Tips for Parents of Picky Eaters

Is your baby now a toddler?  If the answer is yes that probably means you have a picky eater and it is probably driving you nuts!  You prepare a nutritious dinner and your toddler will barely sit for more than 5 minutes and when they do sit they pick and poke at their food….not much enter their mouth.

There are many reasons for this picky eater syndrome which usually starts between the age of one to three.  After the first year of rapid growth toddlers tend to gain weight slower.  Their need for food is less.  But of course we really don’t care about that….this picky eater thing is driving us nuts!  Here are a few tips for help avoid mealtime battles:

1) Don’t make mealtime a power struggle. If your toddler won’t eat he / she is not hungry, respect the lack of appetite and don’t make mealtime a power struggle..believe me, you won’t win this one 🙂

2) Introducing new foods is never easy, especiall if you have a picky eater.  Try to get your child interested in the new food by pointing out the color, texture and smell.  Let your child take small, tiny bites to try the new food out.  It may take a few tries for your toddler to actually eat a new food……be patient.

3) Routine plays a big part in eating at mealtime. You want your toddler to come to the table hungry and ready to eat.  Limit snack time to end at least one hour before meal time.  This will help ensure that your toddler has some kind of appetite when sitting down to eat.

4) Set a good example of eating habits.  Try new foods together.  Make it fun!  Arrange food on a plate in a fun way.  Happy faces, eat the nose, mouth and eyes.  This can be a good time to learn colors, body parts and new words.

5) Minimize distractions at meals.  Not only will this help your toddler concentrate on the food but it will allow him/her to feel when full.  Feeling full is a very important part of mealtime.

6) Don’t forget that you can be as sneaky as you want. If you child loves soup add protein to the soup in forms of chicken, beef or even quinoa.  If pancakes are the food of choice this week add small, finely chopped vegetables to the batter, the pancakes will be pretty as well as nutritious.  Get in touch with your creative side…it will be fun for both of you.

7)  If your toddler hates his booster seat or high chair and is too small to sit at the table and eat properly consider a toddler sized table and chairs.   This worked wonders for my daughter and granddaughter.  Her small table and chairs is now an extension of the dinner table and she loves to sit comfortably and eat dinner. 

8) Dessert as a form of reward?  All I can say don’t!  This will teach your toddler that sweets are rewards and that desserts are the best food …..ever!  This may increase your childs desire for sweets which is never a good idea.

And there you have it! Our top 8 tips to try out on your picky eater.

Top Tips For Choosing A Car Seat

Choosing the perfect infant car seat is no easy task.  You want to be sure that your little on is safe and secure as well as comfortable and content.  The perfect car seat is also the car seat that fits your budget and is easy to use.  I had purchased a car seat that was so difficult to buckle and unbuckle that it eventually got permanently put in the garage and I had to purchase a different one.  Needless to say, I should have bought the more expensive car seat that I originally had my eye on. The call of the “sale item” talked me into it…now I know why it was on sale and no returns!

Here are a few basic ideas to keep in mind when looking to purchase a car seat:

Safety comes first, always!  In the U.S. and Canada all car seats must pass federal crash tests.  Having said that some car seats come with more “bells and whistles” than others.  More expensive car seats come with extra features that make them easier to install correctly, such as built-in locking clips or non-twisting straps.  The less expensive models with no extra features, has passed the basic crash tests and is safe for your baby when installed properly.  So keep in mind your budget, more is not necessarily less safety.

Always use your baby’s age, height and weight as an indicator of which car seat to purchase.  Rear facing car seats are used till the baby reaches around 20 lbs.  Convertible cars seat are just that. They convert from rear facing to front facing when the baby is around 1 year and weighs at least 20 lbs.  These car seats stay forward facing until the child has reached the specified on the car seat.  As for height, baby’s head should be one inch or more below the top of the car seat when rear-facing. For front-facing seats, the tops of baby’s ears should be below the seat top.

With so many seat styles in different cars it is very important to purchase a car seat that will fit you car, not all car seats fit every car.  It is essential to find a car seat that can be installed tightly, with the proper angle and less than an inch of side-to-side wiggle.   As for installation, that is entirely up to you.  I consider myself quite handy and decided to install the car seat myself.  I actually thought I did a great job and the car seat was snug and secure.  I took it to the local police station as they were holding a car seat clinic and wouldnt you know it…the car seat was not as secure as I thought and I ended up taking it to the local baby store to have it reinstalled by a professional.  So, the choice is yours but don’t forget to have the car seat checked by a reputable clinic.

Car seat recalls happen and it is very important to be notified when they do.  If you have borrowed or purchased a used car seat, checking for recalls is even more important. If you also send in the registration card for a new car seat, you will be quickly notified if your baby’s car seat is ever affected by a recall.

