Mommy's Buzz

What To Pack - Toddler Daycare Check List

2017-08-08T10:30:00.000-04:00

If you are like me and your child is going to daycare soon, you are faced with the scary daunting task for figuring out what they need to bring with them.

Below is a list of items that many daycares require and our recommendation on which one to get - there are a million options. Some are items that were polled from moms with kids in daycare already and others are based on own experience.

Sleeping bag: http://amzn.to/291gKma

100% cotton, light and folds well

Slippers: http://amzn.to/29kM5Pj

Some daycares require a change of shoes. I do not believe in rubber crocs, feet will sweat. Something comfy and easy on is best

Potty: http://amzn.to/28Y1vHz

Ask if this is allowed first but offer to bring your own potty. The child might be used to a certain type and it may be an easier transition

Sunscreen: http://amzn.to/294TDaS

If your child goes to daycare or camp in summer months, they require sunscreen. Some daycares will request spray sunscreen. If your daycare allows for lotion sunscreen (which I personally think is better) - grab this one: http://amzn.to/295pYel

Clothing labels: http://amzn.to/291vrEL

If you want to get back the clothes that are yours.No need to iron them on, just stick it on and it lasts through washes

Diaper Spray: http://amzn.to/28Y2eZj

I love Aquaphor for every day but I’d rather have the childcare provider use a spray. They will (hopefully) use it more frequently and its mess free

Bibs: http://amzn.to/290q0sB

These are the only bibs I found that are 100% cotton and extra long to cover the full torso. Helps that they are super cute! Get 2-3

Water Container: http://amzn.to/290qVJp

We love this cup, easy to open and close, keeps temp regulated

Backpack: http://amzn.to/29kP9eg

Tons of fun designs, light and durable.

Hand Sanitizer: http://amzn.to/290qUoO

All natural, no chemicals, and no dry skin!

Other popular items on a daycare list:

Paper Towels
Tissue boxes
Pack of Wipes (1 box per week)
Two full changes of clothes (including socks, underwear)
5-10 underwear if potty training
Diapers/Pull Ups (if child still uses) - 1 pack a week at least
Plastic bags
Zip lock bags
Medications, if needed - note: be sure to ask your daycare about their policies and if they have a nurse on staff. Many daycares will not administer anything, even over the counter meds for fear of overdosing a child/liability.

Sound-off: What do you think? Let us know below

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Cruising With Kids: Travel Packing Tips

2017-05-26T16:22:00.000-04:00

**This post contains affiliate links

If you’ve followed our blog for a while, we’ve mentioned that we’ve traveled with our daughter to Aruba, Dominican Republic, and Mexico. We’re about to embark on our next adventure to Bermuda, only this time, we’re taking a cruise.
Packing for a cruise to a tropical destination is somewhat similar to any beach vacation there are some big distinctions:

During ports of call, if you leave the ship, you need to take more with you
If you do not need to fly to the port, you can take MORE (which isn’t always better)
You need different items for Sea Days vs. Port Days

Tips:

Most ships do not allow non-potty trained kids in the pool. Make sure you check with the cruise line before you book! Bring swim diapers (disposable and reusable)
Keep in mind, unlike a hotel with a balcony, there won’t be much space to dry your swimwear. Bring extras and towel clips!
Bring walkie-talkies! You’ll thank me later. Best to get one with many frequencies that work across more distance. The best way to communicate when you and your family need or want to split up.
On the ship, get a few green apples and cans of ginger ale. They really help if your child gets seasick.
Always. Buy. Insurance. Especially when traveling with children. (Why have travel insurance)

Below are musts in your Cruise packing list:

Puddle Jumper or Inflatable infant float
Rashguards and Full Coverage hats
Baby bath toys - unlike the beach, there’s no sand. Bring “bath” toys for maximum entertainment
Warm Bathrobe - it gets cold when you exit the outdoor pool and go through air conditioned hallways
Hooded towel - great as a cover up or after a dip plus they are adorable
Sunscreen - pack extra unless you want to pay premium prices
Zip lock bags (different sizes) - you’ll need it for just about everything. Snacks, toys, dirty clothes, wet bathing suits - the list goes on!
Funtainer thermos to keep water/milk cool in the hot sun
First Aid Kit with multiple seasickness meds such as Ginger Candy, Wristbands and Kid-safe medications

Flying to the cruise port? Taking an excursion to the beach? Check out our other posts for packing and entertainment ideas:
What To Pack For Vacation With An Infant
Family Trip to DR - What To Pack For Kids
How To Travel Light With Your Family To the Beach
Road Trip With Kids: Survival Kit
Travel Kid Entertainment Kid
Travel Toys & Gear for 4+
Top 8 Family Travel Space Saving Tips

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Top 8 Family Travel Space Saving Tips

2017-05-12T07:30:00.000-04:00

**This post contains affiliate links

The fees to check in luggage have skyrocketed lately! When traveling with children, especially young ones, luggage space is super limited and there’s so much to pack. Below are top 10 tips:

#1. Tech Gear: I have two words for you: Anker charger - If your child loves your phone or tablet, which, let's face it, they do! Make sure you take it and pre-charge. We absolutely love this Anker because it is super light for the amount of power it has. It has charged our horrid iPhone batteries 3-4 times on one charge!

