Kids + planes
Quinn and her daughter, Ada, travel all over, all the time, and have since Ada was a wee one. Here are some of Quinn's best tips for traveling with babies on planes.
Other Parent Hacks posts on planes + kids:
Time to relax about the kids' finicky eating
I've recovered from my Brussels sprouts funk just in time to read Elizabeth Roca's fantastic "Sugarplums" in the latest issue of Brain, Child. She examines the roots of her toddler son's food fetishes (lime yogurt, cream cheese and jelly sandwiches, applesauce) and, in so doing, recalls her own childhood pickiness.
It's a beautiful essay: funny, honest, enlightening. Elizabeth puts us inside the head of a kid who seeks refuge from the sensory overload of daily life by demanding bland, predictable meals. For the first time, I understood why my kids react to new foods with suspicion.
Elizabeth finds her son's finicky eating mildly annoying, but lets it stand. Ellyn Satter, in her book "Child of Mine: Feeding With Love and Good Sense", suggests basically the same thing. She argues that parents are in charge of the "what" and "when" of feeding, but, as soon as the food's on the table, kids decide how much (or if) they eat. No cajoling, no threatening, no short-order cooking. Power struggles over food are ultimately self-defeating, and kids eventually grow out of their pickiness (most of it, anyway).
My sum-up doesn't do Child of Mine justice; if you're looking for reasonable, practical advice about feeding your family, consider having a look. Relevant to kids of all ages.
Technorati Tags: Elizabeth Roca, Ellyn Satter, Feeding kids, Nutrition, Parenting
More clever vegie hacks
Quinn dedicates a quadrant of her brain to vegie stealth:
I have a whole category of research in my head I call "sneaking vegetables into my child." My current favorite: Kids seems to be less picky about food they can't actually identify. I've been taking veggies Ada is occasionally amenable to, and using them in pureed soups. Sometimes it's as simple as a pound of broccoli and some bullion, and then into the blender. It doesn't seem to work with something she actually hates (ie zucchini) but if I use constituents she actually will on rare occasion eat it works pretty well. Thicker soups work better: more fun, more substance, not quite as much area of effect. Also can serve as a bonus way to sneak veggies into your partner.
Technorati Tags: Feeding kids, Vegetables
Toddler-friendly PB&J
Here's the practical lunch hack I promised earlier.
I'm a lover of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, as are many kids. Toddlers, however, can have a hard time chewing a sticky glob of peanut butter. Try this: spread the bread first with butter, then, with a thin layer of peanut butter, and finally with jelly, jam or honey. The result is smoother, milder, and generally easier to eat.
(You keep your sandwich bread in the freezer, right?)
Technorati Tags: Feeding kids
Minti fresh
Another victory for "real-world" parenting advice! Newly launched: Minti, a website that hopes to become "the world's largest parent-to-parent advice-opedia." You can write up and tag your own articles and tips, browse or search others', rate each article's relative usefulness, and leave comments everywhere. I test drove Minti by posting Dean and Paula's "tick tock" burping technique, and I found the site very easy to use. (I chose that hack because I've heard from four families that now swear by "tick tock"!)
Simple diet changes for overweight teens
Dr. Parker at WebMD offers simple, practical diet/lifestyle tips for overweight teens (and, by extension, parents of overweight teens). He doesn't pretend to have all the answers, but, as he wisely says, "Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good." I love that guy.
Technorati Tags: Feeding kids, Childhood obesity
Shmoo's lunch box
Here's where to get the groovy bento box made famous by Jennifer at Vegan Lunch Box. And here's her Brussels sprouts recipe.
Technorati Tags: Feeding kids
Baby washcloths cut paper towel use
Shannon and Liz use baby washcloths as reusable wash-ups:
Instead of cleaning hands, face, hair, high chair, walls and floor with paper towels, napkins or baby wipes, I bought several packs of those little newborn washcloths. After clean-up, I rinse the washcloth out with hot water and some dish or hand soap, then hang it to dry over the oven door handle or a magnetic hook on the fridge. I can use one washcloth for a day or two (depending on just how many messes had to be cleaned up!), then toss it in the laundry and get another one. This saves big over paper towels or baby wipes.
Vegan Lunch Box: Does Shmoo really eat brussels sprouts at snacktime?
I am oddly obsessed with Vegan Lunch Box, the blog of an inventive woman named Jennifer. She spends a lot of time planning and preparing her child "Shmoo's" lunches. Today, it was a homemade vegie corn dog with a tiny container of ketchup, steamed Brussels sprouts, and pink grapefruit segments.
Okay, so I can barely get my kids to look at Brussels sprouts, let alone eat them. I love food, and I wish my children loved it as much as I do. I grew up eating spicy curries and Hunan food and stuffed zucchini and, yes, Brussels sprouts. My kids do me a favor when they eat pasta with the sauce on top.
