But then, we don’t make as big a deal about very small, yet positive behaviors kids engage it.

And it sends a message to our kids.

Stop for a minute to think about how you interacted with your kid today.

How many times did you notice they did something wrong?
Did you say anything to them afterwards? Yell perhaps?
Is your child engaging in this behavior repeatedly?
Do you find yourself saying the same thing over and over again?

I sure have.

Omg, don’t push your brother!!
Why are you throwing your toys!!
Stop it now, or it’s timeout!!

Now, think of the POSITIVES.

Did you notice when your child did something right?
Did you praise or reward them for it? (As tiny as that positive behavior may seem.)

Great job sitting quietly!
I’m so proud of you for using your words!
Thank you for putting your toys away!

The difference may seem so trivial, but the effects are huge.

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The problem with focusing on the bad behavior

Oftentimes we overlook the good things our children do and focus on the negative behavior. Because we feel the negative behavior needs to be addressed immediately. And that makes sense.

We’ve all been there.

During a playdate our kid hurts a friend.
Our child is endlessly teasing or distracting a sibling.
Our child is shouting and making a scene in public.

So, we react.

Unfortunately, how we react primes kids to repeat the behavior that gets them noticed. If it gets your attention they are more likely to engage in it.

Because for kids who seek it, bad attention is better than none.

As parents of little ones, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the daily disciplining battles. Kids can misbehave often. We reprimand and try to correct them so they can do the right thing. Then minutes later, they repeat that very same bad behavior. Some kids can pose even MORE of a challenge. Acting by impulsivity and attention-seeking behaviors. Causing us as parents to lose our cool and resort to yelling and punishment.

But reprimanding kids more often than praising them, can lead to an ongoing frustrating cycle…that has counteractive effects where focusing on the bad, will breed more bad behavior.

Why positive reinforcement is essential to improving behavior

If a child is seeking attention, it is equally important, if not more, to focus on the positive behavior. A lot of their behavior is based on the outcome it produces. So if a kid isn’t getting your attention when they behave well or play nicely, they will do that positive action less and less.

Think of it from an adult’s perspective. You receive a “good job” when acknowledged for your work. Why not translate that to your children?

Rewards usually motivate us to repeat the behavior, but they have also been used in the wrong situations. Praising a child for behaving well does not equal bribing. Giving a child a cookie is a reward, but if you give it to them to stop whining, you have now reinforced a negative behavior. You only want to build up the agreeable actions.

Tips to reinforce good behavior

Positively reinforcing the good things our kids do is easy.

Keep an eye out for when it happens and reinforce it with praise such as, “I noticed you cleaned your room today. It looks like you worked really hard on it. You must be really proud.”

You don’t have to go over the top or they might feel you are not being authentic and truthful. Once this becomes a habit, you will start to notice the negative behaviors decreasing because they don’t hold as much value as they once did. A lot of people have been brought up to only notice the bad stuff. Have you ever been called into your boss’ office to be told how good a job you are doing? If so, it is a rare occasion.

Some parents find it helpful to leave notes around the house as reminders to themselves. It is going to take some time to retrain your own response and behavior. Create a jar of consequences for every time that you pay attention to an unwanted behavior, or a happy jar for every time you notice a good one.

When you catch your kids being good, it could have a profound effect on your family dynamic. Their negative behavior won’t stop right away, but with time and patience your kids will learn they can catch more bees with honey than vinegar. And we all love that.

One final thing to keep in mind

When kids misbehave it’s easy for parents to unintentionally label them.

The kid that needs constant reminders to stay in his seat and pay attention is a bad listener.
The kid that throws toys, shouts and wrestles with siblings is wild or unruly.
The kid who jumps off of tables and runs around in circles is hyperactive.

But labels don’t do anyone good when they effect the way we treat and manage that child.

Some children can act out even more because of this, as they feel misunderstood.

That’s why it’s important to understand why kids sometimes act out and do the things they do.The SuperKids Activity Guide helps parents do just that to transform the way we think about our kids’ behaviors and learn to connect with them on a new level. The resource includes tons of activities to bring out the best in your kid. Because inside every kid, is a the super kid we want to raise!

You may also like:

Ana @ Mommy's Bundle

Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.

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The post How Positive Reinforcement Has the Power to Change Bad Behavior appeared first on Mommy's Bundle.

You just want to pack up the cooler and load everyone in the car to make your way to the beach.  But then you remember you have an infant to look after too…one under 6 months that can’t exactly be in the sun all day like his brothers.

What is any sane mama to do??