*BONUS TIP* Don’t load up tons of travel tech gear. Stick to a few essentials. Do you really need a tablet, phone, laptop, camera, tripod and selfie-stick for a 3-day trip plus all the charges/wires? Pair down based on the itinerary.

#2. Neck Pillows: Go for an inflatable - we love this one with a hood. Packs up really small and easy to inflate: http://amzn.to/2kymhUj

*BONUS TIP*: For your kids: this 3-in-one is super cute and works as a neck pillow, backpack, and iPad holder! Comes in several designs: http://amzn.to/2kycopx

#3. Baby Gear: For kids under 2, you need tons of bottles/sippy cups. Stack them inside each other, nipple inward for more compact space, or get these adapters and save a ton of space! When you get to your destination, either order ahead or get a case of plastic bottles and use the adapter, then toss the bottle!

*BONUS TIP*Diapers: Pack sealed unopened packs, they are much more tightly packed

#4 Luggage: Invest in medium sized luggage (24”) with extender. If you get a large size, it's easy to over-pack and exceed the allowed size/weight limit. We swear by Samsonite. Get a spinner suitcase, it is so much easier to roll! Also, look for lighter luggage. Hard case luggage looks nice but adds more weight.

*BONUS TIP* When traveling with younger kids, make sure to get them identifying tags in case they are lost! Tattoo or bands work best so that they are discreet.

#5. Diaper Bag: Leave the bulky shoulder bag at home. It is a total waste! Bring this backpack. It's hands-free, has a built-in cooler, a mesh top and a ton of pockets. Bigger than an average diaper bag so you can take MORE on the plane for FREE (Diaper bags are not counted towards your luggage)

*BONUS TIP* Pack meds in clear Ziplocks and store them in the cooler of the diaper bag along with food/snacks. Easier to get through security by unzipping the bottom.

#6. Clothing: Get EBags and Space Saving Bags. I use space bags for bulky clothing, for example traveling to Mexico in January from NYC, our jackets go into Space Bags for a couple of reasons. Obviously to save space but also to ensure moisture from the warm climate does not seep in. Ebags are really great for organizing and packing outfits or separating itty-bitty kids clothing that can be super hard to fold and pack. Plus they go into drawers so they work as a liner and organizer.

*BONUS TIP* If you are potty training, bring 2x as many bottoms just in case!

#7. Beach Gear: Bring foldable beach bags and mesh sacks. They do not take up much space but you’ll need multiples for all of the toys, inflatables, towels, etc. Also, the mesh sacks help shake out all of the excess sand!

BONUS TIP* Get these clips and keep the towels from blowing away in the wind

#8. Airplane entertainment: Kids want a lot of toys and you want to entertain them during your travels. Below are good space saving options:

For the plane:

Activity To go packs: Come loaded with stickers, markers, coloring books in a zip lock bag.
Water Wow: Reusable for hours of fun. Just fill with water and your kiddo can color and re-color as soon as the water dries.
Sticker Activity books: these are TINY but have several pages of activities. Get a couple!
Triangular Crayons: they do not roll off the table, which can be especially terrible on a plane!
Window decals - if you are sitting next to a window on a plane these are a great way to “decorate” space and not get dirty looks from the crew since they easily come off!
Magnet activities: Comes with 50 magnets and a lot of options to play house

On the ground:

We take some smaller toys to the resort so that there’s some entertainment for our kiddo besides TV while we get dressed for dinner/lunch. Not the best picture but our child loves drawing, stickers, and water wow. Plus we took tiny books for bedtime reading and small puzzles. All fits into this Brica backpack that she carried herself.

Brica By-My-Side Safety Harness Backpack

Sound-off: What do you think? Let us know below

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Rub a dub dub: Best Bath Toys

2017-04-25T10:30:00.000-04:00

**This post contains affiliate links

My daughter loves the water but bath time can sometimes be a little boring for her. Check out these really bath time toys!

The first thing I ever bought was, you guessed it, rubber duckies and their moldy friends. About 2-3 baths in, they became gross, and not that fun.

TIP: For new rubber bath toys, hot glue the holes and they stay mold free.

We soon discovered tons of other types of bath toys that do not mold and provide a lot more fun.

