To create a meaningful playtime routine with your newborn that promotes your baby’s optimal development during the first few weeks, prioritize carving out a few minutes several times a day to play with your newborn. Keep things simple and remember to focus your playtime activities on giving your baby lots of opportunities for unrestricted movement and sensory exploration during their awake time.
There’s multiple approaches to sleep training because all babies and all families are different. Before you start sleep training, it’s important to understand all of your options so you know exactly what each style looks like, what you can expect if you select each sleep training style, and how to pick the best option for your family.
Are you looking for a creative and useful Christmas gift your toddler can make for grandparents, daycare providers, aunts, and uncles?
These DIY Christmas tea towels are so easy that you and your toddler can easily whip them up in 15 minutes or less. And the best part is that they’re actually useful homemade gifts that grown-ups will genuinely use and enjoy.
As a Baby-Led Sleep and Well-Being Specialist, I decided to put together my best tips for creating the perfect sleep environment that’s unique to your baby’s normal biological needs, specific personality, and distinct preferences. Use these tips to set up your baby’s sleep space so your entire family can start sleeping better before you know it.
Breastfed babies often refuse the bottle because they prefer nursing. If you’re able to mimic the best parts of breastfeeding and make bottle sessions special for your baby too, you can finally help your breastfed baby to take a bottle.
If your baby or toddler is fighting tooth brushing, make it your top priority to make it fun to brush their teeth. Role model brushing your teeth and make it a big deal that you and your baby get to brush your teeth together. Add in games and silly activities to make brushing teeth fun and give your child control to help them look forward to brushing their teeth every day.
A lovey is any comfort item that helps your baby to feel more safe and secure. These are often introduced with older babies to support sleep and transitional times because it allows your baby to connect and feel attached to you even when you’re not right next to them.
Paced bottle feeding is a method of bottle feeding that mimics breastfeeding. Paced bottle feeding puts your baby in control of the feeding, increases your baby’s comfort during bottle feedings, and helps your baby to connect with the person offering the bottle and create a positive association with bottle feeding.
Toddlers like to take toys apart because it encourages their curiosity and helps them understand how things work. If your toddler loves taking things apart, look for toys open-ended toys that promote building, demolishing, and organizing. Learn more about our favorite toys for toddlers who love taking things apart here.
As you get started with baby-led weaning, stock up on supplies that are specifically designed to make your transition to solid foods easier. Look for a high chair, bibs, plates, bowls, cups, and silverware to make baby-led weaning as fun and simple as possible with your baby. You can also stock up on cooking gear that helps you to prep and cook your new foods in ways that are safest for you baby. Find all of our recommendations for starting baby-led weaning here.