The best way to keep baby safe in the car is to use a car seat with the most crash protection for as long as it fits your baby. You don’t have to turn baby forward-facing right at one year and 20 pounds. Many seats today offer higher rear-facing weight limits, and this is a good option to choose if possible. Also look for higher forward-facing weight limits on 5-point harness seats, and keep your toddler in a booster seat as long as possible after he or she outgrows a regular car seat.

Hushhhhh A Mok, Hushamok!

The Hushamok baby hammock is the perfect way to get baby to sleep in style and above all, comfort.  Now, for a very limited time and while supplies last the Hushamok Dream for babies is on sale!!!

We know how important newborn sleep is for you and your baby. Our modern baby hammock features a lightweight aluminum stand and a 100% organic baby hammock. This essential piece of modern baby furniture offers a soothing natural motion that is proven to create restful sleep for babies.

Hushamok baby hammocks are an alternative to the traditional baby bassinet offering the next best thing to the womb with it’s natural swinging and rocking motion that induces sleep in babies.

Hushamok baby hammocks are ideal for those babies that suffer from infant colic and reflux.

The Dream includes:

• Aluminum Stand:  This lightweight stand is portable, weighing just 11 pounds and can be used in both indoor and outdoor environments.
• Organic baby hammock: Made from 100% Turkish organic cotton the baby hammock is recommended for night and nap time sleeps for babies up to 22lbs/10kg.
• Sheet set (organic): Made from 100% Turkish cotton.  Each Hushamok Dream comes with 2 fitted sheets in the same color as the hammock.
• Mattress: soft and comfortable, this hypoallergenic mattress fits the hammock and is machine washable for easy care.
• Travel bag: The organic cotton bag makes it convenient to pack up the lightweight set at home or travel.

Weight/Age Specification: The Hushamok baby hammock is an early development product designed for newborns up to approximately 6 months or 22 pounds. Hushamok recommends using baby hammock for newborn sleep.

How to Pick the Perfect Infant Car Seat

Choosing the perfect infant car seat is no easy task.  You want to be sure that your little on is safe and secure as well as comfortable and content.  The perfect car seat is also the car seat that fits your budget and is easy to use.  I had purchased a car seat that was so difficult to buckle and unbuckle that it eventually got permanently put in the garage and I had to purchase a different one.  Needless to say, I should have bought the more expensive car seat that I originally had my eye on. The call of the “sale item” talked me into it…now I know why it was on sale and no returns!

Here are a few basic ideas to keep in mind when looking to purchase a car seat:

Safety comes first, always!  In the U.S. and Canada all car seats must pass federal crash tests.  Having said that some car seats come with more “bells and whistles” than others.  More expensive car seats come with extra features that make them easier to install correctly, such as built-in locking clips or non-twisting straps.  The less expensive models with no extra features, has passed the basic crash tests and is safe for your baby when installed properly.  So keep in mind your budget, more is not necessarily less safety.

Always use your baby’s age, height and weight as an indicator of which car seat to purchase.  Rear facing car seats are used till the baby reaches around 20 lbs.  Convertible cars seat are just that. They convert from rear facing to front facing when the baby is around 1 year and weighs at least 20 lbs.  These car seats stay forward facing until the child has reached the specified on the car seat.  As for height, baby’s head should be one inch or more below the top of the car seat when rear-facing. For front-facing seats, the tops of baby’s ears should be below the seat top.

With so many seat styles in different cars it is very important to purchase a car seat that will fit you car, not all car seats fit every car.  It is essential to find a car seat that can be installed tightly, with the proper angle and less than an inch of side-to-side wiggle.   As for installation, that is entirely up to you.  I consider myself quite handy and decided to install the car seat myself.  I actually thought I did a great job and the car seat was snug and secure.  I took it to the local police station as they were holding a car seat clinic and wouldnt you know it…the car seat was not as secure as I thought and I ended up taking it to the local baby store to have it reinstalled by a professional.  So, the choice is yours but don’t forget to have the car seat checked by a reputable clinic.

Car seat recalls happen and it is very important to be notified when they do.  If you have borrowed or purchased a used car seat, checking for recalls is even more important. If you also send in the registration card for a new car seat, you will be quickly notified if your baby’s car seat is ever affected by a recall.

The best way to keep baby safe in the car is to use a car seat with the most crash protection for as long as it fits your baby. You don’t have to turn baby forward-facing right at one year and 20 pounds. Many seats today offer higher rear-facing weight limits, and this is a good option to choose if possible. Also look for higher forward-facing weight limits on 5-point harness seats, and keep your toddler in a booster seat as long as possible after he or she outgrows a regular car seat.