I’ve got another secret to share: Working on baby’s table manners is a stealthy way to boost learning. I don’t mean fancy-shmancy teacup-holding table manners. Instead, your goal is to have baby spend as much time as possible at the family table, participating in mealtime action. Forks, spoons, and cups are tools to help keep baby […]

Childcare experts, pediatricians, dentists (and grandmas) usually frown on the use of a bottle after baby’s first birthday. And the longer you keep bottles around, the more your baby will grow attached to them. So transitioning to a cup is a good idea – and it can be done earlier than you might expect. Here’s […]

We all know that good nutrition is important, especially for growing little bodies (and brains). But you may be surprised to learn that sugar may not be the terrible culprit we’d assumed it was. Despite the rowdiness at children’s birthday parties, study after study has shown that sugar does NOT seem to cause hyperactivity. Sure, […]

Your child’s little tummy is easily filled. The more junk food he eats, the less room there is for the wide range of protein, good fats, fruits, veggies and whole grains he needs for the rapid growth his body undergoes every day. Nutritional deficiencies can quickly build, making your child fatigued, irritable and crabby; not […]

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Talking with you –in real time –is the highlight of my work here. In our latest chat, we brainstormed about getting fun summer schedules under control, and the importance of establishing a strong relationship with your child’s teacher even BEFORE school starts. We also shared how saying goodbye on that first day of school is […]

Potty training is often a complicated, unpredictable adventure. One of the most challenging steps along the way is when your kiddo is dry during the day, but not at night. It’s very common. Genetics is one reason: Children with older-trained relatives have a higher chance of training later, and boys tend to train later than […]

 My two-year-old has a 10 p.m. bedtime. It happened gradually, over the summer. Longer, relaxed days, keeping up with her older siblings, and special outings and occasions have all pushed her usual 8 p.m. bedtime to this ridiculously late point. It’s gotta stop. I can picture us during the first week of school: bleary-eyed children […]

One day, your husband brings home another woman, saying, “I love you so much, honey, that I brought home another wife. We will share everything we have with her.” Flip the scenario if you’re a dad. You get the picture. Sounds horrible, right? That’s how our children feel when we bring home a new baby. […]

My friend Gina has these incredibly predictable twins who used to nap like clockwork. But after their second birthdays, everything went out the window. Poor Gina had fussy, overtired toddlers who refused to nap. Afternoons became a nightmare of whining and meltdowns. None of my four babies were predictable nappers, so I shared my Five […]

Brayden came to preschool one day feeling crabby, and was coming down with a cold. So when Sophie reached for his favorite truck, Brayden hit her. Their teacher separated them and sent Brayden home to rest. Sophie’s mom was understandably upset that Sophie had been hit. A few weeks later, Brayden bit another child when […]

Toothbrushing time at our house used to be so stressful that by the end of it, my teeth would be clenched as tightly as my toddlers.’ Here’s why: Toddlers are hardwired to resist people sticking anything into their mouths. It’s a protective measure Mother Nature created for our little ones’ safety. And sometimes, toddlers are […]