Toddler Moms

My 1yr old is still waking up 2-3 times a night wanting to feed. He is a big guy and I do hear his tummy growling sometimes. I feed solids close to bedtime but doesn’t seem to make a difference. My doctor doesn’t seem concerned as he is not over weight. Just curious if anyone else has this issue as well.

I’m sending my toddler to daycare for the first time, and I am terrified. I’m mostly worried about her sleep schedule. She is used to sleeping in a dark, quiet room alone. Now she’ll be in a crib with other babies in the room. What can I do to prepare her for the transition?

Any tips for handling this question from my almost 3 year old….over and over and over and over and OVER again/!

It’s begun – the dreaded don’t leave me cries at night. “I just want to be with you!” I know at 2 1/2 they struggle with independence and still needing re-assurance…but I have so much to do! 7:30-10 is my time! Is that selfish? Or do you give in and stay longer with your kids at night. Even after books, and prayers, and songs? I was moved by this post… http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lauren-cormier/the-day-my-son-gave-up-on_b_5701432.html

I just found this awesome post – I never thought to teach my kids how to make friends. Love this! http://www.misshumblebee.com/blog/2014/08/24/teaching-your-child-make-friends-school/ (Can you tell I’m working at home today and not really working?!)

I’m thinking of buying or making stickers that say “I Dressed Myself!” Our 2 1/2 year old only wants to wear tutu’s! Do you let kids dress themselves? http://www.cafepress.com/+i-dressed-myself-today+stickers

So my 20-month-old son has found a new game…hiding! He’ll “ide” behind the shower curtain while I’m using the bathroom. He “ides” in the bathroom closet when my husband takes him in for his bath. And today, he did something pretty hilarious. After a diaper change, he went running out of his room and down the hall pretty quietly (for a toddler). I looked in his usual places while calling out his name the whole time. He wasn’t anywhere. My heart started beating faster, but I knew he was right there somewhere! I decided to check our bathroom because my dog was kind of hinting that he had gone that way. I turned on the light, but I heard nothing…not a giggle, not a breath, not a peep. I finally found him sitting on the floor in the corner of my husband’s closet between a shoe shelf and the laundry basket. He was just sitting and waiting for me to find him in absolute darkness until I turned on the light. When he looked up and caught my eyes, he squealed with glee and had the biggest grin I’ve ever seen! He got me good…I fear we have a prankster on our hands…

For those of you that attend church, do you let your toddlers run loose, approach other kids, and play loudly? Or do you try to explain church, and have them try to pay attention to the service? I personally try to get them to interact as much as possible during the actual mass, then bring kids prayer books, or quiet coloring activities. Keep in mind I’m not a regular church-goer, (trying to be though!) and was surprised to see so much chaos in the cry room.

Before you travel, know your child’s immunization status. To date there are a record number of measles cases in the US, spanning nearly 20 states. Airplane travel is a risk for anyone not vaccinated. Typically, a child is immunized at 12-15 months then again after age 4. The best way to prevent disease is to be immunized. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/05/29/measles-outbreaks-cdc/9718129/

In honor of anyone who has EVER tried to measure their child’s foot in the middle of a department store, Stride Rite has posted an easy printable measuring tool online for you to use. No more fearful, anxious, excited, distracted feet measuring in the mall. Just print, measure and shop online. Nice! http://www.striderite.com/striderite/pdfs/PDF_SimpleSizeGuide.pdf

My 2 year old is driving me crazy! I love that he loves me and wants to be with me all the time, but I feel like we were making progress with him becoming a little more independent, when all of a sudden, he’s going back to having to be in the same room as me, freaking out when I leave, etc. Why are we going backwards? The only time I leave him (he’s at home with me 24/7) is at church in the nursery. And this last Sunday it was the worst. He ended up having to sit with us during half of the service and then the second half, my husband and I had to split the time in the nursery with him. He did okay for a couple of weeks and we would let him cry, and then he’d get quiet. But, he now starts screaming when we get to the church and start the walk in. Help, any advice?!

Anyone have multiple kids and work…a lot? How do you handle dinner with a household of chaos? For the last year I have spend countless hours online, looking at pinterest and other sites to find meals I can make ahead and freeze- however, that doesn’t work when you get home at 6 and have to preheat the oven and bake dinner for however long the recipe calls for. Am I the only one that doesn’t like eating dinner at 7 or later? During tax season I work crazy hours so I have to figure something out so my husband does something other chicken nuggets and fruit/veggie packs every night for dinner.

It has started…just today my 16.5-month-old son started saying “NO!” Mostly at appropriate times like “did you potty?” but pretty much to any question. ALL DAY LONG. I tried to stifle a laugh several times and then I tried to keep from beating his little butt other times! Oh, this is just the beginning and my patience is already wearing thin…

Hi! My name is Becca Freund. I’m a student at Rochester Institute of Technology. My major is Industrial Design – meaning I design products. This year, I will be working on my thesis. I want to design a modular product that will combine an infant carseat, stroller, rocker, high chair, convertible car seat and swing.. Big task – I know! The product will also last through infancy to toddlerhood so imagine all of the money you will save during that time! I need all of the mothers I can get to give me insight as to what you want for your baby. Do you hate car seats? Do you wish the stroller was easier to push? Do you want more adjustability with the high chair? What do you want changed? I’m not a mother so I don’t know the answer. I love children though, and always have. I babysit two little girls and have worked as a camp counselor at an over night camp for 3 summers, along with going to camp for 10 summers before that. Children are a big part of my life and I want to do everything I can for them and their mommies! Please, please, please help in any way you can. Go to http://beccafreund.wix.com/thesis-project. Thank you everyone!!