Well I definitely experienced a few rounds of new baby in the summer predicament and had to make it work on those scorching hot days when you just need to get away.

This post may contain affiliate links.

Related: 24+ Summer Activities for Babies

Here’s how we manage to keep baby cool at the beach each summer:

1. Light Clothes

As parents, it’s often easy to overdress baby throughout the year. We forget that they too can sweat and develop heat rash from wearing too many layers, so it’s important to make sure little ones are dressed appropriately in the summertime.

This means opting for single layers or thin breathable clothes like a onesie or loose top and bottom. You can find swimwear that contains SPF to protect baby’s delicate skin even more!

2. Hat

It’s so important to keep the sun’s harmful rays away from baby — and a wide-brim hat (and one that covers their little neck and ears) is so crucial! Look for ones that even contain SPF like this one — our favorite!!

Don’t forget to start early! If you get in the habit of putting a hat on your baby, think how much easier it will be to get them to wear it once toddlerhood hits. One of my sons hated hats…and I really couldn’t blame him since I didn’t introduce hats ’til he was about a year.

3. Baby Tent

A quick search online for baby canopy, sun shelter or tent is bound to bring numerous results, but they are all basically the same thing: shade and sun protection for baby!

These have made so much of a difference for me when I’m toting around a baby and can’t find adequate shade.

So when you’re heading out to the beach (or yard or playground for that matter) be prepared with your own sun shade just in case! Such a wide array of styles and options to choose from — just look for ones that are durable and contain UV protection.

4. Stroller Fan

This is one genius tip I only learned about recently – I can’t believe I didn’t discover it sooner! Did you know there are little portable fans made for baby??

These kid-safe fans you can buy here have soft blades made from foam — not sure how well a grabby toddler would do with them but they are ideal for your little bundle.

All you need to do is attach the fan to the stroller or clip it to a baby carrier or carseat while going for a walk on the beach. Such a fun way to keep baby cool indeed!

5. Muslin Blankets

These light-weight swaddle blankets are a must-have for baby that I’ve mentioned a few times before. They are pretty much the only blankets I use these days and a perfect choice for the hotter months when you just need a thin breathable blanket to shade baby.

But with any blanket in the summertime, be careful how you use them, as a new study reports that even shielding baby with a blanket can have serious consequences.

That’s why when I am using my muslin blankets I always make sure baby isn’t completely covered or that the carrier isn’t closed off so I know he is okay and not overheating.

6. Carseat Liner

It’s no mystery how hot little ones can get in the car/carseat during the summer months — tons of tragic stories fill the news. And don’t think taking your carseat out of the car removes all the heat either. If you have a darker carseat or thick-cushion liner, baby can still overheat when you’re trudging him along in the snap-n-go.

I often forget to change my standard carseat liner — one that works great for added support and comfort for infants — but can be a bit much in the summertime.

So remember to look for a thin, breathable liner that can easily absorb moisture to prevent baby from getting unnecessary heat rashes – we like this natural one made from bamboo.

7. Kiddie Pool

YES, YES! A kiddie pool is definitely another fun, genius way to keep baby cool at the beach. You can pretty much find the inflatable, portable pools everywhere these days – Amazon.com has decent sales on these!

If you have a baby under 6 months of age that can’t be in direct sunlight and/or wear sunscreen yet, these shaded baby pools make such a great alternative to laying directly in the sun! And if your baby isn’t quite sitting up yet, you can definitely still prop them up or hold them while they cool off their little feet and tushies in the shade (always with proper supervision of course)!

***

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As a mom of a baby, toddler and preschooler, I know all too well how much of a production it is to get all the kids out of the house for a beach trip, especially when your baby isn’t quite ready to be in the sun. But these tips that might not have been super obvious to you before, should help you be able to relax and enjoy even the hottest days, knowing your new bundle of joy can beat the heat outdoors along your other kids if you just make a few creative adjustments.

You may also enjoy:

Ana @ Mommy's Bundle

Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.

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The post 7 Genius Ways to Keep Baby Cool at the Beach appeared first on Mommy's Bundle.

The signs were all there. Wanting to sit on the potty. Tugging at his diaper while saying the words “pee pee” and actually going pee pee while on the potty!

That’s when I knew it was finally time to potty-train our recently turned 2 year-old boy. It’s an often-dreaded journey that many parents want to avoid…and I don’t blame them…especially with everything we went through while potty training our eldest son. But going through that experience helped us learn a thing or two when it comes to potty training toddlers.

When Pampers reached out to us about hosting a potty training party, I knew it was just what we needed to really get things going!