Gone fishing! There are many but I love this particular brand. They do not mold and easier to catch since they have magnets: http://amzn.to/2amtPHW

Doodling - bath crayons: For the little artist like our girl, bath crayons are so much fun and doodles rinse with water: http://amzn.to/2aj2xyy

Letters and Numbers - Bath time can be a good time for the educational time including learning letters and numbers as well as spelling. We love these and have used them since she was one: http://amzn.to/2amtKUv

Puzzles: We have animal and letter puzzles they stick with water to tiles and are loads of fun: http://amzn.to/2aj4IlC

Bath books: We bought a variety. She loves to “wash” the animals on every page and flip the pages to learn different sea and land animals and objects: http://amzn.to/2aj563n and http://amzn.to/2aAxlPk

Build a scene water toy - I love these different sets by Alex Toys. Fuels the imagination and gives our toddler plenty to do while we wash and comb her hair: http://amzn.to/2amwtgL and http://amzn.to/2anukyE

Don’t forget storage for all these toys. On our wall, we have this storage which also lets water drain: http://amzn.to/2a5tivd

In the tub, we have a divider with easy access to toys chosen for the bath: http://amzn.to/2awIhwi

What toys does your little one absolutely love? Share with us in comments.

Sound-off: What do you think? Let us know below

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Working Mama - Tips and Products

2017-04-18T09:42:00.001-04:00

**This post contains affiliate links

I came across a really good article about returning to work – read more here: http://www.thebabycorner.com/page/2674/ and started reflecting about when I returned to work. It was a very nerve racking experience. Being away from the baby, pumping (aka lugging huge amounts of supplies), needing a lot more coordination both at work and at home to make sure I have everything each day. It was hard but it is doable with the right products and services.

Breastfeeding Mom’s Work Kit (If you are not breastfeeding, skip down to Working Mom’s Sanity Services)

Hand Pump – they are not expensive, keep one at the office just in case you forget a piece or the whole electric pump at home

http://amzn.to/2asbECy

Medela Double Pump (be sure to check with your insurance to see if its covered) – if buying used, always buy new parts (tubes too) Pumping Bra – I didn’t use one but I can totally see how comfy this would be!

Milk Bottles ( I’ve taken the pump and forgotten the bottles on several occasions: hack – keep some Ziplocks at work and tape - in case you forget bottles to pump into)

http://amzn.to/2aqUbsU

Small Cooler

We have this one: http://amzn.to/2a26ibK

Nipple Cream

Photo of your baby! It helps milk production
Breast pads – keep a stash at your desk as well

http://amzn.to/2aHANFw

Snacks! If your office doesn’t provide, bring snacks for pumping. Almonds, oatmeal, cereal bars, and coconut water really help. You can get them shipped to your office too to drag less

Sanitizing Paci Wipes – I did not feel comfortable washing my pumping parts at work so I brought wipes – you can buy several types. I used the Medela wipes and Pacifier Wipes (whatever I had) - if you have space at work to wash, I used Dapple

Buy two sets of Shields so you always have a clean set (if you are really pressed for time, get a gallon zip lock, put your used pump parts and put it in the fridge/freezer so that they are not collecting as much bacteria until you can wash them) - Make sure you get fitted correctly for the valve!

Working Mom’s Sanity Tools and Services:

Nest Cam – our baby stayed home with a caretaker and before returning to work, we purchased several of these and watched (still do!) cameras all day. Nest cams are one of the best on the market. I love that you can zoom the in, hear audio well and set timers for them to turn on and off. You can also record for an extra fee.

This is a great deal! http://amzn.to/2asd9kg

Amazon Family/Prime – this was my true lifesaver. Everything that was time sensitive I subscribed to and was able to check to ensure we have enough (Diapers, Wipes, Diaper Cream, Medicine, Formula (when we needed supplementation), Pouches and Puffs (when we hit the solids stage). They also give you deeper discounts than others - for example, diapers are 20% off! fiIt really kept me sane. We never had time to go to the store between working full time and laundry, cleaning and other errands. Same day delivery means if we don’t have enough bottles, blankets, whatever else, it’s there faster than most other delivery services. I’ve found that Diapers.com and Walmart still can’t beat out most Amazon prices, and continue to use it.

http://amzn.to/2aqVI21

Food Delivery Service – if you can afford it. Do it, at least for the first 3 months until you get into a good groove. Yes, it is more expensive than a local store, but on par with Whole Foods/Trader Joe. Not to mention, everything is delivered to your door. We like Fresh direct but Amazon Fresh is starting to look promising. We ordered a lot of Heat and Eat types of dishes to avoid unhealthy pizza deliveries.

Whatever your reason for returning to work, stay strong, it does get easier with time. Let us know – what’s in your Mommy Workbag? What keeps you sane?

Sound-off: What do you think? Let us know below

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Diaper Bag Essentials

2017-04-11T10:30:00.000-04:00

**This post contains affiliate links

Did you ever have that one day that you thought you have everything you need in your diaper bag and then realized that ONE thing missing that would have been so helpful?

Broken out into three categories: Infant, Toddler and Preschooler are what I’ve had in my diaper bag throughout the years.

