When you’re raising kids, you will realize that there are plenty of things you can never do without. You would need it often enough because they are handy and they can help make things easier for you and your handling of children. You would need this often enough because your kids are going to be using these a lot.

The following are things you need to stack up around the house, in your purse, or in your diaper/kiddie bag:

1. Baby wipes. Always so handy, I cannot imagine going around the house and out of the house without it. I have it in my bag even when the children are not with me. Force of habit. I use the wipes for literally everything that needs wiping. With children, it’s easier to keep them looking clean after playing in the yard or eating at a fast food restaurant.

2. Bandages or band-aids. Sometimes, I need it more than the kids need it. It’s a quick relief for cuts. When the children are out in the playground and they cut themselves, wipe the wound with baby wipes and cover it in band aid…and they’re back to playing again as if nothing happened.

3. Hair elastics and bands. This is especially true if you have girls. They always lose theirs so I don’t know what they do with it. But having this in your bag at all times is handy for quick grooming.

4. Baby powder. In this heat, a dab of baby powder can be refreshing and relieving.

Mealtimes can spark major power struggles. Can you get yor little one to step up to the plate? Taking these steps can help prevent the majority of mealtime struggles that parents face:

• Establish a regular eating schedule that includes three meals and planned snacks, so your child will know exactly what to expect and when. Arrange to serve her a snack or meal once every two hours, which is about how often toddlers need to eat to feel satisfied.
• Turn each meal into a variety show. Serve several different foods, and let your child pick what he wants. Instead of offering just a plate of macaroni and cheese for lunch, add a slice of whole wheat bread and a kid-friendly vegetable.
• Make fun of food. By all means, draw ketchup smiley faces on cheeseburgers or arrange veggies into designs. The meal will be more appetizing to kids.
• Turn table time into social time. Sit with your child when he eats, even if you will be eating later.
• Make it clear that your child is expected to behave politely. Ask her to use an inside voice, keep her hands off other people’s plates, and stay seated at the table until she is excused. She may not always compl, but it sets the right precedent, and she’ll gradually come to internalize these rules.

If your child refuses to come to the table, allow him to stay away, but make sure that the television stays off, so he doesn’t have a ready source of distraction.

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Everybody was so excited when my sister-in-law had her first baby. I saw how they took care of the precious little girl. I was 7 years old then and I didn’t know that babies are really fragile. They need “super extra” care from all the people around them. One time, I saw my sister-in-law and she was feeding my niece (she was 6 months old). She told me that a child’s nutritional and eating habits will change drastically as they grow from a baby into a toddler.

Nutritious food are important when it comes to your child’s health, but how will you know if it’s the right kind of food? Below are few examples of food that you may give your babies.

• Infant rice cereal – It provides extra iron that your baby needs at this age. It is glutten-free and the least allergenic of all grains.
• Pureed or strained veggies and fruit – I suggest that you let them eat veggies first. Naturally babies like sweets and may not be willing to accept peas once they they’ve tasted pears.
• Oat, barley and baby cereals – Once you’ve fed them rice, make sure you give other grains one at a time, so you can watch for allergies.

It is common for babies to spit out their first bite. Infants are like taste testers, they need ten tries to see if they like the new flavor and texture. To make it more inviting for your babies to eat why not try the squirt baby food dispensing food?

This spoon holds up to 3 ounces of food. You just have to squeeze it and it will give the right small amount of food that your baby can eat. The squirt has a special cover to seal the food and keep the spoon clean in between feedings. This product will make your feeding time fun minus all the messy food on the table.

Where to buy: Tottini Seattle

Price: $8.00

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