Photo: chrisroll | FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Here comes summer. For some families, that means a big upswing in the amount of time and energy kids spend running around — as it should be!

We’re giving away a sample pack that will help you keep up with your children’s increased nutritional needs, plus a little extra. Here’s what you can receive:

• USANIMALS (www.usana.com): Supplements just for children. Supports healthy immune function and helps create strong, healthy bones. Easy-to-eat chewables stamped with fun animal shapes.

• HINT Water (www.drinkhint.com): A fruit-infused all-natural essence water that contains no calories, sugar, artificial sweeteners or preservatives. Kids need to stay hydrated — but what if they’re not water-drinkers? Forget the unhealthy soft drinks and pick up a bottle of HINT instead. It’s not flavored water, it IS water.

• Smart for Life Cookies (www.smartforlife.com): Healthy ingredients, all-natural, preservative-free and made from 60 percent organic ingredients. Not only are they tasty, but they increase bone health and improve intestinal health.

• Medical ID Marketplace (www.hopepaige.com): What if your child has a food allergy or diabetes? How do you make sure your child is safe when they are on a field trip or on a play date? Medical ID Marketplace is one solution to that problem. Fashionable, trendy and cute medical ID bracelet that blend in with everyday pieces and only stands out to first responders in case of an emergency. These accessories come with a customized engraving (emergency contact info, health condition, etc.) so health officials will know how to react in a worst case scenario. Also with hundreds to choose from, there is an option that fits for every child’s colorful personality.

Want a gift pack filled with samples of the above? Like PureNaturalMom on Facebook, and post a comment below with your ideas for a kid’s perfect summer. We’ll pick a winner next week, and their Healthy Summer Pack will be on its way.

About Tracy Morris

I wear a lot of hats while spinning plates and true stories. In between taking care of myself and my family, I write about fertility and other health care topics. Most of my online time lately is spent at two very different places: FertilityTies.com and TrailerParkKarma.com. Perspective is everything -- my pre-teen reminds me daily.

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Photo: www.pkr101blogspot.com

If you have several children, chances are good that at least one of them challenges your sanity. You love him (or her), but truth be told you don’t always like them. They do not only push your buttons, they stomp, tap dance and karate kick them until your last nerve is hanging by a thread. Then you snap and say something you wish you hadn’t and the situation escalates into a full blown drama.

If this cycle sounds familiar, I can commiserate. The latest cycle with one of my own resident button pushers got me thinking and reflecting once again on how I can get to the root of my own emotional responses so as to diffuse the situation earlier the next time.  Here are some of those thoughts.

Acknowledge the buttons

Know what your hot buttons are.  As the saying goes, “there’s no smoke without a fire”.  If you’re upset about something your child is or isn’t doing, it’s probably because you are the very same way.  Your child is lovingly mirroring your own limited behavioral response, subconsciously hoping that you will see it and heal it in yourself. { read more }

About Lisa Gale

"She was an artist and her life was her canvas." (Kobi Yamada) When I grow up, I want to be her! For now, it's fun to pretend.

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Photo: Flickr, OliBac

Take a look around the room in which you’re sitting right now. What do you see? Odds are good you saw at least one or two things which to you aren’t the least bit threatening, but which to a curious toddler can be very dangerous. The power cord that is charging your phone and dangling from your side table, a curtain that drapes down just far enough for little stretched fingers, a top-heavy stool — any of these is a potential hazard to a child. But what can you do about it? Follow these do’s and don’t's for some tips and tricks on how to child-proof your home.

Do get down on your hands and knees

The best way to child-proof your home is to think like a child, and the best way to think like a child is to see the world from his eyes. Get down on your hands and knees and look around for a bit. What are those things on the wall that look like smiley faces (and, more importantly, what’s around here that I can stick in them)? What can I reach? What can I get tangled in, fall over, or bump into? What can I put in my mouth? What can I swallow? It won’t be the most comfortable experience of your life, but it just might be the most important one. { read more }

About Jeff Jacobson

Socrates understood himself to be the smartest man in Athens because he knew at least enough to know he knew nothing. That's me. I'm an inconsistently successful father, stepfather, husband, and writer. But at least I know it.

