Tag: parenting

baby, infant, parenting, SIDS, Uncategorized

How To Get Rid Of the Pacifier: 4 Steps To Success

SOME babies will use a pacifier for months regularly and then not ever miss it.

MOST babies are NOT like that and it takes some time and going in with a strategy to make the pacifier disappear and stay gone. ❤

pacifer

Pediatricians vary on the best time to phase out the pacifier and every baby and family is different with how long they choose to use it. Talk to your doctor about their recommendations of when to stop using a pacifier.

I’m here to offer an easy step by step guide how to kiss the pacifier goodbye when ready.

  1. Start cutting use out during the day while baby is awake.
  2. Start cutting use out at nap time.
  3. Start cutting use out at night. 
  4. Be consistent (if possible) with bedtime routine – bath/pajamas, book, sip of water or snack, brushing teeth etc. Once a good routine is established, it makes it easy to have a new “last thing” before sleeping 🙂 

Also, determine how flexible/strict you are going to be and how attached the babe is. As you can see from the picture above, our baby LOVED his pacifiers. We phased out the pacifier before our son was 13 month old over about a 2 week course going step by step every few days with the 4 steps listed above and it went smooth. He had pretty much just been using it for naps and at bedtime most days by the time he was 1 year old. For you, it could be a slow process over a few days, weeks, or months or possibly there is a desired deadline(before age 18 months or 2 yrs or 3 yrs or a designated cut off that you’ve been aiming for). It may instead be a simple and quick change to use the four steps above and within a few days or weeks the pacifier has left the building.

Pacifier use has research that supports use to decrease risk of SIDS, help baby self soothe, ease discomfort, and satisfy the innate suck reflex. (article here)  There is also research that recommends to start to wean baby from pacifier use after 6 months to reduce the evidence of otitis media (ear infections) and dental issues. (article here) Some pediatricians recommend weaning use by the child’s first or second birthday. Again talk to your doctor for their recommendation.

What worked for you when you phased the pacifier out or is this a current struggle for any of you guys?

Would love to hear from you!

<3, Hope

Look me up on instagram as nonstopmomlife  —>  instagram link

Been searching for a good sippy cup for the baby? –> Best Sippy Cups: Organized Review

 

 

babyitems, parenting, product review

Best Sippy Cups: Organized Review With Links

Best Sippy Cups

Finding the best sippy cup can be quite the task. I am NOT proud to admit that I bought lots of types only to discover that my toddler preferred the ones listed below. With this quick summary, you should be on  your way to finding the best sippy cup so you do not have to waste MONEY on items that are not child friendly. Note: This post has affiliate links for easy shopping.

1. Munchin Miracle 360 Trainer Cup

Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cup, Green/Blue, 7 Ounce, 2

Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cup, Pink/Green, 7 Ounce, 2

  • Pros
    • Easy to clean and assemble
    • Easy for the child to use
    • Fits most cup holders
    • Does not spill when child is drinking from it
  • Con
    • If your child throws the sippy cup against a hard floor, it can spill a bit

*Best sippy cup if child does NOT throw the sippy cup on the floor often, easiest to use. *This is our personal favorite.

2. Hard Spout Gerber Graduates by Nun

Gerber Graduates 10 Ounce Fun Grips Hard Spout Sippy Cup, 4 Count, Pink/Purple

  • **Best sippy cup for age 12 month+ if child is throwing sippy cup, as it doesn’t spill.

3. OXO Tot Transition Straw Cup

OXO Tot Transitions Straw Cup with Removable Handles, Pink, 6 Ounce (2 Pack)

OXO TOT Transitions Straw Cup with Removable Handles, Teal, 6 Ounce (2 Pack)

  • Pros
    • Easy for the chid to use
    • Leak proof with drinking from and if dropped
    • Has a cover to shield the straw
  • Con
    • Though easy to clean and assemble, it does takes longer than other sippy cups as it has more parts

Hope this article helped narrow down the shelves and rows of sippy cups to pick you favorite! Overall we love the first two the most, but the third is also great for kids who prefer straws! I prefer

❤ Hope, nonstopmomlife.com

Check out the rest of the website for healthy and quick recipes, motherhood content, and contact information! Always looking for a collaborator!

motherhood, parenting, positivity

To The Woman At The Bridal Shower

To the woman at the bridal shower…

…that offered to hold my baby while I ate, thank you. I had told you he had colic. You said I still needed a break.

baby holding it s parent finger
Photo by Andreas Wohlfahrt on Pexels.com

To the woman at the bridal shower, thank you for asking to hold the baby a second time considering the first time I said, “I’m fine” but was actually sleep deprived and exhausted. You knew I was pretending to have it covered. I’m glad you reasked and I said yes. You did calm him down so well and I was able to eat and drink some water.

To the woman at the bridal shower, who I didn’t know before that day and whose name I cannot even remember, thank you. I went to the bridal shower with my two month old and was so nervous he was going to be loud and take attention away from my best friend who was getting married.

To the woman at the bridal shower, you don’t even know how a simple gesture made such a big impact and I will always remember. Thank you.

To the woman at the bridal shower, thank you for lending a hand to someone who was a new mom and this was her first time around more than a few family members. I was nervous going into that day but you made me feel comfortable and powerful.

Thank you. 

