for long periods of time. Are there particular sports or activities that could help him channel his energy? A. Two things: It Sounds like you have a normal two-year-old boy and there are no age appropriate sports for a toddler. Two-year-olds should jump in their back yard, run in parks, climb Read more

Q. My two and a half year old daughter has to be out of diapers by September when she starts preschool. So far she has shown no interest in being potty trained. Do you have any tips on how I can get her engaged in the process? A. How to Excite, Engage and Succeed in Potty Training Your Toddler With 100% Success. If I could write that book I would have enough money to end our current economic Read more

Q. My husband and I both work full time and don't get to spend much time with our two-year-old during the week. We eat breakfast as a family, but then our son spends the rest of the day with his nanny and is asleep by the time we get home. How can we maximize our quality time with him on weekends? ? A. It is with compassion and support that I answer this. Parents no longer have the luxury of Read more

Q. My kids never stop arguing. They elbow each other in the backseat, fight over toys, taunt one another and it just never ends! If one is playing with something, the other one grabs it. They constantly mimic each other. How can we get them to find peace as sisters? A.: I'm 45 and my sister, 41, is my best friend, but I remember the days of pulling her down the hall by her hair. Take a Read more

Q. I have been awake for three years! Our son still wakes up at least twice a night. How can I get him to sleep through? Our older son just did it on his own. A. I can remember sitting in my car watching people walk by thinking, “You’ve probably had more than two hours sleep” and glaring at them like a sniper. Sorry your first-born spoiled you, but now there is only one answer. You have Read more

Q. My two-year-old hates getting dressed.  It’s a daily struggle to get him into pants and a shirt.  Why did this happen so suddenly, he never minded being outfitted before? A. The job of a two-year-old is to establish independence from mommy and daddy. The job of mommy and daddy is to help him understand boundaries and ground rules so his new found need to be independent isn’t harmful. Read more

Question: I have a 16-month-old daughter and am expecting my second child in September at which point my daughter will be 23 months. We have a three bedroom house and are going to give the kids their own rooms. My daughter currently has the much smaller room which is ideal for the nursery and we are thinking about switching her to the bigger room just before her brother or sister is born. The Read more