Garden Tips
If you are interested in starting your own little veggie garden plot, here are a few tips.
1. Find a spot that is suitable to your needs. For example: sunny, away from animals, etc.
2. Check the pH balance of your soil and compare it to the needs of your proposed veggies. Most seed packets have the necessary pH information. Add compost or potting soil to your growing area if needed.
3. Consider building a grow box lined with chicken wire. Especially if you live in gopher-prone areas.
4. Purchase seeds from a reliable source. Try to buy heirloom or non-genetically-modified seeds.
5. Set your seeds out in seedling trays. Grow veggies that are appropriate for your current climate/season.
6. Water your seed faithfully.
7. Transplant to your garden area when seedlings have at least two sets of leaves. Maybe more.
8. Continue to water and check for troublesome weeds daily if you can.
9. Harvest when ripe and enjoy!
Emergency Contact Information
Even though we rarely leave The Boy with a sitter, I felt compelled to create an Emergency Information sheet for him soon after he was born. It’s actually nice to have on hand. I keep a couple of copies with the age and weight sections blank. Then I can just fill out a new one every few months or so. This is a handy, one-sheet to have for sitters or even for yourself.
I have emergency and non-emergency numbers for poison control, fire, police, and gas and electric. I have my home address and directions on how to get to my home. This might be especially helpful for a young babysitter who might need to tell an emergency service provider how to get to your home. I have The Boy’s name, birthplace, blood type, immunizations (I just pencil in “18 months immunizations complete” or something to that effect), age, weight and known allergies.
I have various family numbers listed, along with the names and numbers of our pediatrician, eye doctor, dentist and preferred hospital. At the bottom of the page, I’ve listed our medical insurance information and a brief, signed medical release statement in the event that The Boy needs medical attention and I cannot be reached. I’m happy to say (knocking on wood) that we’ve never had to use this information. It sure is nice to have all in one place though. I do leave a copy out when we have a sitter and I usually have a copy in the diaper bag for the rare occasion that I leave him at someone else’s house.
911
Poison Control
Fire Department Non-Emergency Number
Police Department Non-Emergency Number
PG&E Emergency Number
Home Address and Phone Number:
Directions :
Full Name:
Born at:
Blood Type:
Immunizations:
Age:
Weight:
Allergies to Food:
Allergies to Medicine:
Family Numbers:
Doctor:
Dentist:
Eye Doctor:
Preferred Hospital:
Medical Insurance Information:
Medical Release Information: I authorize any hospital or emergency facility to administer emergency medical treatment for my child, , in the event that I cannot be reached.
Super Baby Food
As a single-income family on a tight budget, we made most of our own baby food when The Boy first started eating solid foods. Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron was my food bible for a good year and a half. I still use it, although not as frequently and I’m sure I’ll return to it if The Boy ever gets A Sibling.
This book is chock-full of information on feeding infants and toddlers. There are recipes, food storage tips, health and safety tips and homemade craft ideas. There is a month-by-month guide to foods that could be introduced to your baby along with tips on how to prepare and store these foods at home. There are over 350 nutritious and delicious recipes for your baby and toddler. Who knew that I could whip up a batch of homemade crackers just like that?
I felt lost and confused when it came to feeding The Boy as he began to start on solids. This book really helped me plan out what foods to introduce and when. It also gave me some great ideas on how to store these foods. (In ice cube trays - you must read about that!) I highly recommend this book for any parent who wants to save money (and the environment - fewer plastic and glass containers) when it comes to feeding your baby. You will also know exactly what is going into your baby’s tummy. No extra preservatives or sugars.
The book is reasonably priced for the amount of information it contains. I was lucky enough to find it at a used book store for about half it’s new price. Remember to check out your library book sales, yard sales and online book trading/buying sites for cheaper books.
Cleaning Thrift Store/Yard Sale Buys
Here are some hints for cleaning items that you purchase at a second-hand store.
1. Clothing
Wash clothing in hot water if it is material that will not shrink or be damaged by the heat. If you don’t want to risk shrinking or bleeding dyes, wash on your long setting (if your washing machine has one) in cold water. Steer clear of used undergarments.
2. Shoes
Break out the lysol, baking soda, some newspaper and find a sunny spot. Spray the shoes with lysol and let air dry in the sun. Next, sprinkle baking soda inside the shoes and then stuff it with newspaper. I don’t know exactly why this works, but I’ve had luck with this method of getting rid of unwanted odors. Let them sit in the sun another day or so, then remove the newspaper and shake out the baking soda.
