CareerMama℠

Is It Too Small For Baby?

 Play the “is it too small for baby?” game. In order to help our toddler understand what objects are too small for his baby sister to play with, I took the inside of a toilet paper roll (which is about 35mm and roughly the diameter of a baby’s throat) and wrote on it “Is it too small for Ava?” Then he and I went around the house and tested all sorts of objects.  We use this “tool” everyday, and now he tells me which objects are OK for his sister to play with. 

Maternity Leave Plan

Before you tell your employer you are pregnant, it is important to have an idea as to your maternity leave plan. It would be even better if you had something in writing that you could present when you tell them. Many women are shocked to discover there is no paid maternity leave policy in place for their organization (the size of the company has a lot to do with this). In order to negotiate the best plan for your unique situation, you will need to be prepared. Make your maternity leave plan as detailed as possible. You will need to be very clear as to how you wish to phase back into work (i.e. part time, full time, remote, or other type of flexible work arrangement). Get approval of your plan in writing, even if that means approval via email. This is extremely important because not everyone will remember what they agreed to, including you. Also, you may have a situation where your position changes or is eliminated while you are out on leave. You can’t possible know what will happen between the time you notify your employer and the time you come back to work, so it is best to be prepared. Creating a maternity plan can be very confusing, so you may want to utilize one of the free templates out on the web.

Potty training 

Potty training can be a tricky business. My husband and I decided to go ‘cold turkey’ with my son when he was about 2 years old. It was a bit messy (and he regressed a bit after my daughter was born), but it worked.  Once he was independent on the potty during the day, it was time to address potty training at night. This also presented a number of challenges but we found that things went a lot better if we made it fun (and a bit silly). I once saw Howie Mandel talk about the time he and his wife were potty training their daughter. It reminded me of all the silly things parents will do to help their child become more independent. We utilized the book Time To Pee by Mo Willems, which is a fun book that includes a success chart and stickers. Our son loves stickers, so this was a great way to reward him for using the toilet correctly. For potty training at night, we used star stickers and a calendar. Each morning that he woke up with dry pants and a dry bed, he would get a star sticker which he could put on the calendar himself. This is still a part of the morning routine he loves the most.

Save Unused Diapers

 If you think you might have a second or subsequent child, save your baby’s unused diapers in a storage container. Diapers don’t go bad, and it could save you hundreds of dollars. My 6 month old daughter is now wearing my 3 year olds unused diapers, and we love the savings. 

Summer Stroller Fix

If the straps on your stroller have torn off or your baby is still a bit small when in the facing-forward position, use a shopping cart liner to give your baby a comfy secure ride.

 I don’t want the crust, Mom!

If you are constantly removing the crust off of your child’s sandwiches, don’t throw it away. Save it in the freezer in a zip top baggy. In a week or two, you will have enough to put into the food processor with some herbs for yummy homemade breadcrumbs.

See this tip on Parent Hacks!

Discount Retail Stores

Since most of America is economizing at home, many of us have discovered or re-discovered the variety of discount stores that are available. Having a young family often requires me to buy certain items in bulk. With a three-year-old and an 8-month-old we very quickly burn through essential household items like paper towels, diapers, wipes, tissues, and baby food. At the rate in which these items are “consumed”, it can become quite costly if they are not purchased in bulk or on sale.  I found myself having to go to several different stores to find all the items I needed at a price I was willing to pay.

While I haven’t yet found the one store that carries all the things I need at the right price, I have found a few great deals

here and there. A store that provides me with creative items for my children that are also practical and economical will win my business.

Target’s Up&Up Brand’s Color Me tissue box is a great example. It is a household item we need that doubles as an activity kit for my toddler, and it costs much less than the name brand equivalent. Consumers can choose from a variety of different designs, some of which appear to be geared towards a particular gender.

My son enjoyed coloring his tissue box (which is now proudly displayed in his bedroom), and I enjoyed the savings.