Mr & Mrs Sign from Amazon

I will never how you reassured me so effortlessly that I was doing well and why you were so sweet and kind to help someone you didn’t know. I hope I can be this woman to another mother. Another stranger or another friend that didn’t know she needed help. This is what it is all about. Supporting one another and lifting each other up. ❤

Love,

A new mom that was impacted

❤ Hope

Look me up on instagram and my facebook page as nonstopmomlife

A photo of my friend and I on the day of her bridal shower

bridalshowerpicture

motherhood, parenting, Uncategorized, workingmom

Transitions: How to Grow and How to Challenge Oneself

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funnymeme

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Just wanted to share my thoughts on this sunny, beautiful Tuesday. We’re in a transition time. Baby is already over a year old and is off of bottles, which has made life easier. #DrBrownBottleswith1000pieces.  It’s just been a whirlwind of a year. We’ve been married for over two years, baby is mobile, talking, changing, and exploring more each day and our life is chaotic but so rewarding and fulfilling. 

Have kids they said, it’ll be fun. 

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Haha, well it is fun. They were right.  It is also exhausting and tests your limits. And your limits with your spouse. BUT.

That look in your child’s eye when they are happy or the sound of their laugh.

Seeing a grandparent or spouse playing with your child and seeing them smiling ear to ear, how that makes you happy and smile the same way.

That’s the fuel that keeps me going everyday, even on those days that every liquid around is somehow spilling and the house is a mess.

That smile is what dreams are made of.

So for now how do we adjust with transitions in the meantime?

  1. Keep making your family a priority
    • Take a step back and look at the big picture. These changes as a family helps up persevere together. Whether it is returning to work after maternity leave or adjusting to a new job, new house, new city. A new developmental stage for a child. A new sibling. How do we take this head-on? Game plan for hard days?
  2. Make more quality time a priority.
    • Trying to limit distractions when with friends or with children or with family. Eye contact, hugs, high fives, family games, floor time with toys, swimming, museums, zoo, cards, walks. I’m challenging myself with this all the time, it is so difficult to NOT be distracted. What I have been doing is finding the balance- I try to check social media a few times a day briefly, then putting the phone away to focus on spending more time in the NOW with those around me.
  3. Reflect
    • Take time to journal or just doodle while reflecting on how far you have come. Write down all you HAVE accomplished and be proud of that! Nothing amazing was built in one day, let yourself be vulnerable.
  4. Consider relationships a priority
    • Do you brush your teeth at least everyday? Hopefully right? 🙂
    • I sometimes have  a hard time remembering that relationships need upkeep like daily checking in about the weeks events, short term goals, and so on, but it is just as important as the other things we do daily like brushing those pearls.
  5. Nurture friendships
    • Near and far, remind those friends you think of that you are still thankful for the friendship. Call a friend that you haven’t spoken to in a while. Set a date, even if someone might have to cancel because of an unforeseen circumstance.
  6. Try to give yourself some dang grace as your grow and are challenged
    • It’s okay to feel like this is a hard time. Call a friend, call a sibling or relative, call your closet work pal. There is always someone that has likely gone through something similar. Exercise. Find some out that lets you find freeing.
  7. Let all that drama and negativity out the BACK door. No one has time for that
    • Seriously.  YOU can do this. Transitions are temporary. ❤

I’m definitely going through a transition right now just STILL adjusting to this very busy life of a working mom. I’ve been using all these things to remind myself to enjoy these moments and the chaos. It is made me adjust so much easier. Change makes us stronger and keeps us on our toes. It can be hard but thankfully we never have to do anything alone.

Keep on being awesome, all you lovely people out there

We are all in this crazy, beautiful life together

❤ Hope

Let me know what you think. What helps you when you’re going through a transition either personally or with a family?

nonstopmomlife

look me up on instagram @ nonstopmomlife.com

motherhood, Uncategorized

Don’t Blink: The parental advice you always hear

Seriously parents out there, it does make sense why people say that.

Don’t Blink.

The children do grow up so quick. I’m tearing up as I write this. It’s such a precious and beautiful experience to see a child look into your eyes,  smile so big, and look for assurance, approval, comfort, safety, and love. I feel myself so full of love and purpose. Every dang day.

DSCF1252.jpg

Don’t Blink.

One night after everyone is asleep, I’m reflecting on the last year. A whirlwind of changes. Life after a baby is so different. I no longer care if Friday night is now relaxed movie night after baby is asleep. Much different from the life out around town, late nights, and sleeping in.

Those little fingers and toes. That contagious baby laugh. The baby words that just melt you. I wouldn’t change it.

cropped-untitled-23.jpg

Don’t Blink.

I’m trying not to but shoot,

I blinked.

It was between the cozy newborn cuddles and the first walk around the neighborhood and the first times trying a food. The first words. The first everythings. The hard long nights. And the first sleeping-through-the-night MAGIC that also happened.  The first time leaving the baby with a family member or babysitter for a date night but just wanting to leave early to see baby again. We tried not to blink but we couldn’t help it.

And it’s okay, mama. We all blinked.

DSCF1399.jpg

They did too.

And they want to play outside and go on adventures and explore the world. Make a mess and have a blast.

Together with us.

While the baby is small we will be hugging them tight or if they are big, we will still be hugging them tight everyday. Mindful of each day, the rollercoaster that it can be. We recognize being along for the ride with our eyes open is the best way.

So, there might be an occasional blink in this don’t blink world.

Hey, no one likes dry eyes. : )

❤ Hope

Look me up on instagram: nonstopmomlife