3. Toys
Give the toys a hot, soapy bath. Use a small amount of bleach in the water if you think it is necessary. Rinse well - this is important! You don’t want baby chewing on a soapy, bleachy toy. Let dry on a towel or in the dish rack. If the toy is plush, throw it in the washing machine.
4. Furniture, Bikes, etc.
Large outside toys (bicycles, scooters, swings, etc.) can usually stand a good spray with a hose. If you think they need it, use a bucket of soapy water on them or lysol spray. Furniture, such as a high chair or booster seat can usually be cleaned up pretty easily with your trusty lysol spray and a hose. I like to hose things down outside and then let them dry in the sun. Of course, I live in an area where we have dry heat for a good part of the year.
Bike Trailer Review
Way back Before Kid, the Man and I used to do a lot of bike riding. We met at college in a very bike-friendly community and going out for an evening bike ride after dinner was par for the course. Over the course of the years we moved to an equally flat town, though one that was not quite as bike friendly, gave up my bike and had The Boy. As The Boy began to approach his toddler years, we realized that maybe it hadn’t been such a great idea to get rid of my bike! We needed a way to get out in the evening as a family without the stroller or the car. A friend (a non-bike-rider) gave me her bicycle and suddenly we were back in business. The only problem being what to do with The Boy.
Our first decision was whether to go with an on-the-bike seat or a trailer. We opted for the trailer for various reasons, one of which being that I was uncomfortable with balancing the bicycle with the baby on it. So we embarked on a journey into the world of bicycle trailers. We wanted something fairly inexpensive, yet safe. the overwhelming choice for safety and quality was the Burley. However, this was far out of our price range. And you don’t often see them at garage sales, as people tend to keep them forever (at least in our area). After much research, we chose the InStep Quick N EZ. We are quite happy with this trailer. It cost less than $100. It seats two children and has some storage space as well. It attaches to the bike quite easily and was easy to assemble. We have yet to use the front wheel, but it does convert to a jog stroller as well. The only down-side for us is the space it takes up in the garage (along with our bikes).
Now, I must admit that the weekend after our trailer arrived our neighbors found an InStep Quick N Lite at a yard sale one street over - doh! However, they have had some problems with one wheel that was slightly bent when they bought it. I am perfectly satisfied with our trailer and the money we spent on it. We now have another free activity to pursue as a family. We often bike to the pedestrian bridge that spans the creek on the other side of town. The Boy loves to run back and forth on the bridge and watch for fish. And, especially on windy days, we are getting some exercise too!
Remember to wear your helmet! Happy Biking.
92 Percent Want ‘Country of Origin’ Labels on Food
In what can only be described as “obvious,” 92% of people want their food to have the country of origin on the label.
It should come as no surprise to people that having everything you and your children eat, wear and play with come from a country with horrible environmental and human rights records might be a bad thing.
One more reason to plant some heirloom crops, try make do with not made in China and eat locally grown foods.
Free Play at the Playground
The playground is a great, free place to spend the afternoon or morning or whatever time of day suits your needs. If you have one within walking distance of your house, even better. The playground can be a place to stop for 10 minutes to give the kids a chance to run off some energy (good luck getting them to leave after only 10 minutes, though). Or it can be the destination for a long afternoon. Or maybe it is a place to meet up with other stay at home parents or the local playgroup.
Find a park that fits your needs. For an infant, find a place where you can park the stroller and let the baby play on the grass or on a blanket. If you are outside, make sure there are shaded areas. Baby swings are great. If you have young twins, sit them in the baby swing back to back.
Your toddler might be starting to climb on anything and everything. If this is the case, try out the play structure area yourself. Make sure the steps are safe and if there are places where your enthusiastic little one might tumble, stay with them as they climb. Check out the ground cover around any climbing structure as well. Thoroughly check out any sand play areas, particularly if they are not covered and if there are cats living in the area. Baby swings are still great for toddlers until they get too big. If your toddler is a ‘runner,’ watch for areas where s/he could run off or run toward a street.
Bigger kids might want a more intricate climbing structure. If they are old enough to keep track of their own toys, take a kickball or other toy to keep them interested. You may want to label the toys you take to the playground with your telephone number (not your name or your child’s name!) in case they are left behind.
If you are going to spend a significant amount of time at a park or playground, pack a diaper bag before you go. Include diapers, water or other drinks, snacks and sunscreen. If it has been rainy recently, take an old towel to wipe down the slides and other equipment. If there aren’t benches, take a blanket to sit on. If there are muddy areas in the park, take a plastic bag for soiled shoes and clothes.