So last weekend we celebrated the big moment with a few friends over some yummy food and goodies to learn about potty training.

It was a small no-fuss party, with just the right ingredients to keep the attention span of 2 and 3 year olds.

Pampers even sent us a few items to decorate with, to make the experience “more real” (because we all know how exciting the sound of a “party” is to little ones)!

We had a colorful party table to display all the Pampers goodies including EasyUps training pants, coupons and potty training facts along with a reward chart to make the experience fun for kids!

We served some healthy snacks: a platter of mixed fruit and veggies, popcorn, sandwiches and a few juice boxes (to make sure they would need to go potty).

The kids seemed to enjoy the treats as they goofed around :).

Once they had their fill, we let them play for a bit and then started to take turns on the potty.

They loved learning how to use the reward chart where they could add a sticker after they went, wiped, flushed and washed their hands — it was a great motivating factor!The party was set with a laid back tone, to ensure kids had an overall positive association with potty and toilet training. There was no pressure to go, just positive reinforcement and encouragement.

And as we begin this journey a second time, I wanted to share some tips we passed along to other parents making the transition from diapers to training pants in hopes to make the process a little less stressful for all!

Tips to Make Potty Training Easy

1. Wait until your child is ready.

I can’t stress this one point enough. The potty training process will go a lot smoother and faster, if you start only when your child is ready. Putting pressure on your child will only make things harder for everyone involved. So once your child starts tugging on their diaper, keeping dry for longer periods or simply asking to go, then you know it’s a good time to start.

2. Make it fun.

It’s much easier to get little ones to do things when you make it seem like less of a chore and more like a fun game or activity. That’s why throwing a potty training party like we did or using sticker charts can help you get started on the right foot.

3. Be patient.

Along with waiting until your child is actually ready to use the potty, it’s important to have patience throughout the entire training process. This doesn’t only mean patience waiting as your child sits on the toilet — it also means learning not to get frustrated or angry at your child when they have accidents (because we all know it’s part of the learning process!).

4. Encourage your child.

While your child is the single best indicator of when they are ready to go, it’s important to encourage them along the way, as a little reminder. So make sure you set timers every few hours for bathroom breaks and physically sit them on the toilet — especially after they eat or drink.

5. Try comfortable training pants.

When you need to make a quick run for the toilet, it’s oh so important to have the right training pants. We love ones that are easy to pull down and back up when giving the potty a try. And it’s also important to choose ones that are comfortable to wear.

When Pampers sent a party package, we were very impressed with the quality of the EasyUps training pants — they are incredibly comfortable with super stretchy sides and the inner lining is one of the softness we’ve ever tried!

Pampers EasyUps feature outstanding leak protection for up to 12 hours — and even overnight — which is a novelty for training pants. There’s even a wetness indicator to help parents easily know when an accident happens.

And as a mom to three little boys, I LOVE the core that’s specially positioned for boys! (There are even special cartoon designs for both boys AND girls :)!).

Throwing a potty training party was just a smart way to begin the transition with ease. It set a positive tone that will be our guide throughout the whole process…and we hope these tips will help your little ones on their journey as well!

If you’d like to learn more about Pampers EasyUps and get some more potty training tips, be sure to visit the Pampers website and connect with the brand on Twitter and Facebook.

Ana @ Mommy's Bundle

Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.

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The post How to Make Potty Training Stress-free appeared first on Mommy's Bundle.

We’ve all been at the store and witnessed tiny people languishing on the tile floor or demanding candy bars from the checkout upon pain of death (or just motherly embarrassment).

We’ve even been some of those mothers who’s little angels have just.had.enough.

I once left a completely full grocery cart in the middle of the aisle when my 2 year old was losing it.  Yes, even frozen food.

That was several years ago and I’ll never forget it.

Ever.

Today I’m going to share four tips for keeping it cool and entertaining toddlers in public – and I’m not talking about handing them your phone.

Distraction

This is a big one because it requires no props.  But it’s risky because it depends on how far gone they are.  This is definitely a first resort – not a last one.  If they’re already flailing on the floor, this WILL NOT work.  I repeat, WILL NOT.

If they’re just starting to get a little antsy and you’re only half way through your list, it’s time to implement distraction mode.  It goes a little like this:

Take stock of your surroundings and start asking your toddler questions about the environment.  No, not global warming or recycling.  Ask him if he sees anything red.  Or if he can hear a puppy barking.  There doesn’t even have to be a real puppy.  Sometimes just the idea will make him stop crying so he can listen better.  If this works to calm him down – keep talking.  Your voice will most likely soothe him and the individual attention will definitely make him happy.  Talk about all of the things you’re seeing as you go down the aisle.  Blue boxes, orange bottles, that boy with the green shoes.  Aren’t they awesome?  I wonder if you’ll ever have a pair of green shoes like that.

