Posted by TinyTotties on May 14 2013
As a parent we've all been there. You've had a great day with your kids at the beach and when it came to cleaning and drying off you just can't get rid of the sand. The car ride home is constant complaining from your kids that they still have sand in their toes and it hurts. I just discovered a great secret that I was able to put into use this Mother's Day.
Last Sunday I was lucky enough to spend Mother's Day at the beach with my family. It was SO much fun! A friend of mine had told me to pack a travel size bottle of baby powder in my beach bag. Then at the end of the day, all you have to do is rub the baby powder on their skin. Simple as that! The sand will rub right off. AMAZING stuff! It leaves my babies nice and soft! AND most importantly… sand-free!
Basically what happens is that the baby powder removes moisture from your skin and allows for the sand to easily come off. It works on hair, feet, and legs. Once you try it, you won’t want to head to the beach without it. Even my husband used it!
If you don’t like using baby powder or prefer using something more natural, you can also use cornstarch and it works just as well.
Posted by TinyTotties on August 02 2012
"Back in the day" it was unheard of to throw your own baby shower. But that was then, and this is now! More and more expectant mothers have begun hosting their own baby showers for a variety of reasons, replacing old rules with fun events that celebrate baby-to-be.
If you’ve made the decision to host your own baby shower, here are a few tips for having a time you’ll remember forever.
Keep it casual: Instead of the traditional baby shower complete with silly games and formal rules, consider having a more casual get-together. Invite a small group of girls to a restaurant for dinner. Or have dinner at your place, where you can show off your nursery and relax in the comfort of your own home. Even better: make it a spa night!
Consider the guys: Many of today’s dads-to-be want to be part of the special day too. Throw a co-ed cookout or BBQ that reads more like a party than a baby shower. Keep it loose, with a minimum of organized activities (aside from the gift opening!), and have a blast! Another idea worth considering: it’s becoming increasingly popular for guys to have “diaper poker parties” where each player arrives with a pack of diapers as their entry into the game.
Make it a "meet the baby" party: Some new parents – especially those who have already had one child - opt out of the pre-baby showers and parties altogether and instead host a party after the baby is born. This gives friends and family a chance to meet your little bundle of joy, and often guests will call ahead to see what you still need for the baby. If you are concerned that it will be seen as tacky to throw your own shower before the baby is born, this might be a great option for you!
Whatever type of event you decide to have in celebration of your baby, be sure to relax and have fun!
Posted by TinyTotties on August 02 2012
A beach vacation typically brings fun and relaxation, free of stress and worries. Add a baby into the mix without preparation, and you can have the exact opposite result! These tried and true essentials can help you have a great and memorable time at the beach with your new baby.
Portable playpen: Playpens provide an elevated, sand-free space for your baby to enjoy the sights or take a nap. Lightweight and portable, some even come with wheels to allow for easy transport.
Umbrella or shade tent: You might enjoy basking in the sun all afternoon, but with a baby in the mix shade is essential. Bring a portable beach umbrella or shade tent so your baby can stay cool and play in the shade.
Fresh water bucket: After your baby has enjoyed the ocean and sand, he can be pretty grubby. Have a small, shallow tub or bucket on hand to fill with fresh water. A quick dip will clean away sand and surf, and make your baby ready for nap-time or snacks. Related tip: baby powder has been shown to remove extra sand too!
Clothing and accessories: It’s all about protection: Flip flops to protect feet from the hot sand, sunglasses to cut down on glare and hats to keep head and ears from burning. Put it together with a few cute outfit changes and you’re all set!
Toys: Make sure to have plenty on hand to keep your baby occupied and happy. Think beyond sand buckets and rakes (but bring those too!) and bring plenty of toys that are easy to clean up after sand-time is over.
Plastic bags: Bring one bag for trash like used diapers, wipes and snack packages, and another for wet swimsuits and towels.
Other essentials: sunscreen, snacks, swim diapers & wipes!
With a little extra planning, your baby’s first beach vacation can be as easy as the ocean breeze!
Posted by TinyTotties on August 01 2012
A fun and easy way to enhance the overall design of your baby’s nursery is through the creative use of color. Take some inspiration from this year’s hot colors:
Tangerine: Designers have taken a fancy to bold, fresh colors like tangerine (tangerine tango was predicted by Pantone to be 2012’s color of the year), and you can make this color your own! Since it’s bright, try incorporating this fabulous color into your baby’s nursery as an accent, using it on a bold painted border or accessories like pillows and lampshades. When paired with white, tangerine really pops and adds a cheery element to the nursery. Light blue is also a great complement to this fun color-of-the-moment.