Teach your kids from an early age to stay within ‘vision distance’ of you. They should be able to see you at all times. And you, as well, should pay attention to them all you can. Although I know the chance to sit down and chat with other stay at home parents is mighty tempting. If you are taking your child’s friend with you, check with their parents to make sure they don’t have any allergies that you should be aware of. If the play structure is wooden, do a once over for splinter-y areas. If the structure is plastic or metal, check for heat before sending your kids onto it.
Television vs Books
A recent study has shown that kids develop stronger vocabularies when read to (surprise!) and talked to by a real adult, not one on TV.
…the research team found that with every hour per day spent watching baby DVDs and videos, infants learned six to eight fewer new vocabulary words than babies who never watched the videos.
I will toss my opinion into the fray and add that I think the best thing you can do for your baby/toddler/child is to read to them every day and talk to them. It doesn’t matter what you are talking about. Give them a blow-by-blow account of how you are fixing their breakfast. What matters is that they are listening to your voice. They are hearing your intonation and gaining new vocabulary. Ask them questions and then answer them yourself if they are not old enough to carry on a conversation. I don’t think all TV is bad, but I do try to limit The Boy’s TV watching to a half an hour per day. And to be honest, he usually loses interest after about 10 minutes anyway.
As a former teacher, I can not stress enough the importance of encouraging kids to read and reading to them. I could usually tell, by the end of the first week of school, which kids were read to at home. Most of the time, they were more focused and willing and able to do grade level work.
As your kids grow, try to set aside at least a little time every day to read with them. By talking and reading to them, you will see their vocabulary grow rapidly every day!
Book Review: Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child
Another book that we relied heavily on when The Boy was an infant and which we still refer to now and then is
by Dr. Marc Weissbluth. In fact, our family mantra comes straight out of this book: A Well-Rested Family Is A Happy Family. It is what I sign on all “advice to the new mother” pages at baby showers. It is what we said over and over when we were sleep-training The Boy.
Everyone has a different stand on sleeping and where the baby should sleep (in bed, in a crib, in a co-sleeper), whether or not sleep-training should be used and when a baby should no longer need to eat during the night. Whatever your own beliefs are, I do think this is a good book to read. Dr. Weissbluth covers a multitude of issues, from sleep training to night terrors, nap timing to bedtime routines. He does emphasize the importance of naps and wake time and suggests ways to determine your own child’s sleep pattern. I did not feel that this book was ‘preachy.’ In fact, I felt that I, as the reader, was being encouraged to figure out what would really work best for my own family. The book has statistics, but I didn’t find them too overwhelming.
Now, I must admit that The Boy was and still is a great sleeper. But this book helped us stay on track to establish a sleep routine and stick with it.
Book Review: The Happiest Baby on the Block
A friend lent us a stack of books before The Boy was born. One of them was The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp. This turned out to be our ‘go-to’ book for all things soothing when The Boy was an infant. That tricky time between birth and 4 months old can be frustrating in terms of soothing and sleeping. For both baby and parents.
Dr. Karp describes the first 3 months of life as the 4th Trimester. Evolutionarily, he explains, babies had to be born with smaller heads in order to not cause harm to the mother at birth. This 4th Trimester, then, is a time period in which babies should be treated to situations that are as womb-like as possible. Dr. Karp of course gets into much more detail in his book. He has developed 5 steps to create a soothing experience for your baby.
The 5 S’s are: Swaddle, Swing, Sucking, Side, Shush. We found that a tight wrap, or swaddle, on The Boy really calmed him when he was fussy and helped him to sleep through the night. We swaddled him during sleep times from birth until about 6 months of age. This gives the baby that tight, warm feeling of the womb. All during gestation, your baby was gently rocked by your movements. This is where the swing comes in. We used a musical swing for nap times for the first few weeks. Most infants need to suck. Many sucked on fingers in the womb and they instinctually need to suck in order to eat after birth. Dr. Karp recommends a pacifier for soothing infants. One position that babies often feel most secure is a side hold. We would sometimes swaddle The Boy and hold him ‘football style.’ Shushing (or a white noise machine) may sound like what the baby heard in utero. We also often shushed him loudly while he was falling asleep. In our own experience the white noise machine did not work as well as mommy or daddy.
Dr. Karp writes with humor and includes some funny cartoons. There are also many anecdotes and personal stories from his own patients included in the book. It is repetitive, but I believe that this just enforces the 5 S’s and other ideas that he has put forth in the book.
If you are watching your pennies, then check this book out from the library or scour your local garage sales for a copy.
NOTE: I was excited to read The Happiest Toddler on the Block when The Boy got a little older. However, I was not as impressed as I was with the first one. It is still an interesting read, but it didn’t hit home like The Happiest Baby on the Block.
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