So when I read about a kid who relishes most of the creative, crazy food his mom prepares for him, it's like reading porn.
I promise to follow this rather self-indulgent post with something practical about lunches. It's just that those brussels sprouts pushed me over the edge.
Technorati Tags: Feeding kids, Parenting
Bumbo Seat: a better infant chair
Dave (of Rollyo and Davenetics fame) hears the Bumbo Seat is tops.
It's great for that in-between time when the neck works but sitting doesn't. Also, my sister says she knows folks who use it as a booster chair at restaurants because it's light and works well. She's used it for newborns, but her 2 year-old loves sitting in it, too.
Technorati Tags: Baby, Bumbo Seat, Family travel, Feeding kids
What routines work for you?
Whenever I meet a parent (most often a mom) who seems particularly organized, I'm always curious about the details -- how does she actually do it? Does she cook dinner every night? Does she sacrifice personal time? What are her routines?
Of course, different routines suit different family situations. Here's Sara's, which works for her two-working-parent family:
My husband and I have what we call the "24-hour baby routine" that basically splits our days at noon and alternates making each of us primary caregiver/organizer/provider for our daughter for a 24-hour period. Kind of confusing? Basically, one day my husband is responsible for "morning duty" which means waking up with baby, feeding her, dressing her, packing stuff for school, and taking her to school. The same day I'm responsible for "evening duty" which means school pick up, making dinner, cleaning up from dinner, and prepping bottles for the next day. The next day we switch, and I take morning duty (notice that I was responsible for making the bottles I needed to get her to school the next day...) and he takes evening duty.
For two full-time parents with slightly flexible work schedules, this works particularly well -- you can work late or get in early every day, if you need more sleep you can sleep in every other day, errands can be run on your "off" evening, etc.
What routines work for you?
Technorati Tags: Baby, Organization, Parenting
Indian "toddy" helps sickies get to sleep
Whenever I had a cold or a sore throat, my father made this for me to drink before bed (one of his many Indian home remedies). I was asleep within minutes, without fail.
Warm 1 cup of milk with a dash of cardamom, powdered ginger, turmeric, and sugar or honey to taste. If you're feeling generous, add a pinch of saffron. Serve in a favorite mug.
Technorati Tags: Health
Minimize juice pouch explosions
<rant> What genius decided it would be a good idea to package sugary juice inside a pillow-shaped, squeezable pouch? </rant> Sandy has an answer:
For the toddlers that insist on holding onto their own juice pouch/bag, it takes about 2 seconds before juice spouts out and gets everywhere. Instead of the fancy "juice box buddies," we use one of the sippy cups with handles. Take the top off and the juice pouch fits in snugly. When my son is ready for juice, we stick the straw in and it works great. We make sure that we take the top along as well so we have a sippy cup to turn to if needed.
Technorati Tags: Capri Sun, Sippy cups
Pizza scissors
Matthew in Seattle simplifies family pizza outings this way:
My two-year-old daughter Iris loves pizza, and we often take her out to the local pizza place, but until recently she wasn't adept enough with her teeth to eat bites off a slice. She preferred her slice cut into little bites. Doing this with a plastic knife and fork (which is likely all you'll find at the pizza place) will drive you crazy. Solution: Toss a pair of kitchen scissors into the diaper bag. It's a snap [Actually, it's a snip. -- Ed.] to cut bites of any size with them, and you can wash the scissors when you get home.
Technorati Tags: Feeding kids, Pizza
Parenting tips down under
Australian mom Christine Tse hosts Parentingideas.org, a blog "to inspire with ideas and practical tips on parenting."
Technorati Tags: Parenting
More tips for picky eaters
Irene in Houston has tips for parents of picky eaters:
I've been "blessed" with two picky eaters and I'm always looking for ways to get the veggies down. My 4- and 2 year-old love Campbell's Alphabet Soup. My 4 year-old won't touch a carrot except when it's in a soup. Rather than make soups at home all the time just to get veggies down, I decided to cook the carrots in chicken broth and voila, down they went. I usually steam veggies -- but at least something nutritional is making its way into my children.
Also, our Montessori teacher started having the children at school say "Bravo!" and clap for our two year-old (who because of prematurity, has some real food and texture issues), when she would eat something for lunch at school. Now at home, the two children take turns saying "Bravo!" to each other as they show each other how brave they are at eating a pea or a corn or a piece of chicken. I never would have guessed this would help get over some finicky food issues, but at least for us, it has.