Newborn/Infant Diaper Bag:

Wipes
Diapers (1 for every 2 hrs)
Diaper Rash cream: http://amzn.to/29hGM1A
Changing pad/clutch: http://amzn.to/29ummGP
Muslin Blanket: http://amzn.to/29hGDLA

super versatile - use it for covering the stroller from the sun, as a swaddle, breastfeeding cover

Extra baby bottle
Bibs/Burp cloth: http://amzn.to/29OGrFA

best coverage and ultra soft! my favorite

Hand sanitizer: http://amzn.to/29OGf9h
Change of clothes (include extra socks, mittens, hat, shirt, onsie, footsie)
Fleece blanket: http://amzn.to/29hHGej

love this brand!

2 extra pacifiers (if used): http://amzn.to/29hI1Oa and http://amzn.to/29hHtrJ

Mam and Avent are the most preferred by moms I polled

Pacifier holder: http://amzn.to/29hHtrJ
Bottle of water - just in case you cant find running water to rinse off a paci or bottle
Formula (powder or ready feed)
Ice pack: http://amzn.to/29wQUcJ
Cooler or Backpack with Cooler which is what we always used: http://amzn.to/29qFvZH

1+ Toddler Diaper Bag:

Sippy Cup: http://amzn.to/29OHLIw
Change of clothes
Disposable Bibs http://amzn.to/29OHUM4
Disposable place mats: http://amzn.to/29hJiVr
Pouch handles: http://amzn.to/29OJOfm
Bibs (soft): http://amzn.to/29OGrFA
Bibs (solids): http://amzn.to/29OJEF7

at this age, I brought two types in case we ate something super mess

Happybabby puffs: http://amzn.to/29upuCu
Organic Yogurt Melts: http://amzn.to/29hKtnP
Pack of tissues
Hand sanitizer
Phone stand: http://amzn.to/29idKE0

for meltdowns at restaurants we guiltily admit putting a phone in front of our kid

Diapers/Pull Ups
Wipes
Changing pad
Coloring Book and Triangular Crayons: http://amzn.to/29hLzA8

We had one in our back since she turned 1. It keeps her occupied and rectangular crayons don’t roll off the table. Win Win

Backpack for a beginning walker with harness: http://amzn.to/29hL8pr

We loved our Brica - its a regular back pack with a “leash” which we used at amusement parks, aquariums, airports - its piece of mind in case your child doesn’t want to hold your hand

2+ Preschooler Diaper Bag:

Everything in the toddler bag +

Wet bag or zip locks for accidents: http://amzn.to/29OLoOJ
Extra Underwear if potty training - because accidents will happen
Change of clothes for said accidents
Toilet seat covers: http://amzn.to/29ies47
Travel Potty: http://amzn.to/29hMyAb
Travel Toilet Adapter: http://amzn.to/29wU1kL

its bulky but it doesn’t pinch or slide around. Worth the extra tote bag!

On the Go WOW - color with water: http://amzn.to/29qIkdr

This is such a brilliant idea. You fill the pen with water so there’s no mess, water makes color appear. Then it dries black and white and you start all over again.

Grab and Go activity pack: http://amzn.to/295wGpm

I always have at least 1 in my diaper bag. Not every place gives a child crayons and a coloring book so I always keep this handy to occupy my little one. Doctor visit, restaurant, anywhere really.

For more On The Go toys - check out our next post - coming soon!

Sound-off: What do you think? Let us know below

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Trikes, Bikes and Cars!

2017-04-04T10:30:00.000-04:00

**This post contains affiliate links

It's fun to move away from the typical stroller and get a push trike, bike or car.

Below are our top pics:

Best Trike: 1yr+ http://amzn.to/294YicG
- Grows with your child and is super comfy! A huge hit at our local park

Best Bike: 2yr+ http://amzn.to/28Y5iVr
- Amazing for a child learning. Everything is adjustable and the parent can help steer

Best Push Car: 1yr+ http://amzn.to/2a35EMB
- Another huge hit! Comes with a cup holder and a little storage bin for toys

Best Scooter: 2yr+ http://amzn.to/298Fzzc
- Best scooter on the market! Easy to use, lightweight

Best Scooter: 4yr+ http://amzn.to/2918l00
- Same brand but taller and higher weight requirement

It's very important that your child wears a helmet when riding a bike or scooter. Below are some of our favorites:

Helmet: http://amzn.to/29kTQoF
- This brand is truly the best. Durable, lightweight and cushioned helmet.