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Photo: Flickr, peterme

We’ve all been there: you’ve changed your baby’s diaper, fed/nursed her, put her down for a nap, played with her, rocked her, sang to her, and pled with her, but still she won’t sleep! Dealing with a cranky baby can leave both parents and baby in a pretty fussy mood, and it can cause a lot of anxiety. Thankfully, though no two babies are the same, there are some tried and tested tactics you can employ to soothe your cranky newborn.

Bounce the newborn

No, I don’t mean bounce her off the floor in frustration. I mean bounce her in your arms. Rocking is a solid standby, but when my daughter was a newborn she wavered between liking to be rocked and liking to be bounced. And she punished her mom and me if we opted for the wrong choice. To make matters worse, her preferred bouncing method varied, too. Sometimes a gentle bounce in my arms sufficed, while other times she preferred a more vigorous bounce in my arms on an exercise ball. When you have a cranky newborn, you have to be willing to try anything. { read more }

About Jeff Jacobson

Socrates understood himself to be the smartest man in Athens because he knew at least enough to know he knew nothing. That's me. I'm an inconsistently successful father, stepfather, husband, and writer. But at least I know it.

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Photo: Flickr, elbragon

No parent likes to leave their child in someone else’s hands. But as hard as it can be on you, odds are good it’s even harder on your child. Read on for a few tips and tricks to help your toddler deal with separation anxiety.

Do the prep work

Before simply dropping off your child suddenly, lay the groundwork for a smooth transition. If possible, talk about the separation far ahead of time, and be as specific as you can. Children feel better when they know what to expect, so tell them exactly what they can expect to happen: where they’re going, with whom, and for how long. And, of course, always follow it up by telling them when either you are their other parent will be back to collect them.

Don’t dawdle at drop-off

Kids pick up on cues from their parents. That’s not to say you toddler will be all smiles at drop-off time just because you are; but the odds are better than if you sulk and show anxiety about it, too. So put on a happy face, use positive words and good body language, tell your toddler how much fun he’s going to have, make the drop-off, and then make a hasty getaway. But don’t run.

Leave him with a keepsake

If your toddler’s separation anxiety is especially peaked, consider leaving him with a little keepsake — a reminder of you. It can be anything from a photo of your, to a blanket with your scent on it, to a special something the two of you share. And, of course, if he has a security blanket or stuffed animal, bring that long, too.

Don’t diminish your child’s feelings

It’s all too easy to forget that toddlers don’t share our sense of the passage of time. Hours can seem like minutes when they’re having fun (five more minutes, mom, please?), or days when they’re not. Try to resist the impulse to rationalize what’s going on, as doing so can give them the message that their feelings aren’t valid.

Remind yourself that these strong reactions aren’t simply a toddler being dramatic; your toddler’s feelings, no matter how irrational, are nevertheless real to him, and must be taken seriously. Empathize with him by acknowledging his feelings and telling him it’s okay for him to feel them. And then remind him how much better he’ll feel when you come pick him up.

Be patient

Most toddlers go through a stage of separation anxiety at least once, and many experience it several times. Remember to be patient with your child, and remember that even though it’s heartbreaking to leave your child when he’s sad, it would be even more heartbreaking to leave a child who doesn’t care that you’re leaving.

About Jeff Jacobson

Socrates understood himself to be the smartest man in Athens because he knew at least enough to know he knew nothing. That's me. I'm an inconsistently successful father, stepfather, husband, and writer. But at least I know it.

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Have you heard the term “choice mom”? It’s easier to say than “single mother by choice” and it was coined by writer Mikki Morrissette, who became a mother in 1999 and published “Choosing Single Motherhood: The Thinking Woman’s Guide” in 2008. She also founded an online community for other women who are at different points in their family-building journey sans partner.