Technorati Tags: Feeding kids
Homemade no-spill snack box
Remember the Snack Trap? Handy Sandy (I'm sure she'll just love that nickname) made her own:
If you have one of the smaller 8 oz empty formula tins (Similac tins work better than the Enfamil ones), you can adapt it easily to a "Surprise Snack Box." Take the plastic lid and cut a + in the center and shave the middle corners so they are rounded. A box cutter works great for this. Then use sand paper to smooth down the inner edges of the snack box so there are no sharp corners. This makes a good snack box. You can put in Cheerios, crackers, cookies and even gummy bears. Mix them up and close the cut-out-lid.
Since I introduced this to my son after his 1st birthday, he loves to peer into the box and stick his little hand in and see what treat he gets. In the beginning, he loved the ticklish feeling as he tried to dig in. The lid keeps the snacks and Cheerios safe from spilling out in the car, car seat, stroller, everywhere.... With the smaller opening than a normal snack cup, the little ones cannot get out more than a couple treats at a time. And what they get is almost always a surprise and will keep them busy in the car. When they are down and toss the box away, not much is likely to spill out. We never leave home without one - if we forget to take one, there is one in the car that we just fill up with goldfish crackers or peanut-butter-sandwich crackers at the nearest grocery/snack stand. Stick on some stickers and your kid will cling onto it for dear life anywhere you go.
Technorati Tags: Feeding kids, Snack-Trap
One-minute breakfasts
Head on over to Blogging Baby: Stefania posted a list of her favorite one-minute breakfasts, and several readers have added their own in the comments. Our favorite: yogurt topped with granola.
Technorati Tags: Feeding kids
Fill the day's sippy cups
Sara forwards us this tip from one of her local-mom lists:
I found that it was a big time saver to fill all of my daughter's sippy cups in the morning and keep them in the refrigerator on the bottom shelf. That way, when she was thirsty or if we needed to go and I wanted to bring one with us, she could open the fridge and get it herself. Sounds simple and like no big deal but it saved me from putting the baby down, getting out the juice, the water and the cup and taking the 5 mins to get it ready. Also, she felt like a really "BIG GIRL" which was important at that time for her.
Technorati Tags: Feeding kids, Organization, Sippy cups
Green Mac-n-cheese
Here's how Stephanie sneaks in greens:
My 21 month-old son refuses to eat leafy greens but has no problem gobbling up cheese and carbs. No surprise there right? I have figured out a way around this. Before preparing his mac and cheese, I take the amount of water that the box calls for, heat it and put it in the blender. I then throw in some frozen or fresh spinach and puree the heck out of it. Then I put the spinach water puree in a bowl, add the mac and cooking it as per the microwave instructions then adding the cheese. Other then it being green, he has no clue there is spinach in it, which he would normally never touch. The green mac and cheese tastes pretty much just like without. For older kids, you could maybe say it's Oscar the Grouch mac and cheese or Martian mac and cheese.
I also add spinach to smoothies, and no one's the wiser. Hope this helps!
Technorati Tags: Feeding kids, Macaroni
Pretty food inspiration
We've got the Japanese aesthetic goin' at Parent Hacks today.
Here's what Beth says:
Food that's pretty is more likely to be eaten by picky toddlers. This Japanese mom has a fotolog of the beautiful bento boxes she prepares for her daughter.
I admit these pictures gave me a bit of a Martha complex about the lunches I pack for my son (the mainstay of which is a peanut butter and honey sandwich shoved into a Ziploc bag). I've never been a "make funny faces on their pancakes" kind of mom, and garnishing isn't my strong suit. I DO, however, take care when I arrange my kids' dinners on their plates. I find that small servings (often no more than a tablespoon or two), placed in discreet piles on the plate, go over well.
I did have fun with my son's after school snack the other day: Stonyfield Farm Banilla yogurt in a small bowl, with a spiral of chocolate syrup on top, and Annie's Chocolate Bunny Grahams marching around the edge. He got quite a kick out of it.
Technorati Tags: Bento, Feeding kids
How to use a baby sling
To hear Scott tell it, a sling is his baby care Leatherman. Check it out:
The simple fabric baby sling is most-used tool in my parenting arsenal. In addition to strapping your little one to your front, side, or back, it can fill many different roles in a pinch:
In sling mode, use the "tail" to:
* Protect baby from winter gusts
* Clean up minor spit ups
* Cover up while nursing
Spread out, the sling can become a:
* Clean place for a diaper change
* Ground cloth at the park
* Blanket
* Swaddling wrap
* Mini sun tent (draped between sticks, diaper bag, etc)
Advanced uses:
* Padding, pillow, or strap in a shopping cart
* Toddler leash (strap the loop around them while holding the tail)
* Pouch during pickup time to collect things that have migrated into the wrong room
Of course, you'll want to wash it in between some of these off-label uses.
