Every parent knows that having kids is a full-time job. Just because you have kids, though, doesn't mean you automatically know all there is to know about kids and parenting. That's where Baby University comes in! This is the place for parents to come and learn, ask advice, and share experiences with other parents. Whether it's pregnancy, breastfeeding, childcare, education, or other topics, our news, information, and community are made to help parents (and parents-to-be) find all the resources, support, and encouragement they need. So welcome to Baby University – your parenting resource!
Each month Baby University offers mothers a chance to share a personal story reflecting a parenting moment or lesson learned through life experience. Participants can enter for a chance to win a $25 cash equivalent prize! Who doesn’t need a little extra cash to spend on a cute new top or a manicure?
In the wee hours of the morning I awoke to the most frightening thing I’ve ever heard: the alarm on my neice’s crib motion sensor blaring. Sometimes, when my sister picks the baby up in the morning, she forgets to turn it off, so at first I just glanced over at the clock to see what time it was. When I saw that it was just 4:00 AM, I knew something was wrong — my neice is 10 months old and almost always sleeps until about 6:30. I jumped out of bed and ran to the nursery, arriving just seconds before my sister did. Read the rest of this entry »
One of my favorite pastimes is going to the movies. I love watching movies, and I especially love watching them at the theater. There’s just something about it that I… love. Anyway, now that I live with my sister and her 9-month-old, I don’t get to go to the movies nearly as often as I used to. The logistics are just too complicated. I don’t have a problem going to the theater by myself, but it just doesn’t feel right to tell my sis, “Hey, I’m going to the movies, see you later,” and then leave her at home with the baby. And finding a baby sitter for the occasion is not always cheap or convenient. So, when Star Trek hit theaters, I was in a pickle. Of all the movies ever made, Star Trek ones are my favorite. Yes, I’m a nerd, I know, it’s hilarious. Anyway, I was determined to see Star Trek at the theater. Fortunately, my sister wanted to go see it, too. The problem? Our scheduled baby sitter was sick. Big problem. We ultimately decided to go with a rather risky plan: We would see the latest show available and hope the baby would sleep through it. Read the rest of this entry »
There have been many lessons learned in this journey of being a “First Time Mom,” but so far, there have not been too many things about it that have just made me feel really stupid. I consider myself to be well-educated — I have a college degree, I’ve lived and traveled around the world, and over all, I’ve always had pretty good common sense. Well, this week, a seemingly simple, otherwise marvelous invention, has made me feel downright s-t-u-p-i-d! If I had just thought for a moment about what I was about to do, you would think a light bulb would have come on, lightening would strike, and I would realize, “Uh, uh, uh… this is not a good idea.” But no, I robotically strapped my 9-month-old daughter into her car seat and made the hour-long journey home from the beach. What’s the problem, you ask? Well, at the risk of sounding obtuse, but for the sake of all you first-timers out there, allow me to share this lesson learned: Little Swimmers diapers are not like real diapers.Read the rest of this entry »
Where I live, in Houston, TX, we have a lot of small, neighborhood water parks (some call them splash parks) — they’re essential for getting through those oppressively hot South Texas summers. They usually consist of a dry section, made up of swings and monkey bars and slides, and a wet section, made up of sprinklers and dump buckets and fountains. Most of them don’t have any pools or water slides — just a place where kids can run through the water and cool off while they play.
The great thing about these little parks is that they’re usually a safe place to take the kids on a hot summer day, especially if you don’t have a pool or live near the beach. They’re generally safer than pools anyway, since the water is shallow everywhere.
Unfortunately, like so many things in life, water parks do have their problems. And, like so many things in life, most of those problems are caused by other people. Read the rest of this entry »
I don’t have any kids. I’m not married, or even in a relationship. I do, however, live with my sister and help take care of my baby neice. It’s a unique situation, to say the least. I can’t say I’m the most helpful — poopy diapers make me gag, as does anything involving saliva — but I try my best to help around the house and give my sister a break from time to time. Last night, for example, I folded a mountain of laundry the likes of which I had never tackled before. It was a gargantuan task, but it had to be done.
This little arrangement won’t last forever — someday I will be moving out and my neice will no longer be a baby — so I have compiled here a list of things I have learned during my time as a live-in aunt.
1. First smiles can make you cry. I was holding my neice when she smiled for the first time. We were about to go somewhere and needed to put her in her car seat, and I was shaking my head, smiling, and saying, “You don’t want to go in your car seat, do you?” when, lo and behold, she smiled right back at me. My sister was so jealous! I teared up almost immediately and cried for a few minutes before we left. Read the rest of this entry »
With the economy becoming more volitile by the day, consumer confidence is getting shakier. One never knows from one day to the next if his or her job will be there, if there will be anything left of investments and even how to survive each day. Are there things that you can do, even as a hardworking citizen with a moderate income? Absolutely. Read the rest of this entry »
The Starfrit springform pan elevates the serving of tortes or cheesecakes too delicate to be moved from the base they’re baked on. The pan has a white ceramic bottom with a lip to which a nonstick springform side attaches; it’s more stylish than a traditional metal base, so you can use it as a serving plate. The pan comes in 8-inch ($24) and 10-inch ($28) sizes, at Amazon.com.
Fat-free gravy
Traditional grease separators make it impossible to get all the flavor-packed drippings without letting some fat down the spout. The Swing-A-Way separator tackles the problem by putting the spout on the bottom. Pour your pan drippings through the plastic strainer lid and then squeeze the handle to unplug the hole in the bottom; the clear sides let you see when to release your grip and plug the hole. It costs $15 at Solutions.com.
Silicone mitt, improved
Since they appeared on the market several years ago, silicone oven mitts have been our choice for the awkward job of flipping the turkey—they go right into the dishwasher, cutting down on concerns about bacteria from handling raw poultry. But the mitts were never ideal, since they couldn’t withstand heat for very long and they made for sweaty hands. Trudeau’s cloth-lined silicone mitt update solves these problems. The comfy cotton liner, which removes easily and can go in the washing machine, makes it more heat resistant. The lined mitt costs $24 at Entertainingluxury.com.
We can all admit it. On Hallowe’en, we want treats, and not tricks. There are a few steps that you can take to make sure that your child has a safe Hallowe’en that is full of treats.
Kids’ spidey senses will be tingling with anticipation at making these creepy crawly spider bracelets. A super easy craft to make at home or in the classroom, it’s a fun idea for insect themes as well!
It’s a simple centerpiece that doesn’t require a vase… but a pumpkin. P. Allen Smith shows how to take a clumsy winter squash and turn it into a thing of beauty.
Materials & Tools
Pumpkin
Floral foam
Dried flowers
Seed heads of grasses
Seed pods
Fruit
Fresh flowers
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Where I live, in Houston, TX, we have a lot of small, neighborhood water parks (some call them splash parks) — they’re essential for getting through those oppressively hot South Texas summers. They usually consist of a dry section, made up of swings and monkey bars and slides, and a wet section, made up of sprinklers and dump buckets and fountains. Most of them don’t have any pools or water slides — just a place where kids can run through the water and cool off while they play.
I don’t have any kids. I’m not married, or even in a relationship. I do, however, live with my sister and help take care of my baby neice. It’s a unique situation, to say the least. I can’t say I’m the most helpful — poopy diapers make me gag, as does anything involving saliva — but I try my best to help around the house and give my sister a break from time to time. Last night, for example, I folded a mountain of laundry the likes of which I had never tackled before. It was a gargantuan task, but it had to be done.