Orange: A little less bold than tangerine, orange is the epitome of sunshine and adds a kick of color to any decor. Pair it with pink in a chic crib bedding combo matched with fun accents like lamps and rugs, or use it with white to add a crisp, fresh feel to your baby’s nursery. Surprisingly, orange works well with a variety of colors for both boys’ and girls’ nurseries. Try it with blue or green and see why this color is such a design superstar!
Muted Blue and Green: Shades of ocean-washed colors can set a peaceful, easy mood in your nursery. Surround your baby with the calm, muted hues of blue and green, which convey a vintage feel that is so popular right now.
Yellow: For a modern, soothing take on this popular nursery color, try a less intense tone (think hard-boiled egg yellow) and replace the typical white walls and accents with shades of grey. This scheme works well with both traditional and contemporary furnishings and design.
Here’s hoping you have a great time selecting the perfect color scheme for your baby’s nursery!
Posted by TinyTotties on July 02 2012
When you’re expecting a baby – especially if it’s your first – there’s so much to prepare for. Assembling and designing your baby’s nursery can both be an enjoyable and a stressful experience. Fortunately, with a little preparation and research, you can zip through the process and actually enjoy this exciting time of preparing for your new arrival.
When designing your baby’s nursery, you’ll want to keep the following in mind:
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Safety- Be sure to start out by baby proofing your nursery. Check your outlets, lighting fixtures, and any other architectural detail to make sure they’re sturdy and safe. Also, as you’re shopping for baby products, always be sure to inquire about their safety.
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Establish your nursery budget- From top of the line to hand-me downs, you’ll need to be honest with yourself about what you can afford. If you’re ready to splurge on a crib, make sure it’s one that you can use for your next child, if needed. Or, if you’re after as many hand-me-downs as possible, just make sure they’re not outdated or worn out. If you’re ready to splurge, remember that accidents will happen.
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Choose your nursery lighting- Your baby will be in this room – and awake- at all hours of the day. Be mindful of the amount of sunlight or light that comes into the nursery, before your baby has arrived. Does it tend to get hot in there with afternoon sun? Is there a streetlamp that shines inside during the nighttime? Plan accordingly. You may need nursery curtains that include a black out curtain to help your child nap during the day or sleep at night. When you check on the baby at night, you may want a nightlight by the crib, so you don’t have to turn the lights on. Lastly, consider dimmers on your overhead lighting. They’re a great way to ease your child into a sleeping state as bedtime approaches.
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Choose your nursery colors or theme- Whether you want pink, blue, green, or tangerine walls, be sure that the nursery wall colors are soothing for your child. A common trend is to choose a neutral color, like yellow, green, tan, or even grey for your wall colors. Then, choose your bold patterns or prints for your baby crib bedding and nursery wall décor. Nursery room accessories can easily be replaced as your child gets older or your next baby arrives.
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Enjoy the assembly- After your baby shower or your baby shopping-spree, set aside some time to assemble the nursery on a day when you’re completely free. With all of your hard work and research completed, enjoy watching your child’s nursery come together – of course, it won’t be completed until your new addition arrives!
Posted by TinyTotties on July 02 2012
When you’re expecting, one of the questions you’re most often asked is, “So what’s the name going to be?” As a result, couples around the country are putting more and more thought into the names of their children.
Unlike their parents, they’re creating unique and memorable names that stand out, bypassing the Michaels, Susans, and Anthonys of their parent’s age. Once they’ve selected their baby’s name, more and more parents are wanting to display their child’s name in beautiful custom-made wall letters.
Perfect for nurseries and children’s rooms, these wall letters are custom-designing, allowing the parent to choose the font, design, and of course, the name of the set. Hand-painted, these wall letters are durable, high-quality, and easy to install on the wall of a nursery or child’s room. You can opt to hang the name horizontally or get creative and hang the name vertically – whichever you prefer or whichever your room layout dictates.
We love the story of the parents who used their custom-wall letters to announce the name and gender of their child, filming a video of them walking into the nursery, the name hanging proudly on the wall. With one email, they announced the name of their upcoming arrival to their friends and family through this video.
As your child grows older, these letters can also be the tool with which you teach them how to spell their name. Want to inspire them? Opt for custom letters of inspirational words, like dream, explore, or dance.
So what do you think of wall letters? Is it a must-do for a nursery? Or do you prefer to display your child’s name in a different way?
Share it with us on our Facebook Page!