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Parenting multiple children is a challenging job that at times can feel more like a juggling act than anything else. Thankfully, as children mature, you can start to count on them to govern themselves more and more. But what kinds of activities keep an older sibling entertained and a younger sibling safe? Read on to find out.

Activity #1: Have them complete some light chores

Children like feeling useful, and they like staying busy. Once your kids are old enough to focus on a job, set them to light tasks like wiping down table and glass surfaces. Your younger child can spray the cleaning solution (non-toxic solutions are widely available now, or you can make your own) while the sibling does the wiping. { 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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Whether you are bringing home your first child or your third or fourth, documenting your baby’s first years can be difficult, time consuming and sometimes boring. If you aren’t that jazzed about filling in page after page of the typical firsts, and want something with a little more personality and zest, here are a few unique ideas to try. From documenting pregnancy stages till your little one is off to college, there are never ending ways to commemorate that path.

Pictures of baby

Most likely, you’ll find that you have more pictures than albums, or wall space, or friends wanting pictures of your precious bundle! When you have snapshots you love but don’t want to bury them away in an album on a shelf, try collages. You don’t have to just lump baby pictures in the same old way; with online photo companies like Snapfish and Shutterfly, you can create calendars with your pictures, including those from your pregnancy stages. { read more }

About Liz Alfano

I write "Dirty Words," the blog about things you should know, but might not. I'm the mother of two elementary school-aged boys and wife of one adult aged man. When not writing, I can be found reading or staring into space wishing I was either reading or writing. Sometimes I'm seen vacuuming...but not often. www.mydirtywords.com

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You may have noticed that being a parent is a full-time job. As your household grows, your couple time can eventually get squeezed out of your life if you are not diligent about guarding it. Pretty soon, you will feel more like you have a roommate than a lover. You might even begin to forget what attracted you to your partner in the first place and wonder how in the world these kids got here. If you don’t want that to happen to you, consider a few tips for creating couple time alone with your sweetie.

1.  Plan something quick for starters

If you are a new parent, the idea of leaving your baby can feel scary. You have to remember you are doing this for your baby as well as for yourself, because healthy partnerships build healthy families. If you’re already feeling overwhelmed and stressed at the idea of getting away, don’t give yourself unrealistic plans. Try a quick getaway for just a couple of hours. This website will give you a few ideas. { 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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For new parents, leaving a child with a babysitter can be an anxiety-producing proposition. It gets a little easier after the first time, but there’s always a bit of a risk, and some parents worry a lot about leaving their child. With a second child, it is usually easier to leave the kids with a professional babysitter; but how old is old enough for one child to babysit another? Read on for a list of questions to ask yourself (and your child) to find out.

What is the age difference between your children?

Sibling rivalry is pretty natural among children, but it is often more intense among siblings with little age difference between them. So while it may be okay to leave a twelve-year-old with his six-year-old sister for an hour or two (or more, depending on your specific situation), the same twelve-year-old’s ten-year-old brother might be a bit more of a challenge than for which the former is prepared. A good rule of thumb is: the closer the age difference between an older child and his next youngest sibling, the older he needs to be to be ready to take on a babysitting role. { 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: sellers Patton, Flickr

It’s no mystery that when it comes to feeding a baby, there is no better natural food than breast milk. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office states breastfed babies are less likely to develop a disease, while breastfeeding mothers experience a better quality of life after giving birth, including decreased chances for depression, and fewer health risks such as ovarian cancer, Type-2 diabetes, osteoporosis and even breast cancer.

With all these benefits, partners of breastfeeding moms should be compelled to do all they can to help a nursing mom succeed. Providing the proper support to a breastfeeding mother is essential to a parent partnership, and fathers who learn proper ways to support their partner can experience the benefit of having a healthy, happy family in the long run.

Here are some ways you, as a partner, can support breastfeeding in your family. { 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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Pacifiers can be very useful tools for your new baby. Suckling comes naturally to babies, and a reliable pacifier can be a great way to soothe them when nursing is not an option. Sooner or later, though, you’ll want to wean your baby off her pacifier. But doing so is sometimes easier said than done. Read on for some helpful tips and methods on weaning your baby off a pacifier.

Weaning method #1: Cold turkey

Only for the brave of heart, cutting out the pacifier “cold turkey” (in other words, altogether, with no transition period) is a sure-fire method of ending your baby’s pacifier addiction. But if you choose this method, be prepared: while some babies adjust easily to the transition, others may find the sudden loss difficult to bear. Mentally prepare yourself for a few long, sleepless nights. { 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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Welcoming a new baby into your life is one of the biggest transitions you will ever go through. Babies can bring hope, joy and a sense of fulfillment into our lives. The first couple of weeks of parenthood can be bliss. But within the first month, the honeymoon hormones begin to wear off. You’ll want to be prepared so you can continue to enjoy your new life and new lifestyle as much as possible. How can you prepare yourself so that your sanity remains intact during some of the difficult weeks of sleep deprivation and loss of balance? Here are five tips to help you keep your sanity.

1. Get organized

Even if you’re not the organized type, you will benefit from a little bit of structure in your environment. Because diaper changes are such an integral opportunity for connection with your newborn, I’m all about the changing station. It needs to be convenient!  And, if your house is big, you may need more than one. Keep everything you need at an arm’s length: diapers, bags for dirty diapers, wipes, clothes, ointments, etc. Looking into your baby’s eyes and making lasting connection and bonds will be the most important thing happening on that changing table, so keep the practical concerns simple and easy. { 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: Photocapy, Flickr

First-time parents take on a lot with the arrival of their new baby. From sleep deprivation to buying baby clothes and furniture, to learning how to change a diaper. Without a doubt, learning all the skills and products you’ll need for your new arrival can be overwhelming. And when it comes to packing a diaper bag, new parents often feel the need to take with them everything their new baby could possibly need. Thankfully, this isn’t necessary. But there are some things you will want on hand before venturing out of the house. Here are the top 10 things new parents should carry in their diaper bags.

Extra diapers

Not for nothing is it called a diaper bag. Unless you’re going for an all-day trip, you won’t need more than about three to four extra diapers. But you will need at least one or two, so don’t forget this most essential item. { 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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Spring is a season that’s hard not to enjoy. Whether you live in Chicago or New Orleans, Los Angeles or New York, spring is a winner. It’s a time to shake the cold off your bones and breathe in the fresh scents of blooming flowers. And if you’re fortunate enough to have an outdoor area at home, it’s also the best time to enjoy your very own spring garden. Here are just a few of the many reasons to love a great spring garden.

A spring garden is visual evidence that winter is over

Even for those of us who live in moderate climates, the end of winter is a thing to celebrate. But for you poor unfortunate souls who live in cooler climes, the end of winter doesn’t necessarily mean the end of cold weather. Early spring still brings cool to cold weather in a lot of places, especially after dark, and when cool fronts come in it can often be hard to tell when winter ends and spring begins. That’s where your garden comes in. Even when it’s too chilly for comfort outside, the sight of those summer squash, watermelon, and tomato buds sprouting to life is visual proof that spring is well on its way in, and the cold weather is well on its way out. { 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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The coming of spring means different things to different people. From pitchers and catchers reporting for spring training, to the drip-drip-drip of icicles finally thawing from your roof eaves, spring is a revitalizing time for a lot of us.

But if you’re anything like me, the annual spring cleaning is not something for which you’ve been waiting with bated breath. And for you parents out there, the prospect of filling your bathrooms with chemicals and your air with dust bunnies doesn’t help. Thankfully, there are some things you can do to make your spring cleaning routing a little less daunting and a little more manageable. { 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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