Knee, Elbow, and Wrist Pads: http://amzn.to/2953YDB

Sound-off: What do you think? Let us know below

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Baby Shower Gift Ideas

2017-03-07T10:30:00.000-05:00

Baby Shower Gifts can be a daunting task, especially if the parents-to-be didn’t register or have no idea what they need for their new bundle. Whether a Shower or a Sprinkle, see below for some great “Basket” ideas. Some are quite unique - so check them all out!
A basket itself can be a useful item! Get a diaper organizer like this to place your goodies - http://amzn.to/28JLFUe
*this post contains affiliate links

Healthy Baby Care Basket

Thermometer: http://amzn.to/28JuEe4
Nail Scissors: http://amzn.to/28KtU7X
Nose Frida Aspirator: http://amzn.to/28Jut2M
Windi: http://amzn.to/28JukvW
Colic Drops: http://amzn.to/28Lg9mY
Tylenol Suppositories: http://amzn.to/28M4J3N
Teething Drops: http://amzn.to/28M4YLR
Comb: http://amzn.to/28LfK3P
Weleda Starter Kit: http://amzn.to/28KtLl0

Bath Basket

Use the tub as your basket! http://amzn.to/28JsuLR
Kneeling pads - best thing we purchased! http://amzn.to/28JpRtp
Bath Rinser - so great for keeping water out of eyes: http://amzn.to/28LQBqZ
Cradle Cap Brush: http://amzn.to/28L4PXT
Anti-slip mat: http://amzn.to/28LR9gM
“Visor” so water doesn’t get into baby’s eyes: http://amzn.to/28JpUoX
Robe: 100% Cotton: http://amzn.to/28JpKxZ
Hooded Towel: http://amzn.to/28L3b8Q
Toy set - comes with an organizer: http://amzn.to/28LRM9Z
Tub Divider: http://amzn.to/28JqEu5

Mommy Breastfeeding Basket
(Make sure your Mom-To-Be intends to try it before you purchase!) Also, a lot of moms are too embarrassed to put this on the list - if you know she’s going to try - go for it!

Nipple Cream: http://amzn.to/28K7bsP
Nipple Butter: http://amzn.to/28LV4tK
Hand Pump: http://amzn.to/28K7tQu
Storage Bottle Kit: http://amzn.to/28JO5Cv
Nursing Pads: http://amzn.to/28KpfTr
The Milkie! It was an amazing way to save some milk: http://amzn.to/28JJGPL
Nursing Pillow: http://amzn.to/28KprlJ
On the go Pump part cleaner: http://amzn.to/28JOe8Z

Tea and Supplements - get a couple of brands to give her a good start:
Traditional Medicines Tea: http://amzn.to/28JOK6P
Earth Mama Tea: http://amzn.to/28JOZ1W
Fenugreek Supplement: http://amzn.to/28JslrE
Blessed Thrisle Supplement: http://amzn.to/28IIzhH
Moringa supplement: http://amzn.to/28IIwma

Feeding basket

Bottles: http://amzn.to/28Ma3UG
Bottles Brush: http://amzn.to/28Jsvg8
Anais Bibs (the best I’ve ever seen): http://amzn.to/28JTERg
1st Solids bib: http://amzn.to/28MaRbU
Silicone Feeding Set: http://amzn.to/28Kwvia
Bottles Drying Rack: http://amzn.to/28Jvkk0
Pouch Buddy: http://amzn.to/28Ma3UG

Play Basket

Playgym - we loved this one and played with it from birth up until 1.5 years! http://amzn.to/28LvINc
Rattles and soft books - this is a nice set and a good value: http://amzn.to/28RWlzu
My lo’s favorite Lamaze toy - http://amzn.to/28LvOEh
Baby Einstein Music: portable and nice classical tunes - http://amzn.to/28RWF1l
Rattles: http://amzn.to/28RXcQJ
Teethers: http://amzn.to/28Lw6LD

Travel Basket

For Mommies on the go - these items will be awesome - whether for a vacation or a short trip!

Travel nipple adapter: http://amzn.to/28TMgRo
- The flow is a bit heavy so unless the baby is bottle fed exclusively, this is appropriate for 6 months+
Pouch Handles: http://amzn.to/28R28GN
- Amazing invention prevents the child from squeezing the pouch all over
Toy attachments: http://amzn.to/28WzzGH
- Great for ensuring no toys get lost on the go
Toy Arch for Car Seat: http://amzn.to/28PVfFr
- Keeps your little one occupied and happy in a car seat or stroller
Portable Crib: http://amzn.to/28R2FIR
- This compact 3 in one is a changing station, napper and a diaper bag
On the go diaper changer: http://amzn.to/28NcMuP
Pacifier wipes: http://amzn.to/28PVtw2
Disposable bags for diapers: http://amzn.to/28PVCQ7

Photography Basket

If you know a mom like me, she is obsessed with taking photos of her little. She may have gotten an SLR or planning to dress up her cutie and snap away. Below are some cool options for taking those coveted monthly photos!

