Parenting Archives - Page 24 of 25

Is it OK to use a Nose Aspirator on a Baby?

December 28, 2008 by Painter Mommy 10 Comments

I have three children who have all been sick over the past several days.? It started with my son who is 4, then passed to my daughter who is 3 and now both me and my baby boy (2 1/2 months old) are fighting it.

It kinda made me laugh in the hospital, after I had the baby, and the doctor said to try and keep my other children away from the baby when they are sick.? I honestly tried over this past week to keep everyone separate, but the more I tried – the more my other 2 wanted to touch and kiss the baby – runny noses and all.? Every hour I would catch my son leaning into the baby’s swing rubbing his yucky nose against the baby’s face.?? I mean it was inevitable that the baby would get sick!

It is really horrible though.? My baby is sooo congested, he can hardly breath.? He is coughing & sneezing and it just about kills me to see such a tiny human being suffer.

My mom has been putting her 2 cents in (2 hours away – by phone) that I need to call the doctor and find out what to do.? She always makes a big deal about stuff and says that I am too lax when it comes to stuff like this.? I promised her that if the baby wasn’t better by Monday I would bring him to the doctor.

When I had my first child, the hospital sent us home with this bulb like thing that I found out later was called a “nose aspirator”.? I had no intentions of ever using it (just like the anal thermometer, but that is another story) until my little one got so sick at 4 months old and needed help getting the snot out of his nose.

Ziek Plezier

So, I have to admit, that YES I have used “The Bulb” on my children on more than one occasion.? Now that my 2 older ones can blow their own noses, it has been nice not having to worry about “The Bulb”.? I put it away quite a while ago until my husband told me that I needed to get it out yesterday and use it on our new baby.

Boy do I hate that thing!

How the heck do you use it?? How far do you stick it in their nose?? What direction should it be pointing – back?? up?? I never can get the thing to work right!? After much struggle yesterday afternoon, as my husband looked on and the baby was screaming bloody murder – finally – frustrated and at the end of my rope, I tossed “the bulb” to my husband and told HIM to do it.? And of course, he cleared the baby’s nose without a problem.? Go figure!

So, the reason I am bringing this up, is because I am wondering how you all feel about this torturous tool – the Nose Aspirator.? Are you FOR it?? or AGAINST it?

Please take some time to comment on your own experiences.? Maybe I won’t feel so bad if you all feel the same as I do!? LOL

Oh and please vote!

[poll id=”1″]

Is it Possible to Keep all the Toys Organized?

December 26, 2008 by Painter Mommy 3 Comments

I was inspired today by a post that I read on www.pinklikethecolor.org written by Laura (@MomPink).? She was asking for organizing tips for her home, one being how to organize all the toys after Christmas.

I can definitely relate with this issue.? I WISH we had a separate playroom for all the kid’s toys, but unfortunately we have to use part of our living room as a playroom.? So, I have had to get pretty creative when it comes to keeping things organized.? And with three small children the abundance of toys is endless.

In response to Laura’s request for ideas, I would like to answer her by sharing how I have used plastic bins as a means to keep everything in order within my home.

I bought around 20 plastic storage bins from the Dollar Store and I use them to keep each toy category in one place.? The trucks go in the truck bin.? The trains go in the train bin.?? The small stuffed animals go in one bin – and so on.? And at Christmas, I go through the toys and get rid of the ones the kids don’t use to make room for the new ones.

TIP – Sometimes, I just put the toys away in a closet and pull them out several weeks later after the kids forget about them.? When I pull them out, the kids get excited all over again as if they were new.

Here are a few pictures of my “playroom corner” in the living room. (Don’t mind the UGLY mauve carpet)? LOL

It may look a bit busy to you, but it functions beautifully.? I only allow my children to take one thing out at a time (sometimes 2 or 3 depending on what it is) and when they are done with whatever they are playing with – I have them put it away and then they can take something else out.? Everything has a place.? My kids know exactly where each thing goes and when I ask them to clean up – they (usually) put the toys back in the right spots.

The bins are very helpful with this.? I use both the stackable storage bins, which I had gotten from a local pharmacy store called CVS.? That was a couple years ago and I have not been able to find them since.? So if anyone happens to see these anywhere, please let me know!

I also use the dollar store bins to keep the smaller items in.? This way the kids can take the bin and bring it onto the floor to play with whatever is in it.? It also makes it easier to clean up.

I would love to hear your tips and ideas as well.? Be sure to comment!

Organizing Your Home: Decluttering Solutions and Storage Idea

Where is Santa on Christmas Eve?

December 24, 2008 by Painter Mommy 2 Comments

I found this fun website through my Twitter friend @naomadoriguzzi.? Santa and his reindeer are being? virtually tracked on Christmas Eve as he travels the world giving gifts to all the children.? You can even watch short news clips of him as he flies over the pyramids in Egypt, through the Alps in Germany, past the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and much more.? When I last checked he was in Guinea.? Find out where he is now!

“Child Safety Pack” from MY PRECIOUS KID

December 23, 2008 by Painter Mommy 2 Comments

Children need to be protected and Kay Green the creator of My Precious Kid has come up with an innovative solution that every parent should invest in. It is called the Child Safety Pack.

The Child Safety Pack was designed to help protect children when in situations such as car accidents, getting lost, traveling, or even just being alone with a babysitter.

It includes the following:

Child ID Card with Self Seal Pouch (for parent’s wallet)

Child Car Seat ID Card with Self Seal Pouch and Velcro (for child’s car seat or toddler booster seat)
Medical Release Form with Self Seal Pouch (for day care or grandma)
Child Luggage Tag ID card with Self Seal Pouch (for diaper bag/back pack or toddler booster seat)
Shoe ID Stickers
Disposible Child ID bracelet/anklet plus

FREE Child DNA Fingerprint Kit:

Fingerprint Card
FBI approved Ink strip
DNA Sample Bag with Instructions
Child profile card in protective sleeve

This entire kit is only $15.99.? They also offer a Child Safety Pack Plus which includes everything listed above as well as a Toothprint Dental Impression Kit for only $24.99.

It is interesting to think that 90% of our pets have identification on them at all times, but only 2% of children have identification on them.? This is scary, especially in this day and age.

Kay’s mission is to provide ?A Gift of Safety – child safety and baby gear products for your precious child.?

I was so blessed to receive a complimentary Child ID Card in the mail from My Precious Kid and I love how on the card itself it has a place to put a photo of your child, emergency numbers, allergies, and even doctor’s name & info.? There is also a place for the parent to sign authorizing medical treatment for the child in case the parent is absent.

I was amazed to see all the great products they are offering on their site – car seats, potty training pants, craft kits, drinking bottles, and much much more.? So be sure to check out the My Precious Kid website as well as their Child Safety Blog and make the decision to keep your child safe no matter what the cost.

They have offered my readers a 10% discount on any purchases!? YAY!

Use this coupon code: #112081208

Your Very Own Personalized Santa

December 19, 2008 by Painter Mommy 1 Comment

This is sooooo cool!? Your kids will love it, I know mine did!

All you have to do is input your child’s info, like name, age, what they want for Christmas, etc.

You can also upload a picture of your child

And after you are all done, Santa comes on with a video clip directed to your child as if he were talking right to them.

My kids were a bit confused at first because they are only 3 & 4, but they loved seeing their picture in his book.? Below is a shot of my daughter in Santa’s book.