There are so many ways that women come to decide that being a “choice mom” is their path. There’s also more than one way to bring a baby into your life. Accordingly, the information on ChoiceMoms.org is split into stages: Thinking, Trying, Waiting, and Becoming. { read more }

About Tracy Morris

I wear a lot of hats while spinning plates and true stories. In between taking care of myself and my family, I write about fertility and other health care topics. Most of my online time lately is spent at two very different places: FertilityTies.com and TrailerParkKarma.com. Perspective is everything -- my pre-teen reminds me daily.

Web | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | More Posts (29)

Photo: Flickr, subewl

Every father whose baby is born somewhere other than at home will tell you: that first car ride with your baby is the most nerve-wracking experience of your life. Speed bumps feel like a car chase through the streets of San Francisco, eighteen wheelers in the next lane never seemed so close, and the safety of your home has never seemed so far away. Thankfully, car seats these days offer the best protection available for your most precious cargo. But which one should you buy for your child? What should you look for, and how will you install it? Read on for tips and tricks on buying a car seat for your new baby.

Car seat safety days

The most important aspect of choosing a car seat for your child is, of course, safety. That’s what it’s all about. Luckily, many communities offer car seat safety days, during which helpful information is offered about types of car seats, where to get them, how to install them, and how to use them. Check listings at hospitals, police stations, and fire stations for listings of local safety information sessions. { read more }

About Jeff Jacobson

Socrates understood himself to be the smartest man in Athens because he knew at least enough to know he knew nothing. That's me. I'm an inconsistently successful father, stepfather, husband, and writer. But at least I know it.

Web | More Posts (62)

Photo: Flickr, threelayercake

It all started so well: after months of solid breastfeeding, our now 14-month-old took to solid foods like a duck to water, easily and greedily downing anything she could get her tiny fists on. Beets, carrots, hummus, beans, even the dreaded brussel sprouts, nothing was safe when she was hungry. And then tragedy struck. We introduced her to fruit. After that, it was all downhill. Bananas replaced beets, and then blueberries replaced bananas, until the only foods our now-picky eater would eat were those you could smash and pour into a box with a straw.

Something had to be done. My wife and I searched and plotted until we eventually came up with a few healthy reliable stand-bys. Now, when our fussy eater turns downright obstinate at lunch time, we know we can always turn to one of the following healthy meals for our toddler. The following is just a sampling of what works for us; you’ll probably have to make a few changes for your own toddler’s taste, but this is a good place to start. Godspeed to you, and your fussy eater. { read more }

About Jeff Jacobson

Socrates understood himself to be the smartest man in Athens because he knew at least enough to know he knew nothing. That's me. I'm an inconsistently successful father, stepfather, husband, and writer. But at least I know it.

Web | More Posts (62)

Photo: jimcrotty.com, flickr

A recent video of Alicia Silverstone and her son, Bear Blu, has been causing a stir on the web. In the 40 second clip, Silverstone is seen feeding her son by directly transferring pre-chewed food from her mouth to her baby’s mouth, such as how birds feed their young. The video, which was posted on her blog The Kind Life last week, has spread like wild fire, becoming a catalyst for debates among moms and medical experts worldwide.

[Watch the video below] { read more }

About Martine De Luna

I'm a freelance writer, editor, blogger and former preschool teacher. Married with one kid, I'm a work-at-home mom, but most of all, a mom-in-the-works. I'm a work in progress, and I believe that living intentionally day by day will help me become the best mom for my child.

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Photo: www.thenutritionpost.com

Motherhood is one of the most beautiful challenges life can give to us. On a good day, it’s rewarding and possibly even blissful. You know those days when the kids are all happy and playing well together. There is a synchronicity and flow between your daily activities. You feel a real heart connection with your children and love is the predominant emotion. But truth be told, sometimes motherhood is just downright stressful. How long we allow that stress to continue and go unchecked can have a big impact on our health and well being as mothers, as well as a harmful effect on our families.  The good news is that you can learn to manage stress effectively so that you can eek more joy out of motherhood.  Here are a few tips. { read more }

About Lisa Gale

"She was an artist and her life was her canvas." (Kobi Yamada) When I grow up, I want to be her! For now, it's fun to pretend.

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