Lens Posing Toy - this is amazing, it makes your little one look at the camera with the bright design and squawking sounds: http://amzn.to/28Lh3Rh
Stickers for each month:
- Ties for boys: http://amzn.to/28NOzb8
- Circles: http://amzn.to/28S0p2R
Chalkboard: http://amzn.to/28LhpYh
Props: http://amzn.to/28PLtRw - very affordable positioner!
Take a pic! Throw in a cute little outfit for the baby or buy 12 onesies for the photoshoot
- Some ideas:
http://amzn.to/28LiPk6
http://amzn.to/28Lpmip

Sound-off: What do you think? Let us know below

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Road Trip With Kids: Survival Kit

2017-02-28T10:16:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, we took a road trip to NJ to pick strawberries. On the way, my daughter got sick all over the car seat, my arm, herself, the doll - you get the picture. It was not pretty. It made me seriously re-consider what we stash in the car. Also, now that she’s getting older, she needs something entertaining. (Before she would just zonk out and it was glorious!)
Below is a quick survival kit that you can stash in the car or bring with you:

On the Go Potty - Below are our picks:
Kalenco Potty: http://amzn.to/1UXgUZh
Cool Gear Travel Potty: http://amzn.to/26014IO
Boy portable Potty: http://amzn.to/1WOO2Zf
Folding Seat Cushion: http://amzn.to/1Ub6429
While you are at it, get some covers for older kids and yourself: http://amzn.to/23e2XfF
Disposable wee wee pads - when my little one got sick, these came in handy! The car seat was wet so we padded with this sheet and threw one over her clothes in case of another accident. They are also great for potty training! These are a good value: http://amzn.to/1UXio5H
Hand Wipes - I really wish I stashed more! We needed a ton. I use these: http://amzn.to/1UXiryr
Baby Wipe - You never know what kind of situation may arise but you can bet your baby’s bottom you’ll need at least a pack
Change of clothes - Rotate every 1-2 months dependent on child’s age to ensure it will fit. Basic items like leggings, bodysuits or t-shirts, underwear, socks and a change of shoes are a must
Tablet holders - Cars with entertainment packages build in are overrated and expensive. Make your own unit by getting a tablet holder like this: http://amzn.to/1UXi0nR
Charger - Our car has your standard cigarette lighter so we bought a converter for a USB and can use our regular chargers in the car: http://amzn.to/1Ub7qdm

Toys and Games - Below is a couple of ideas for each age group

2 and under
Brica Mirror: http://amzn.to/1tykAuP
Pull vibrate toys: http://amzn.to/1XYmH7U
Toy Arch: http://amzn.to/1Ub7J7R
Baby Einstein Musical Toy: http://amzn.to/23e63jR
Electronic Books: http://amzn.to/1XYmlOG

2 and over
Tin Magnet Puzzles: http://amzn.to/1XYmNMO
Melissa and Doug Stickers: http://amzn.to/1tylyal
Fisher Price Doodle (LARGE): http://amzn.to/23e6j2p
Fisher Price Doodle (SMALL): http://amzn.to/2605ijx
On the Go Color blast - LOVE this: http://amzn.to/1WOQijg
Portable art studio: http://amzn.to/28Hw4vR
Trays and containers - a tray and a few spill proof containers will reduce the mess you’ll need to clean up, plus it gives them space to draw, color and play. Win Win!
This tray has it all: http://amzn.to/2606uDr
Spill proof containers are perfect for little hands: http://amzn.to/265BcHP

Car Protection Gear

We outfitted our leased car with several of these items to protect the vehicle:
Kick Mats: http://amzn.to/2605lvP
Sun Visor: http://amzn.to/1Ub8FJw
Seat protector (works well for rear facing kickers too!): http://amzn.to/1tynjEo
Car Seat Sun Protector (we didn’t want her to touch hot buckles): http://amzn.to/1XYnENu
Emergency Medical Kit - when we travel, I bring any necessary meds with us and do NOT leave them in the car. If you do, put in a cooler (extreme hot or cold temps can mess with the meds). You should keep a basic first aid kit in the car all the time. Get one to have in case of a scraped knee or cut. This one is perfect for any medical emergency: http://amzn.to/23e99V4

And of course, let’s not forget, snacks and drinks! Bring at least 2 bottles per person of water and a variety of snacks in zip locks or individual portions. Granola bars, nuts, Goldfish crackers, puffs, Cheerios, and other dried snacks are always perfect on the go. Grab some peeled and cut bananas, apples and other fruit as well in a cooler!

Enjoy the trip and let us know where you went!

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Toy Recommendations 0-3 yrs

2017-02-21T10:30:00.000-05:00

I have put together a list of toys that I absolutely love.
We bought tons of toys for my daughter and below are the “winners’:

*this post contains affiliate links

Toys under 1

Baby Einstien ball: http://amzn.to/1Rtvc1C
Baby eintstien musical toy: http://amzn.to/1TGACuP
Play mat: http://amzn.to/1TGAj36
Teether banana: http://amzn.to/1VjVUk1
Lamaze toy: http://amzn.to/1P0cHaD
Jumper: http://amzn.to/1sAKaOx
Stroller toy: http://amzn.to/1sAK9ue
Lamaze ankle rattle: http://amzn.to/1P0cYdB
Playskool boppin: http://amzn.to/1WWvmas
Vtech rattle and sing puppy: http://amzn.to/1O2sSUQ
Clack and slide ball: http://amzn.to/1TOYHmm
Baby Einstein activity balls: http://amzn.to/1Xcy7Vl