Yeah, it’s a bit of a forced conversation, and sometimes you have to be creative and overly excited about something (like green shoes) – but it can drive out the tantrum mode and bring him back to reality by listening and talking with you.

Toddler Involvement

If your child is a bit older and you have the time, by all means, let them help you with the shopping.  You’re most likely going to abandon the 47+ item list and stick to the bare necessities, but allowing them to help make some of the decisions and do some of the work goes a long way in keeping them happy.  Ask which peanut butter they’d rather have.  Let them throw the cereal into the back of the cart.  All big deals to a little one.   By showing them that they are a part in helping get this job done, they will feel involved and important – perhaps instead of bored and confined.

Snacks

I’ve had a stash of Cheerios in my bag for years.  Not the same stash – I refresh it occasionally.  Food is a very strong motivator for toddlers (and me for that matter, who am I kidding?)  We all have been told not to take our toddlers to the store when they’re hungry – but life is not always rainbows and roses.  Sometimes you’ve got to get milk or there won’t be any lunch.  (Meal plan fail!)  So, when distraction doesn’t work, break out the snacks.  I also hoard free suckers from the bank in my bag – you never know when your toddler is going to turn up their nose, and their volume when they’re sick of Cheerios.

Toys/Books

The most important thing to remember here is to calculate the risk of potentially losing these toys or books.  No one wants to create a tantrum (the very thing we’re trying to avoid) by misplacing a treasured stuffed animal on the floor of Target.  So, throw in a few non-issue toys.  You could hit up the dollar store and grab some small, inexpensive trinkets to stuff in your bag just for such occasions.  The newness will thrill your child and the disposable nature will tickle you.  No big deal if it finds it’s way under a clothes rack.  No one will get their heart broken over it.

When all else fails

Eventually, your luck is going to run out and you’re going to be faced with a nuclear situation in the middle of the store.  The best advice I can give you, is to scoop up your toddler (and anyone else you’ve had the misfortune to bring) and proceed as calmly as possible to the exit door.  Don’t fret too long about the full cart you left in the shoe department.  Someone will put the items away and life will go on.  And you can always bring up the story to your child when they’re older.  The one where you left a cart full of ice cream and cream cheese at the checkout because he was throwing a fit about being denied a candy bar.  As if he even needed a candy bar – you’re the one who needed the candy.

A couple of things to remember:

Toddlers change on a daily basis.  One tactic that worked last week at Target to entertain him might not work this week at Kroger.  Be sure to be flexible and willing to change it up as they do.  

And not every trip out with a toddler is going to turn out to be a nightmare!  Check out how one shopping trip went for me here.

Mom life continues through everything we do.  The only way to avoid toddler behavior at the store is to leave them at home – but what fun would that be?  

Wait, what?

***

Corinna is the author of The Mommy Clause. She is a wife and mother living in Louisiana and wrangling eight children. She loves baking but doesn’t like cleaning up the mess. She spends her days teaching the kids, making lots of lists and even checking a few things off those lists. She is a multitasking ninja with a great love for spending time with her family. Her organization style involves piles. And she can make a lasagna that will knock your socks off! Everyday as a mother is an adventure and she wouldn’t trade this difficult, rewarding, messy, happy, noisy life for anything! You can connect with Corinna here: Facebook Instagram.

Ana @ Mommy's Bundle

Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.

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The post How to Keep Toddlers Entertained in Public (Without a Phone!) appeared first on Mommy's Bundle.

As a child, summer was the best time of the year with endless fun to be had. From jumping through the sprinkler, chasing waves on the beach and splashing in the kiddie pool, fond memories indeed!

It was also a time many kids learned how to swim and got to enjoy many of the perks that come with being an avid swimmer.

But unfortunately, I was NOT one of those kids who learned how to swim…I was fearful very early on after a few bad experiences of being submerged in the water when I didn’t feel ready, often panicking the further into the water I went.

It made me a little more cautious around water and I delayed really learning to swim.

So raising my kids to start early and feel comfortable in the pool has since been high on my priority list.

Easy Ways to Introduce Your Baby to Water

Take it step-by-step.

One of the most important things to remember as you prepare your child for swimming, is to go slowly and work in stages. You want your child to feel comfortable near water — so they won’t panic when they are ready to learn to swim. A few bad experiences early on can turn kids off from having fun in the water.