Buying tips:
* Don't get the "padded" or "shaped" styles - they're much less flexible beyond the intended use, and less comfortable in many positions
* Pick an extra-large size for a longer "tail"
* Look for a fabric that gives without stretching too much
I've used a Maya Wrap through two children, and highly recommend them (especially the newer designs, which include an integrated pocket). The fabric finally wore out after 4.5 years of wearing and washing; I'm currently using a homemade model created from a rectangle of appropriate woven fabric, plus two heavy-duty metal rings from the hardware store.
Technorati Tags: Maya Wrap, Babywearing, Sling
Boob cubes
Nicole passed along this breastmilk conservation trick:
While at work, my friend pumped breastmilk into the containers that come with the pump. When she got home she poured the milk into Tupperware ice trays with lids. When the “boob cubes” were frozen, she popped out the cubes and put them in a freezer bag marked with the date. One cube is approximately equal to one ounce and she could pop the cubes into bottles to dethaw without wasting any milk.
Technorati Tags: Breastfeeding
Tips for parents of twins
Irène Nam, prolific mama blogger (Momster, Blogging Baby) and mother of twins, has a bunch of great ideas for other parents of multiples:
When you have twins, you eventually realize that raising two babies is very different than raising one so you toss books that praise the Ferber method and endless bonding with newborn and depend on hacks from other parents of multiples!
My favorite book about twins parenthood is "The Art of Parenting Twins" by Patricia Maxwell Malmstrom and Janet Poland. There is this whole chapter called "Debunking myths about twins - the truth behind the fiction." The book also offers very practical tips and advice. My all-time favorite tips to parents of twins are:
- Put colored nail polish on one of the baby's toenails and his own medication to keep track of who is who and whose is whose.
- Put a safety pin on your bra and transfer it from one strap to the other so that you can remember which baby you nursed on which breast last.
- What I also did was dress one of my sons with clothes with stripes only. Now, 4 years later I am able to tell who is who on the pictures!
Fullproof baby burping
When Dean and Paula told me a belly dancer in a pub in Malvern, UK, taught them how to burp their baby, I was intrigued. How did the topic come up, I wonder?
Before your baby is able to burp on his own it can be a real pain trying to get that wind out. However, it doesn't require endless slapping on the back. Simply hold the baby by the armpits (support head with fingers) and allow his legs to dangle freely. Also, baby's face should be level with yours. Then very gently tilt him from side to side (we call this 'tick tock' and actually say 'tick tock' as we're doing it). 3 or 4 tick tocks are normally enough for that wind to come. We've done this with 2 babies and it works every time, and each of our friends who've tried agree, this is very effective.
Warning! Once you've done the 'tick tock' move the baby out of range of your face!
Optical illusion minimizes juice intake
Patrick passes along this trick for minimizing kids' intake of sugary drinks:
I can't remember where I saw this originally but this would work for limiting juice/soda intake for kids - and maximizing healthy stuff like milk. Pour the juice in a taller, thinner glass - it will look like you've poured more than you really have. Pour milk in a shorter, wider glass, it will look like you poured less.
Here's a link to the study, related to alcohol but applicable...
Technorati Tags: Feeding kids
Fruity, iron-rich toddler snack
I want Kittenpie to make me lunch. This is the second cool food tip she's sent in. Here's how she ups her kid's iron intake:
Our doctor recommended the continued use of iron-fortified baby cereal into her second year because toddler iron needs are so high, so now we add flavoured baby cereal flakes to plain natural yogurt and sweeten this blend with baby food fruit puree, figuring it is pure fruit, no additives. Since she is so into her "sauces" we just call it fruit and yogurt sauce to get the first bite in, and then it is so yummy she gobbles it all.
Technorati Tags: Feeding, Feeding kids
Uses for baby wipes
The omnipresent baby wipe can do more duty than just doodie. It can also:
- Clean fingerprints and crayon marks off the wall
- Tidy the car dashboard
- Handwashing stand-in (although we prefer Purell)
- Wipe down restaurant high chairs
- Clean shopping cart handles
- Get rid of deodorant stains on dark clothing
- Remove makeup
- Shine up the bathroom sink and countertop
- Clean dry erase boards
- Give to kids so they can wipe down the kitchen table after meals or projects
- Remove smudges from windows and mirrors
I'm sure you have more creative ideas...
Technorati Tags: Baby wipes, Cleaning, Crayons, Housekeeping
Nursing strike? Sweeten the deal.
Here's how Tiffany ended her son's nursing strike:
Baby on a nursing strike? This sometimes happens around the nine month mark and is supposed to take two days to clear up. Two LONG days of a hungry baby and a frustrated mom. We made it a day before I tried this trick: put a dab of syrup on your nipple and offer. It worked for us!
