Hellobee Boards

If your baby won't take a nap, it's okay to give up & start at your next nap. It's better to have a slightly grouchy baby while getting in with your life than fighting your child forever & feeling frustrated. I spent so many hours trying to get an overtired baby to take a nap before I finally decided that either she sleeps or she doesn't, it will be okay!

When you put clothes away in the dresser put them in outfits. Every weekend when I do laundry I match up a bottom and top and place them in DD's dresser - that way when we need an outfit its already together!

For my 5 yr old I put 5 hook on his wall and he picks out all of his outfits for the week on sunday - again - saves so much time!

@Mrs. Jump Rope: hahaha I love this. When my daughter was younger (like, pre receptive language) we sang lullabies to her that contained a lot of "go the f to sleep" etc, etc

I break my own rule a lot, but if you don't have a naturally good sleeper there is only so much you can do. There isn't a magical number of naps/minutes of sleep/ bed time routine that automatically makes it better. There are things that help, sure, but don't go crazy trying to control it because you probably can't. And in that vein, if it's before 6 months (or even after if you are more patient than me) just let it happen: put that baby in a front pack, bounce on a yoga ball, and watch some real housewives for every single nap.

@Silva: Yup, there are still weekends that its easier to just pull her in bed with me rather than fight to get her to sleep in her bed!

Begin as you mean to continue.

It would have saved me from having to break sooooo many bad habits.

Always have some kind of snack with you. ALWAYS. I don't care what people say about bribing with food but there have been times when a crinkly pack of mum-mums have saved me!

@Mamaof2: great idea!! It would keep the drawers from getting messy too, since you don't have to dig.

STICKERS. Great way to keep them preoccupied and busy at home, in restaurants, etc.

@Mrs. Jump Rope: YES!! The Cat in the Hat feels like the longest book ever, and she LOOOOOOVES it. Sometimes she'll catch me though and say, "Mommy, you skipped a page!!" - Sigh.

@T.H.O.U.: Absolutely. And sometimes when your toddler wants to lug around her undies to school because it has her favorite my little pony characters on them, just let them. I'm a fan of picking my battles.

--Always keep crayons and modeling wax in your purse/bag. So many hours of creative entertainment wherever you end up. I also always have a sticker page and a few sheets of paper, as well.
--When kids are really small, "ordering" books through the library's hold system works SO well. I can do it at home and really take my time. I peruse Amazon to see what similar books it kicks out based on things I know one of the girls really likes, and then find it and place a hold. That way when we go to the library there is no pressure. We can get all our books, and then if we see anything else that catches someone's eye we can get that, as well, but it frees me up to just explore and enjoy the experience with the girls.

@Silva: haha i make up words to lullabies every day with inappropriate language and stuff. she's too young still to realize

Don't try to parent based on any book. and a corollary to that one: don't be persuaded by advice you get from others. you know yourself and your baby better than anyone, even a doctor or mother.

(I am still working on heeding that advice, but it is SO important!)

@Foodnerd81: "The only way out is through"

I love that!

I also heard "For now"

My baby wont sleep.....for now.....
My toddler is having a tantrum.... for now...

everything will eventually pass

Just breathe, it's really not that serious.