When I introduced my first child to the pool, we started with some simple water play: blowing bubbles in the water and making waves with our arms. Once baby got comfortable with getting splashed a few times, he was more open to using floats and full submergence (even if only for a few seconds!).

SwimWays knows that working in stages is best, as they follow the Swim Steps 3 level program:

• Water Introduction- To make sure baby is comfortable with water.
• Water Exploration- To give your child freedom of motion to develop confidence as he learns to balance and paddle.
• Swim Training – To empower with the Power Swimr swim training system – “training wheels for the water”.

On the SwimWays Teach Me to Swim resource page, parents can find a number of videos that will review all the basics to help your child have a good first experience. Make sure to bookmark that page and watch with your child too, to help the experience be less daunting!

I will be referring to this 3 step program frequently this summer as I begin to teach my baby and 2 year-old water safety!

Keep baby close in near water.

That first time baby is submerged into water (even partially) he will most definitely begin to cling to mommy, holding you ever so close. And this is natural. A big pool doesn’t compare to the bath tub so the experience may be quite overwhelming.

Always remember to keep baby close — he may cry for a bit (each time) but once he knows you are not going anywhere (for now) he will begin to develop more confidence.

Along with keeping baby close to build confidence, you want to always have a water novice close by for safety reasons. While you don’t want your kids to cling to you forever, you want them to know that they shouldn’t leave your side to enter the water without mommy or daddy present. As scary as it is to think about, drowning is one of the leading cause of death in young children under 5…so supervising is a BIG concern when it comes to water safety.

Use quality water floats.

As your child becomes more comfortable in the water and ready to learn with a bit more freedom, having safe and reliable floats is of utmost importance.

There are so many great brands to choose from, but one that I have turned to in the past for babies, is definitely the SwimWays Baby Spring Float. Not only does it keep baby happy and comfortable in the pool, but it also offers an easy way for them to learn balance and paddle skills.

I personally love that it works for babies 9 months to 24 months — meaning my boys can share it as they grow — and we can even fold it up to take with us as we travel during the summer months.

Make water fun.

Okay, how could I forget about having fun?! Pool toys and water activities are a big part of introducing your baby to fun water play. Toys help them feel relaxed and ready to engage.

So this summer, I’m making sure to include a few fun water games and accessories to help my boys love the water even more!

If you’re looking for a few fun water products to get you started, check them out here!

***

The SwimWays Water Program

SwimWays has been teaching kids to swim for over 40 years and offers a program and array of products for all skill levels, to make confident water play, easy for families.

Learn more about SwimWays and be sure to follow our learning to swim journey!

This post was sponsored by SwimWays as part of an Ambassador Program for Influence Central. I received products to facilitate my review.

Ana @ Mommy's Bundle

Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.

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The post Easy Tips to Safely Introduce Your Baby to the Pool appeared first on Mommy's Bundle.

When my first child was born, I didn’t have time for ANYTHING. I mean that is how it truly felt.

My days were consumed with breastfeeding on demand, washing and folding onesies…and diaper change after diaper change. So finding time for everyday basic care (like showering and eating meals) was a luxury.

And forget about finding room for “me time.” That never occurred. I just couldn’t find a way to take care of myself as well.

If I wanted to do anything, it seemed as though I needed to wait until nap time arrived. Then, of course, I could get things done while baby rested. 

But this was my first mistake: Waiting for the perfect time. Because what I found was that there was no such thing.

Any experienced mom will tell you, the only way to get more time, is to make time.

You just have to be smart about how you’re doing it. Especially as a new mother.

Of course, it took MUCH trial and error, but I learned to make minor tweaks here and there in my schedule to help me actually get things done throughout the day.

Finding Time to Care for Yourself While Caring for Baby

Showering as a new mom

Okay, I admit it. When that first baby came along and it was time to shower, I always delayed the process when he cried. How could I dare leave my precious baby to cry alone in those moments?

But, here’s what I learned.

You can’t always wait for baby to finally fall asleep to take care of yourself. If you need to shower, take him in the bathroom with you! Break out the bouncy chair — I used this space-saving one that was perfect for small spaces and this popular brand.

If you don’t have one, that click and connect car seat you’ll be toting in and out of the house, will work just fine! Simply attach a few toys to the handle and you’re good to go with a calm baby and clean mama bear!

Eating as a new mom

Another mistake I made. Not nourishing my own body due to the timing. (This clearly is not good, especially if you’re nursing and recovering from delivery).