Technorati Tags: Breastfeeding
Choice words
Elana avoids meltdowns by avoiding yes-or-no questions:
One of the best things we learned was that kids shouldn't get questions that can be answered "yes" or "no." Always give them a choice, and everyone ends up happy...they've decided for themselves, and you've avoided a massive meltdown that "no" can bring.
The wisdom of this advice appeals to me in theory, but I have what I like to call a "Choice C" kid. I give him a choice between A or B, and he suggests C, and we're back in throwing distance of a tantrum. When this happens, I change tactics and try to distract him.
"Honey, do you want milk or water with your lunch?"
"I want orange juice!"
"Yum! I just got a new batch of oranges! I'll cut some for you."
[Pause. Luke contemplates the oranges and forgets about the beverage choice. I silently pour him a glass of milk.]
Not always practical, but when it works, I've sidestepped at least 15 minutes of misery.
Technorati Tags: Feeding kids, Tantrums
Baby food vegies as pasta sauce
Here's kittenpie's kid-friendly lunchtime suggestion:
We precook pasta, veg, and lentils or beans and store them in bins in the fridge. Then, when we need to pack a meal quickly, we grab a handful of each, put it in a small lidded bowl, and mix it with baby food veg puree as a sauce/binder for our quickie casserole-type dish. We also like to give our little girl a small cup of puree to use as dipping sauce for pasta or as pasta sauce. Pure veg and no salt or other additives makes this a great alternative to regular pasta sauce.
Technorati Tags: Feeding, Feeding kids, Vegetables
Press'n Seal table mat
Andi suggests this money-saver:
I love those disposable table mats with adhesive strips on the back. A less expensive alternative, and one that adapts to the space available, is Glad Press'n Seal wrap. Depending on the size and style of your diaper bag, you can carry a roll with you and customize your disposable table covering to your specific needs at a moment's notice.
Technorati Tags: Feeding kids, Press'n Seal
Snack Trap for tidy munching
Blogging Baby writer Stefania Butler calls Snack-Traps "essential." Little cups with soft, perforated, reach-through tops that let fingers in, but don't let unescorted Cheerios out. Can also be used as sippy cups if you purchase the screw-on sip lids. Great for keeping the house and car marginally tidier.
Dana at Mombian adds this:
Buy at least two at a time, so if you're in the car and your child drops one, you have another to hand back. (Having two can also help during playdates, in case sharing is required.) Snack Traps can be ordered from their Web site, although it's not the epitome of slick design, but they're also available at most of the major baby megastores. The company was apparently founded by a mom who developed the product for her own kids. (Wouldn't we all like to be this inventive?)
Technorati Tags: Feeding kids, Snack-Trap
Bathing and washing tips for parents of multiples
Jenness is the mother of 11 month-old, "very squirmy" twins. Here's her advice for keeping them (and their stuff) clean:
1) I use a laundry basket in the tub. [She concurs with Blogging Baby on this tip. -- Ed.] It holds both of the boys and keeps them within arms' reach. 2) I use a mesh hosiery bag in the dish washer to hold the plethora of bottles and whatnot, that need washing daily.
Safe Baby Handling Tips
Fans of just-the-facts (with a wink) baby manuals will like this: "Safe Baby Handling Tips" (David Sopp, Kelly Sopp). [Via Babygadget.]
Technorati Tags: Baby
Tie your baby to a chair! (I did.)
Babygadget mentioned the Sack 'n Seat today -- a fabric doohickey that converts a standard chair into a baby-safe highchair stand-in. Nice for babies who can sit up but are still being hand-fed. Not as useful for toddlers who feed themselves, as they won't be sitting at the proper table height.
When my son was little, in a pinch, I tied him to a chair with the arms of my jacket and then scooted close enough in my own chair to stabilize him with my knees.
Technorati Tags: Feeding kids, High chairs
Ketchup at 12 o'clock
Sean says something I wish I had heard about four years (and many dripping sleeves) ago:
As pre-schoolers start dipping chicken nuggets, fries, grapes, small toys, etc. in ketchup, they'll start dipping their shirt sleeves, too. Put the pool of ketchup on the plate at 12:00 with the kid at 6:00. At any other position, the little darling will reach over the ketchup (but not quite) to get something else.
Technorati Tags: Feeding kids
"Gateway" foods entice finicky eaters
I'm a foodie, and the mother of two picky eaters. Not the best combination. I grew up eating everything my parents ever fed me (and, for the most part, liking it), so my kids' finicky tastes still surprise and frustrate me. Cajoling, threatening, dousing with cheese/ketchup/butter hasn't worked. We're in this for the long haul.
I've had a small measure of success with what I call "gateway" foods. If I can find a food they like, I try to serve them something slightly different, but in the same category, soon thereafter. I also draw as many creative parallels as I can between this slightly different something to the already-approved gateway food.
