Top parenting stories this week
From baby toys and cool threads to store openings and things to do with your little one. We cover the new, the old favourites and the best-kept secrets for everything baby.
Thought Spots
We love giving our children little reminders and words of encouragement, but post-it notes are so messy and uninspiring. Thought Spots are residue-free, reusable messages that stick to mirrors, windows or your fridge and easily peel off. Thought Spots are a great way to remind your toddler to brush her teeth, or to tell your little guy you think he’s super. You can buy individual large Thought Spots or packs of 12 mini-spots with themes such as positive parenting, new mom and confidence grows. The first 10 orders using coupon code BABY will receive 2 free Big Thoughts–superhero (seen here) and Happy Birthday– a $12 value.
Organic Shopping Cart Covers
We have to admit, this year’s H1N1 scare turned us into Germaphobes. And although we can’t control everything that goes into our babies’ mouths, we have found a way to make grocery shopping a little cleaner. Canadian Cozy’s eco-friendly bamboo shopping covers are as stylish as they are practical. You can secure the cart cozy to a shopping cart seat with one hand and side pockets are great for storing snacks and toys to entertain your tot while you shop. Best of all, the oversized design keeps your baby comfy and germ-free throughout any shopping excursion.
Baby Food Cooking Classes on DVD
If you want to try your hand at homemade baby food but aren’t sure where to start, just pop a Mommy Chef dvd into your machine and press “play.” You can enjoy a baby food cooking class from the comfort of your couch. Lianne Phillipson-Webb, founder of Sprout Right nutrition and Mommy Chef cooking classes, guides you through the art of prepping and storing homemade purees in her First Foods dvd and, for foodies ages nine to twelve months, teaches you all about making textured and finger foods in The Next Stage dvd. In addition to recipes, both dvds include info on topics such as infant nutrition and addressing allergies, and come complete with handy recipe cards for future reference. sproutright.com
Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
We switched to earth-friendly cleaning products when our kids were born and love the Canadian brand, Attitude. (From window cleaners to laundry detergent, Attitude products are certified eco-friendly and carbon neutral.) So, when we discovered three new Attitude products, we just had to try them. Attitude’s new phosphate-free automatic dishwasher detergent is not only vegan, biodegradable and free of dyes and artificial fragrances, but it doesn’t leave a film like other green detergents we’ve tried. We also loved the antibacterial disinfectant for surfaces that need a little extra oomph (like the kitchen sink). It may be tough, but it’s still biodegradable, non-carcinogenic and chlorine-free. Cleanattitude.com
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green cleaners, earth friendly cleaning products, environmentally friendly cleaners, safe cleaners kids, kids disinfectant
Perfect your Parenting Skills
Ah, the terrible twos. Tired of conflict with our boys, we picked up a copy of Connected Parenting by child and family therapist Jennifer Kolari–and we’re so glad we did. Kolari’s approach focuses on strengthening the relationship between parent and child through empathy and understanding–and it works. Even in mid-meltdown, our boys responded to her mirroring technique and, suddenly, crisis averted. Written in a friendly, accessible way complete with how to handle some of the toughest situations (from food issues to fights at bedtime), Kolari’s book showed us new ways to set boundaries, avoid tantrums and generally get along better with our little guys. Connectedparenting.ca