There’s really no need to starve yourself or wait for the perfect moment. It took me awhile, but I learned to work with one hand to grab whatever fruit or snacks I could, while baby held tight in the other.  This works well for fussy babies who are only happy when held.  And if you have a baby wrap or carrier, even better!

You can prepare meals in advance (when you do have the time) so they are ready to eat when you don’t have the time. Even if it’s a turkey sandwich with an apple or banana — mama’s good health is good for everyone!

RELATED: One Food Prep Secret I Wish I Knew Before Baby Arrived

Exercising as a new mom

Once you get clearance from your doctor (at the 6-8 week mark), light exercises can be a great way to relieve stress and start getting your pre-baby body back.

But how do you even find the time?

The answer may surprise you: Exercise with baby! Yeah that’s right, forget trying to wait until your spouse is home or a sitter becomes available. Lay your baby down in front of you and begin with simple stretches and yoga poses. Then lift your baby up, rocking them gently to work on your upper body strength.

And once baby gains full head control, mommy and me yoga or basic aerobics classes are perfect. Baby makes a great weight for muscle toning or strength training too :)!

RELATED: Mommy & Me Yoga for New Moms

Time for household chores or errands

This is where baby-wearing becomes a life-saver! When your hands are free, and baby is securely attached to you, you have the ability to do whatever you need to do around the house without feeling guilty or overwhelmed.

I was given a couple baby carriers with my first son, but never used them much. I figured I could manage without them…and then I simply forgot about them.

But what a difference it makes when you are able to multitask with baby by your side!

Finding time for mommy’s “me” time

You obviously want to bond with your new baby as much as you can, but you will also need time for yourself to keep your sanity.  After stimulating baby’s senses with simple play activities, remember that there will also be times when independent play time will be essential for his continued development. Lay him on a gym mat, give him a few toys and teethers (here’s a simple tummy-time activity we love!) and watch from the other end of the room.  This will keep your worries at bay, but still leave time for you to catch up with the things going on in the world (even if it is online).

Enjoy every minute with your new baby, but learn to make time throughout the day to keep your sanity…even if your baby isn’t asleep!

Ana @ Mommy's Bundle

Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.

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The post 5 Ways to Find Time for Yourself with a New Baby appeared first on Mommy's Bundle.

Do you have a premature baby or know someone with one? Then please listen closely to these three words: Respiratory Syncytial Virus or RSV. It may sound like a serious mouthful…because it is!

RSV is the leading cause of infant hospitalizations in the US, with approximately 125,000 hospitalizations and up to 200 infant deaths each year! Those staggering statistics are very sad indeed.

What is RSV?

RSV is actually a common virus that is highly contagious. The disease causes mild to moderate cold-like symptoms and affects nearly 100% of babies by the age of 2.

Symptoms include the following:

• persistent coughing and wheezing
• rapid, difficult or gasping breaths
• bluish color around lips, mouths or fingernails
• fever

If it’s just a cold, why is it so severe?

You may be asking yourself this question naturally. So here’s the simple answer: premature babies (born earlier than 35 weeks gestation) have underdeveloped lungs and immature immune systems making it much more difficult for them to fight off the typical cold. That’s why it can be deadly and prevention is key!

While preemies are the most at risk to contract RSV, it’s important to also prevent the disease in others at risk including all newborn babies, infants under the age of 2 with weakened immune systems

What you can do to prevent RSV.

Since there is no treatment specific for RSV, prevention is key. Doctors recommend the following:

Wash hands

Anyone who will be holding or interacting with baby needs to wash their hands. No matter the age or relationship, this is one of the easiest ways to keep your infant healthy. It may feel strange asking friends or family members to wash their hands as they admire your new bundle of joy, but it is one of the best things you can do for your baby’s safety.

Keep the sick away

Seeing a new baby for the first time is incredibly exciting. However, visitors with a cold or other illness really should NOT be near baby. Bottom line.

Keep clothes, toys, sheets, and blankets clean.

It may seem like the obvious thing to do, but many times we as parents overlook the importance of changing crib sheets often or thinking to even throw that favorite teddy in the wash. But doing so is a great way to prevent germs from spreading and keeping our newborn healthy

Avoid crowds and other young children during RSV season.

RSV is highly contagious so avoiding large crowds and other young children for the first few weeks of life is crucial. This may seem challenging if you have large families or other little children in the house. But the key here is to try to avoid places like the mall, parties or other crowded indoor areas where germs can spread easily, especially between the months of November through March (known as RSV season).