For example, my kids like french fries. All potatoes are now compared to lovely, delicious, non-threatening french fries. French fries lead to hash browns, which lead to potato latkes...
Here are some more gateway foods I've discovered:
• Hot cereal: cream of wheat
• Condiments: ketchup
• Beans: edamame (shelled soybeans, available frozen)
• Green vegies: broccoli, artichokes
• Orange vegies: pumpkin (pumpkin pie and jack o'lanterns helped here)
I'm always looking for inspiration -- which "approved" foods have nudged your kids further along the culinary path?
Technorati Tags: Feeding kids
Jiggly homemade Jell-o
Ebumu writes:
Ever read the ingredients on a box of Jell-o? Then you'll want to try this real juice version which contains only juice and gelatine, and is no more complex to make:
Fruit Juice Gelatine (recipe from Knox; makes 2 cups)
Sprinkle an envelope of Knox gelatine over a half cup of cold fruit juice in a bowl. Let it sit for a minute to soak. Meanwhile, microwave 1 1/2 cups of juice till it's boiling. Stir the hot juice into the gelatine mixture, and keep stirring for 3-5 min, till everything's dissolved. Done! Now chill till set.
(Don't use pineapple juice--it won't set. Stir in some chunks of fruit when half-set, if you like--just not pineapple!)
Technorati Tags: Feeding kids, Jell-o
Sippy cup on-the-go
Never fails: you leave home without a sippy cup, and minutes later the toddler's begging for a drink. Instructables offers a DIY solution: bore a hole into a drink top with a car key, then poke a straw thru. [Via Lifehacker]
Technorati Tags: Family travel, Feeding kids, Sippy cups
Freezer-fresh sandwich bread
Keep the sliced sandwich bread and bagels in the freezer. PB & J (and any other sandwich filling) spreads nicely on frozen bread, and packs neatly into a sandwich bag. When noontime rolls around, the bread will have thawed, and the sandwich will be perfectly fresh, soft and munchable.
Bonus: Frozen bread keeps an insulated lunch pack cool.
Warning: I've tried freezing pre-made PB & J sandwiches, too. Total failure.
Technorati Tags: Bread, Sandwiches
Another vote for The First Years sippy cup
Zkywords seconds Clark's vote for the simple, unleaky design of The First Years sippy cup.
Technorati Tags: Sippy cups
Serve-it-yourself cereal
Via Sara via Daily Candy: a countertop cereal "keg" kids can operate themselves. Put a small pitcher of milk on a low shelf in the fridge, a few spoons and plastic bowls in the cupboard, and they can make their own breakfasts! (And you get to sleep in?) A "Mom Tested" pick by Parenting magazine. Comes in single and dual models, and in several colors.
Of course, there's a simpler and cheaper solution. From my wise-mama cousin Leslee:
When Alanna was old enough to open the fridge by herself (3-ish), I set up her breakfast so she could feed herself. On the bottom shelf, place a bowl of cereal, a small cup of milk, and a spoon. All she had to do was pour the milk into the cereal, and – voila! – breakfast! She carried it to the table and ate it, often spilling a bit on the floor, but that was a small price to pay for sleeping in. Ah…precious sleep. ‘Course it also helped that she could work the TV and VCR herself.
VCR? Bah! Get TiVo!
Parenting hacks at 43folders
43folders is Merlin Mann's site devoted to all things productivity and organization. Devotees of 43folders can post ideas/suggestions/discussion to his wiki, and many among them are parents. I give you: the 43folders wiki on Parenting Hacks.
Technorati Tags: 43folders, Organization
Forget the burp cloths: Use cloth diapers
Chad shares money-saving advice on his blog: that cloth diapers are the best, cheapest burp cloths around. One of my kids was a major spitter-upper, and we had cloth diapers stashed all over the house. I'd swear I had one permanently attached to my shoulder for a while there.
Spit-up is now a thing of the past, but those diapers still make the best dustcloths, dolly blankets, and nose wipers.
Technorati Tags: Diapers
Sake cup or shotglass for beginner cup-drinkers
Sara in Austin, TX came across a good tip in the premiere issue of Cookie magazine:
Use little sake cups to help your child learn to drink from a cup. I've been looking for some plastic or melamine sake cups ever since reading that, but haven't found any. (Help locating some would be great.)
We gave our little one water in a shotglass -- she liked the fact that it was glass (breakable, that is)...made her feel grown-up.