Toys 1+

Popper: http://amzn.to/1P0dt7H
Musical table: http://amzn.to/1TOYPSO
Indestructible books: http://amzn.to/1XcxOK3
Lego blocks: http://amzn.to/1TGAw6o
Sit to stand: http://amzn.to/1sAKkWl
Sorter and stacker: http://amzn.to/20GsDj7
Activity cube: http://amzn.to/20GuHrt
Fisher price puppy: http://amzn.to/1VjWGh0
Alex Toys Dress the Monkey: http://amzn.to/1TOYqj9
Busy town cube: http://amzn.to/1P0dDf8
Melissa and Doug Safari puzzle: http://amzn.to/1TGCtje
Melissa and Dough shapes puzzle: http://amzn.to/1sALoJH
Melissa and Doug Alphabet and numbers: http://amzn.to/1Rty4vi

Toys 2+

Easel: http://amzn.to/1sAKywu
Foam Magnets: http://amzn.to/1WWuMtd
Finger Painting: http://amzn.to/1sAKwF0
Do a dot: http://amzn.to/1TGBFLh
Alex toys projects: http://amzn.to/1TGBEXF
Toy Stroller: http://amzn.to/1TGBHTc
Button Art: http://amzn.to/1P0dRTA
String a farm: http://amzn.to/1RtvHZv
Peg board: http://amzn.to/1RtvXYt
Learning Resources Color sort: http://amzn.to/1sAKJbg
Toy kitchen: http://amzn.to/1RtwGsI
Melissa and Dough Cookies: http://amzn.to/1VjXpyV
Melissa and Dough Pizza: http://amzn.to/1sAKWeq
Kitchen set: http://amzn.to/1TGC8gd
Peel veggies: http://amzn.to/1VjWNcp
Little People Farm: http://amzn.to/1TGCa7Y
Little people house: http://amzn.to/1TGC9kw
Learning resources pie sort: http://amzn.to/1RtwNoc
Melissa and Doug Block Board: http://amzn.to/1TGCFPj
Melissa and Doug cube puzzle: http://amzn.to/1P0fMaM
Melissa and Doug latches board: http://amzn.to/1Rtxf5L
Melissa and Doug Reusable Sticker pad: http://amzn.to/1Rty12I
Melissa and Doug make a face: http://amzn.to/1VjXmTz
Magnetic drawing board: http://amzn.to/1RtyguE

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Toys for Math - Count Through Play

2017-02-14T10:42:00.001-05:00

We’re excited - we’ve learned to count to 15! Throughout daily tasks, we try and teach our daughter counting. From berries to fingers to birds in the park, we make it fun to count. We also love these toys that help make counting fun:

2+
Sesame Street On the Go Numbers: Doubles as a puzzle and helps teach counting in sequences
Counting Caterpillar: Learn both numbers and sequence
Play Doh Numbers: who doesn’t love play-do? Make it education with numbers!

3+
Wipe Clean Work Books: Practice holding a marker and tracing without wasting a ton of paper. Wipe and reuse
Water Wow Numbers: Same concept as above but with water. It dries clear and you can re-color with water as many times as you want!
Count your chickens: an interactive game engaging a child and asking them to help count chicks on a farm
Go Fish! – takes counting to the next level. Learn to count, match and find pairs.
Sneaky Snacky Game– this game has many uses but it teaches counting, colors and even basic subtraction and addition

4+
Digital Piggy bank: This is a great age to teach your child early saving tips! Get them a counting piggy bank. They will learn to count faster when its money they can purchase things with!
Cash Register: Teaches you to count, subtract, add and most importantly fun!

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Toddlers...

2017-02-06T11:37:00.001-05:00

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3-4 Year Old Toy Recommendations

2017-01-26T10:30:00.000-05:00

We're turning 3 soon and I've noticed a few things about my preschooler. Instead of reaching for loud toys, we're going for building sets and peg boards and art projects.

I have an "Open Tab" registry. I add toys I read about or that we encounter at various children's museums and classes. The ones that make the list are educational or develop a certain skill, bonus points if the set can be used for versatile play and grow with the child.
Below is my registry for her to continue her fascination with building and pretend play:

Building and Puzzles:

Magnatiles: http://amzn.to/2d7dbji
Alex Toys Button Art: http://amzn.to/2dzYS2o
Lauri Peg Board: http://amzn.to/2drENPZ
Legos Duplo: http://amzn.to/2drF8SL
Legos Mega Blocks: http://amzn.to/2drYHWu
Green Toys Flower Bouquet Stacking toy: http://amzn.to/2dtN0Ti
Melissa and Doug Pattern Blocks: http://amzn.to/2cBQ8Xu