If you have small children in the house, you obviously can’t keep them away from a new baby for too long, just make sure they wash their hands and are not sick for those first few weeks!

Learn more about RSV and how to keep your new baby safe HERE.

You can also share this important infographic to help educate other parents about the importance of preventing RSV:

Ana @ Mommy's Bundle

Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.

mommysbundle.com

The post Keeping Your Newborn & Premature Baby Safe from RSV appeared first on Mommy's Bundle.

That’s why today, in conjunction with some amazing parenting bloggers in the Jenny Evolution Series, we’re bringing you the best positive parenting posts of the year — learnings from real moms that we want to pass on to you!

Check out our top 5 Parenting posts from MommysBundle.com:

8 Pregnancy-Safe Products Every Expectant Mom Needs

Those first few months as an expectant mom can be pretty overwhelming in terms of deciphering what products are safe for pregnant moms and what products should be avoided.  This list will help guide you in the right direction!

Raising a Toddler While Pregnant: How to Get Through It

When you’re expecting baby #2, things get a little more complicated. A toddler tugging at your every move, throwing tantrums and not listening can make it hard for mom to care for herself. Get some tips for getting through it in one piece in this post!

7 Indoor Activities to Keep Your Toddler Busy in Winter

When it’s too cold to play outdoors, bring the fun inside! These easy indoor activities will help prevent boredom and keep little brains stimulated!

Delusion vs. Reality: A New Mother Fesses Up

There are a few misconceptions of what life will be like when you become a mom. Whether it’s thinking you have all the time in the world as a stay-at-home mom, or thinking you can plan everything, think again. This guest post will help provide a little reality check ;).

4 Summer Activities for Mommy and Newborn

When you have a newborn in the summer time, it can feel like you have to stay locked indoors all day to beat the heat. But while new babies shouldn’t be exposed to direct sunlight outdoors, you can still plan some fun outside activities. This post gives new moms a few ideas to enjoy baby in the summer!

Thanks for checking out our top parenting posts of 2015!

Remember to check out more parenting posts from moms like you below.

Ana @ Mommy's Bundle

Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.

mommysbundle.com

The post Best Parenting Tips of the Year from Mommy’s Bundle appeared first on Mommy's Bundle.

Motherhood has a way of filling you with the most abundant joy and love imaginable. You are overflowing with emotions after bringing a beautiful new life into the world and ready to do anything and everything possible for them.

I adore my children with all my heart. My two lovable rambunctious little boys who are always testing the limits…and teaching me so much about motherhood in the process.

But there are moments when it can also be extremely overwhelming, leaving you feeling broken and defeated, especially after a bad day or two.

As your new little bundle of joy grows from infant to toddler, life can become a little complicated, each day bringing new challenges to face.

Yelling. Cleaning. Chasing. Disciplining.

This can become the norm for moms of babies and toddlers who are exhaustedly changing diapers and blowouts, breaking up scuffles and reprimanding demanding toddlers who are at the stage of asserting their independence.

Maybe you yelled a little too much today. Maybe you didn’t react as calmly as you knew you should have. Maybe you were just on edge all day and letting every little thing get to you.

It happens and can sometimes take that inner conversation we have with ourselves to a very negative place. Because we feel like we’ve failed in many ways.

Changing the Conversation

But now with another one on the way, I can’t help but be a little emotional and think about the conversation that would take place between me and my newest little boy upon our first meeting.

Just the precious look in his eyes would be enough to remind me that one bad day doesn’t make me a bad mother.

He would remind me that it’s not an easy task we are set out to do, especially moms of babies and toddlers.

There will be days when I won’t have the energy for giving the kids a bath, even though they desperately need one. 

There will be days when I’ll just have to let the baby cry-it out to finish a meal or get a moment to myself.

There will be days when letting the kids watch TV for more than an hour will be necessary for sanity’s sake.

And there will be days when crying my eyes out will be the only way to relieve the stress.

And my baby will remind me, that it’s okay. As long as I remember that it’s only a day, a week, a month…or even a year.

A moment in time that will not last forever, so don’t worry!

What will last forever, are those moments of happiness and laughter we share and cherish in our hearts…from the first smile and step to the first time on the potty and positive play date! Those are the moments that matter most and that we should put our energy into.

My precious baby will help change the conversation I have in my head and remind me to stop being so hard on myself. And this is really the conversation that matters most in motherhood.

Life Can Get a Little Messy

And let’s face reality. With tushies to wipe and blowouts that happen, motherhood is bound to get messy and be a little stressful at times. So why not embrace it and be prepared?