Technorati Tags: Feeding
Homemade baby food
Tiffany tells us her process for making baby food:
Steam or boil the heck out of any fruit, vegetable or legume until soft. Transfer to a bowl (if necessary, drain first). Using an immersion blender, puree it all up. Transfer to ice cube trays for small portions, muffin trays for larger and freeze. Once frozen, transfer to Ziploc bags and label. When you're ready to use, thaw in the microwave, in the fridge or in a small saucepan. You can get creative and mix potatoes and applesauce, lentils and carrots, the possibilities are unlimited! You can also steam some rice and add it to your concoctions. Need to add some fat? Coconut milk works well. Want to learn more? Or get some recipe ideas? Check out the British book "Baby and Child Vegetarian Book" by Carol Timperley.
I couldn't find the book Tiffany recommended on Amazon (US), but I've heard "Super Baby Food" (Ruth Yaron) is also good for recipes and tips.
Technorati Tags: Baby food
Gerber sippy cup hell
Gerber "spill-proof" cups may not spill. but they certainly do leak. Go for Playtex sippy cups instead.
Technorati Tags: Gerber, Playtex, Sippy cups
Make your own hot chocolate mix
Speaking of eliminating trans fat, here's a simple recipe for homemade instant hot cocoa mix. Most commercial brands contain partially hydrogenated oil.
Technorati Tags: Feeding, Hot chocolate
Carnation Instant Breakfast can stand in for Pediasure
Carnation Instant Breakfast mixed with whole milk can be an economical substitute for Pediasure. Use a fork to stir the powder into the milk -- does a better job than a spoon.
If you need to buy in quantity, Care Express sells cases of Carnation Instant Breakfast at a discount.
Note: if your pediatrician specifically recommends Pediasure, double-check with him/her before you switch.
Technorati Tags: Carnation Instant Breakfast, Nutrition, Pediasure
No pacifier? Use your pinky!
Jon of FamilyResource.com reminded me about something I often did when my kids were newborns:
There are bound to be times when Mom isn't there to nurse, the formula isn't ready, or you can't find the pacifier. One way to soothe your hungry baby is to use your pinky. After you wash your hands, turn one of your hands so your palm is facing up, and then insert the end of your pinky into their mouth. This has worked for both of my children, and will usually pacify them for several minutes.
(This is one of several hundred reasons to keep your nails clipped short after you become a parent.)
Berkeley Parents Network
We lived in Berkeley, CA for many years, but were parents there for only a year before we moved. In that year, I must have referred to the Berkeley Parents Network (an earlier incarnation of it) hundreds of times. Full of real-world advice and San Francisco Bay Area-centric discussion, this site is worthwhile for any parent. I especially like the Big and Little Worries section.
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Watch those sippy cups while on a plane
Pressure changes during air flight can cause spillproof sippy cups (the ones with valves) to leak. Fill them halfway, and unscrew the top a few times during the ascent to equalize the pressure inside and outside of the cup.
Technorati Tags: Family travel, Sippy cups
There is an instruction manual after all!
Ran into "The Baby Owner's Manual: Operating Instructions, Trouble-Shooting Tips, and Advice on First-Year Maintenance" (Louis, M.D. Borgenicht, Joe Borgenicht) at the bookstore the other day: a baby-care book written in the style of a technical user manual. One doesn't put diapers on the baby, one installs them. Useful but spare coverage of basic baby maintenance. Amusing baby shower gift for geeky parents-to-be.
Strangely enough, Brian in Tulsa emailed me about the book a day later. He says:
It's both very funny and extremely, extreeeeeemely useful; it's instructed and reassured my wife and me several times already during our son's 5 months and change. There's a second version for toddlers too, I believe.
Ben had something to say as well:
...must-have for every geeky dad. I gives you solid information in an easy-to-find, quick-to-read point-form with none of the touchy-feely stuff that turns off most nuts-and-bolts guys. I read it cover to cover a couple of times in the days after we brought our baby home from the hospital, and referred to it a lot in the first few months. Even my wife, who read every book she could find while she was pregnant appreciated the quick-reference style of the Owner's Manual. All that, and it's hilarious, too.
If you really get into it, there's also a matching spiral-bound maintenance log and a calendar.
Favorite "no trans fat" snacks
The FDA is changing food labels so you'll now know how much trans fat lurks in your kid's food. Trans fat -- the result of hydrogenating oil -- typically shows up in packaged snacks such as cookies and crackers. Because it's more shelf-stable than regular oil, however, manufacturers use it in all sorts of convenience foods.
I've been a trans fat detective for years. I generally shop at my local natural-foods grocery store or Trader Joe's for snacks, cereals, and other ready-made food. I save money by watching for sales, packing my freezer, and buying staples at conventional supermarkets.
A few favorites:
- Annie's Cheddar Bunnies (Goldfish cracker alternative)
- Trader Joe's Honey Whole Wheat pretzel sticks
- New Morning Cinnamon Grahams
- Kashi GoLean Crunch and Mighty Bites cereals
- Nature Valley Peanut Butter granola bars (if our only shopping choices are the gas station or 7-11)
What are your family's favorite trans fat-free snacks?