Learning Toys:

Lego Duplo Numbers Building Set: http://amzn.to/2cLm7aZ
Play Doh Numbers: http://amzn.to/2dfpaaM
Bath Toy Letters: http://amzn.to/2dtNAR8
Sesame Street Letters to Go: http://amzn.to/2dlhtxM
Melissa and Doug Puzzles: Letters, Numbers, Shapes: http://amzn.to/2dA0uJv
Alex Toys Ready Set Count: http://amzn.to/2dA0s4z

Arts & Crafts:

Play-Doh Bucket: http://amzn.to/2dlgYnz
Alex Toys Scissor projects: http://amzn.to/2drZM0E
Alex Toys Glue projects: http://amzn.to/2dA1Yn7
Mosaic Designs: http://amzn.to/2dA3eqc

Pretend Play:

Kitchen: http://amzn.to/2dH3ZO2
Workbench: http://amzn.to/2dOwJbA
Dr. Set: http://amzn.to/2dYoF7A and costume: http://amzn.to/2dbRzx5
Dress up Kit: http://amzn.to/2d0uiAA or http://amzn.to/2dYq3XY
Little People Playing House: http://amzn.to/2dPzx4Z
Baby Doll Starter Kit: http://amzn.to/2du2P9c

What's on your wishlist this year?

Ebates, free money in your account for what you are already doing, shopping online

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Board Games for 2 and up

2017-01-23T11:39:00.000-05:00

It’s cold outside. Tired of crafts and loud toys? Grab some kid-friendly board games and have a family night!
I used to think that board games are for older kids but recently discovered some hits with my daughter. She is turning 3 soon but we’ve played a few with her as soon as she turned 2.

Sneaky Snaky Squirrel - such a fun game! You are on the quest to get just the right color and amount of pine cones for the winter. Using the squirrel to pick up the pieces, your child and you need to get the 5 nuts (by color) into their tree, with different obstacles like the wind blew them all away - really entertaining

CUBE game - This cube comes with color matching cards that ask your toddler to moo like a cow, hop two times, find something orange, etc. Teaches them to follow directions and do something fun in the process

Connect Four- A must have classic game. Teaches problem solving and is just super fun for all ages

Picture Bingo - Love this brand! Helps memory, matching and also speech. Have the child find the pieces and announce the word in the picture. Teaches how to take turns, match pictures and expands vocabulary.

Candy Land - This classical game now comes in a million varies (Disney princess, Mickey Mouse, etc. I recently only learned about this game and my daughter, 2 at the time, easily followed the game

Giant Domino - We also just purchased domino. My husband and I had a bet whether our daughter can do it. She loved it! It comes with pictures and later can be used for matching/counting numbers. She counted a number of pieces for each of us and played the game well.

Chutes and Ladders - Similar to Candy land, you must navigate and go up ladders. Take a turn and shimmy up.

Coding and Programming for kids!

2017-01-19T10:35:00.000-05:00

In this day and age, a lot of toys are geared towards either boys or girls. We want our child to learn coding just as much as playing mommy. She can be a bad-ass engineer one day, who knows! As a next step, we found a few amazing toys starting at 3+ that help a child learn problem-solving with CODING! Amazing!

See our list with links below:

Fisher Price Code-A-Pillar - This one is on our list! Recommended for kids 3+ - by programming each of the pillar’s “wagons”, the caterpillar goes left, right, makes noise, and all is changed by the hands of your little one. Truly amazing

Osmo Coding game: Recommended for kids 5+ and teaches basic coding, problem-solving and overall looks like a blast!

Learning Resources Code & Go Robot Mouse: Recommended for kids 5+ - this mouse comes with cards that help your child program it for different functions. The mouse lights up, makes sounds, and features 2 speeds along with colorful buttons to match coding cards for easy programming and sequencing.

Roominate: Recommended for kids 6+ I had to also highlight this amazing invention. Created by kids. They have several toys that teach kids about electricity wiring, construction, and other related tools.

Travel Toys & Gear for Ages 4+

2017-01-16T10:30:00.000-05:00

We’ve written many posts about infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers and how to keep them entertained on planes, trains and every mode of transport. (See here and here) But what about 4 years and older? While it's guaranteed that they will be glued to a screen of sorts for a portion of the trip, surely there are better ways to entertain! See our list below:

Age 4+

Age 6+

Travel gear

Quick Stick Write-on! Child ID Tattoos - this is genius! A peace of mind in case your child is lost in a crowd, especially one who doesn’t yet remember your phone number or address
Travel ID Bands - for older kids or as an extra precaution
Pillow: this is a 3 in 1 Pillow: this is a 3 in 1 - a neck pillow, screen holder and backpack
Kidz Gear Headphones - get them their own pair!
Ebags Packing Cubes - very easy way for kids to pack themselves - the bags zip a ton of stuff into very slim cases and you can even help them organize it by outfit so they can get it out themselves