RELATED: Using WaterWipes at Messy PlayDates

What It Means to be a WaterWipes Moms

As a WaterWipes Mom Ambassador, I’ve had the opportunity to learn about an amazing chemical-free diaper wipe that is both preservative-free and ideal for baby’s delicate skin.

WaterWipes, made from 99.9% water and .1% grape fruit extract, are durable and effective without any harsh chemicals added — giving us one less thing to worry about!

Because as moms we all want the best for our babies. Even though we may be a little too hard on ourselves for not always getting everything right, a WaterWipes mom just wants the best for her little ones. 

If you haven’t yet tried this amazing wipes brand, be sure to find a WaterWipes store near you!!

WaterWipes on Facebook – WaterWipes on Twitter

Ana @ Mommy's Bundle

Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.

mommysbundle.com

The post The Conversation That Matters Most in Motherhood appeared first on Mommy's Bundle.

When you add pregnancy symptoms to the mix, things get a little trickier. Because raising one child is tough enough, let alone handling little ones while pregnant.

And multiply the crazy factor by 100 if you’re a single mother.
Special-needs mother.
Mother whose spouse travels frequently.
Stay-at-home mother with no help.
Or mother with no family nearby to lend an extra hand each day.

A vortex of chaos consumes you the moment you rise. Whether managing the wailing cries of your infant, tending to your toddlers antics or prepping lunches and bags for your preschooler. It’s a battle you aren’t ever really prepared to deal with the second you open your eyes after a long, restless night.

I know personally that getting my 3 year-old ready for school each morning is unbelievably difficult. He is a boy at a tough age with daily behavioral challenges. But it begins with both boys dueling for my attention before heading for the stairs, opening the safety gate and making their way down, nearly causing a heart attack.

They dart in separate directions; One toward the dog bowl and the other towards the fridge. I see my oldest son lift a gallon of regular milk in one arm, while balancing a half a gallon of chocolate in the other…all before crying bloody murder if I don’t mix each of his favorite cereals together. Then it’s spilt milk and muffin crumbs galore on the family room rug as I run to tend to my toddler. I try to clean up the mess before realizing it’s a lost cause, at the rate their going.

Before I can turn around to start packing lunches, my older son has already managed to rile up his little brother. I hear screaming and crying EVERY few minutes. I reprimand him and yell for him to listen and stop the bad behavior. Tears are shed and not only by the kids.

Forget about making myself a meal or changing out of my pajamas (if I managed to even put them on last night instead of yesterday’s leggings and t-shirt) — it’s time to coerce my 3 year-old to put on some new clothes, as I see the clock ticking and we are running late yet again.

No words can truly describe how stressful mornings alone with little ones are. But let me just say, this time in motherhood can really test you. IT IS HARD.

And sometimes turning to anger management class to calm the chaos is key!

The afternoons aren’t any different, as nap time battles ensue. When the rocking in my arms and quiet time activities aren’t enough, a ride in the car can seem like the only solution. And God-forbid someone misses a nap. Because if that’s the case, the rest of the day is guarantee to take a turn for the worst, with overtired kids having tantrums, refusing meals and playing rough all day.

Moms are left feeling out of control, exhausted, questioning their skills…and wondering if anyone understands. But let me remind you, no one said it was easy (although some may certainly have it easier than others!). Mothering young children is a lonely, all-encompassing job that can seem to rule your life. IT IS HARD.

The evenings are always up in the air. The days you have help, or anxiously await the return of your spouse from work can mean a quick break for momma to finally shower, start dinner or regain her sanity. But after hours of chasing and yelling at kids it’s no surprise you are left physically and emotionally drained, redirecting your frustration and stress at the person walking through the doors…because you’ve had a tough day, again and don’t think anyone truly understands how HARD IT IS.

And fortunate are the moms who can afford a nanny or have an extra set of hands to help during the day AND night, but some may not have it that easy. Some may struggle with a difficult child who just won’t listen or behave. Some may wish they had family around the corner to turn to when overwhelmed.

Remember momma, no matter what your challenge is, know this truth: the struggle you’re facing is real. No matter what someone else may think or assume. This stage in life is NOT easy. Particularly in your circumstance. IT IS HARD. And you will get through it. One day at a time.

Some days you will have to push on alone and do the best you can. Some days you will need to ask for help. And one day you will see what a tough, yet amazing job you did.

Ana @ Mommy's Bundle

Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.

mommysbundle.com

The post When Motherhood Is Overwhelming, Remember This appeared first on Mommy's Bundle.