Technorati Tags: Feeding kids, Health food, Trans fat
Homemade mac and cheese - easy as boxed
Macaroni and cheese comes in two distinct forms: the homemade, out-of-the-oven, crusty with browned cheese stuff the grownups like, and the stovetop, out-of-the-box, electric orange pasta concoction the kids like.
I submit to you a third option. Easy as the boxed stuff, pleasingly orange, and real enough to please the kid inside any grownup. My kids even eat it (I won't say prefer it, but they're happy enough).
Cook macaroni (if you can get a hold of the whole wheat kind, so much the better). When done, drain, return to the pot, and add a generous pat of butter. Once the butter melts, sprinkle in a tablespoon or so of flour. Use your fingers to sprinkle in the flour so it doesn't clump in one spot. Stir well. Add a splash of milk, and then some shredded cheese (cheddar, or a mix of cheddar and jack). Stir till everything's nicely melted. Add a little more milk if your kids like things saucy.
Bulk bin containers good for lunch boxes
Pack lunchbox items in reusable food containers, such as the ones you get from the bulk bins at grocery stores, and wash them out each time. Saves $ on sandwich bags and the throwaway Tupperware.
Technorati Tags: Housekeeping
How did we travel before Bibsters?
Expensive, single-use, disposable sanitary items aren't usually our thing (except for the, um, THOUSANDS of diapers we've added to the landfill over the last few years), but oh, the wonder that is the Bibster.
Pampers Bibsters are disposable paper bibs. Here's why we love them for restaraunts and travel:
- They have a waterproof backing, so yucky liquidy foods won't soak through.
- They stay put via a nifty velcro closure at the neck.
- They have little fold-up pockets that catch spills
- They are soft enough to use as a face-wiper at the end of the meal (provided they're not too covered with yuckus)
- They have cute Sesame Street characters on them, which keeps the bib-wearer entertained for a few minutes.
- They (and all the muck they collect) are thrown in the garbage at the end of the meal, unlike their non-disposable counterparts which must be wadded up, placed in a plastic bag, tucked into the diaper bag, forgotten there for several days, and later discovered and either thrown away, or unfolded (urg) and washed.
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Adding calories to your child's diet
Many parents have strategies for cutting calories from their diets, but have no idea how to add calories to their kids' diets.
Why add calories when childhood obesity is such a national epidemic? To be sure, not all children need calorie-fortified diets. But, if your child is low on the growth curve, with an uneven height/weight ratio, your pediatrician may suggest you add fat to your kid's diet. Fat is crucial for brain development, and there are several healthful, easy ways to add fat and calories to your kid's food without resorting to junk or weighing down your own diet.
- Add a thin layer of butter to all sandwiches, including PB and J. Butter the bread lightly, then add your usual toppings and condiments. The butter is mild enough to add richness without much flavor.
- Add a tablespoon of cream to your child's milk, cereal, pasta dishes, soups, and anything else you can think of. Don't add much -- the cream's richness can become cloying, even for kids.
- Add a dollop of butter or a little olive oil to steamed vegies, rice, cooked pasta, potatoes, stir fry, and other mixed dishes your child enjoys.
- If you serve only whole-grain breads, cereals, and pastas, consider the "white" alternatives occasionally. The extra fiber in whole-grain products, while super-healthy, can fill kids up quickly, zapping their calorie intake. (This, by the way, is a good reason for most adults to eat mostly whole grains.)
- Nut butters are your friends. In sandwiches, desserts, sauces, and even some soups and stews, peanut, almond, cashew, sesame seed, and even soy nut butters do wonders.
- Avocados, any which way.
- Fruit smoothies, with a bit of cream, bananas, and other fruits, do well.
- Fry Cheerios in butter, let dry on a cookie sheet, then serve for breakfast and snacks. Delicious when mixed with raisins.
We welcome your suggestions -- add a comment!
Viva paper towels are the softest
We're big consumers of paper towels (as are most parents). We've found that Viva brand is the softest for grubby cheeks, and the hardiest for cleaning chores.
Technorati Tags: Housekeeping, Paper towels, Cleaning
Freeze shredded cheese
When shredded cheese goes on sale, buy several bags and throw them in the freezer. You'll have on hand the main element for super-quick lasagnas, quesadillas, enchiladas, grilled cheese sandwiches, mac and cheese...
Bonus: almost anything becomes more appetizing to kids when topped with melted, shredded cheese. Broccoli, scrambled eggs, baked potatoes, refried beans...
We love hand sanitizer
We keep Purell, or the generic equivalent, by the front door, in the car, and in the kitchen. If real, water-and-soap handwashing is either unavailable or inconvenient, we're covered.
Technorati Tags: Family travel, Health, Purell