Cynical Parent

You potty trained your kid at age 3.  You still kept them in a diaper while sleeping at night because you weren’t sure if they would be able to hold it overnight. Totally normal.  And you were right too, because they would wake up every morning with a wet diaper. But then, as they turned 4 or even 5 years old, you started to wonder, “should my kid still be wearing diapers at night?”

How can I get them to stop?

It’s something a lot of parents deal with.  It’s normal.  Just because your child is potty trained doesn’t mean they’re developed enough to go 10 hours without using the potty. 

This is something we dealt with as our 4 year old turned the corner to age 5, and in some ways, it’s harder than daytime potty training for certain kids.

We did our research to figure out some effective strategies.  Here’s what we found.

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You think you’ve done all the right things. You’ve taken the dog to obedience class.

You’ve read up on how to introduce a dog to a baby.

But then, just as you dreaded, it happens.

grrrrrrrrrr

Your dog growls at the baby.  The baby starts crying.  

Now what?  

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Here in the Midwest, there are several months of the year when it is cold and there is plenty of the white stuff.

Snow is a four letter word most of us have a love/hate relationship with.  It’s pretty and fun to play in, but it can also be a hassle (driving can be a major pain in the ass). And sometimes, when old man winter is feeling especially generous, it means you’re stuck in your house for a while.

Fortunately, this makes me an “expert” on finding fun snow day activities (since I’ve been snowed in more than a few times myself!).

So, if you are dreading that first good snowfall and the inevitable school “snow” days, fear not! Here are 10 insanely fun snow day activities for you and the kids this winter!

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We’ve written about Nugget alternatives before, but now we’re going to take a look at a new Nugget alternative contender: The Figgy.  In a comparison of the Figgy vs. Nugget, which play couch should you buy?

If you haven’t heard of the Figgy, it’s new to the rapidly growing play couch scene.  Play couches to a certain extent have been around forever, but when much of the world experienced a “stay at home” order in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, play couches (and the Nugget in particular) exploded in popularity.  Kids are playing at home more, and the Nugget ended up being a great solution for parents.

But with the popularity of the Nugget, the demand far exceeded supply and parents everywhere were left fighting for Nuggets.  Whenever they would restock, they would sell out within seconds.  They’ve since increased production capacity and have begun selling more again, but the increased demand has opened the door to new options such as the Figgy.

Let’s compare the two and see what’s right for you.

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I don’t know if you noticed, but the Nugget (that little play couch for kids) has been super popular lately, especially during these times where we find ourselves at home more often.

There was a time when they were perpetually sold out.  And when they did come back in stock, they sold out within a couple minutes. Or, you had to sit and wait to win a lottery.  It was crazy.

So, you might find yourself wondering, “what else is out there? There must be something else like it, right?” 

You’re in luck.

While there’s nothing exactly the same as the the Nugget, there are several good alternatives and knockoffs that are easier to get your hands on and will still provide tons of fun for your little ones.

Let’s dive in and check out the best Nugget alternative (we have a few options).

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As a parent, I am always looking for ways to keep organized and make life just a little easier.  One of the problems I’ve found is that all of the really cool organization stuff out there is expensive.

And when you’re looking to organize drawers, closets, kids toys, etc. the cost really starts to add up.

Fortunately, genius minds of the internet have found a lot of really cool low budget ways to get organized.  I’ve compiled a list of my favorite, and it’s time to share with you.

Prepare to have your minds blown with my list for 9 Dollar Store hacks that will make you an organizing genius!

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You may have thought your little one’s sleeping problems were behind you.

Waking up with a newborn guzzler is no joke, but now your bug-eyed toddler seems to be going through the dreaded 2 year old sleep regression. And like me, you could be waking up with a kid’s foot in your face.

Although you may have thought this was the time to reacquaint with your partner, catch up on romance novels, or binge Netflix shows, think again!

But don’t worry – we’ve got some answers for you here.

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Let’s face it: most toddlers are picky as hell.  Figuring out lunch for picky toddlers is sometimes harder than it looks.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made lunch or dinner for my daughter only to have her barely pick at it, push it away, and say “all done!” when she clearly needed to eat more.  

I hated doing it, but like many parents, I would give in and just end up giving her what she wanted, whether it was a pouch of applesauce, crackers, or some bread. 

I know, I know, parents shouldn’t do that.

And that’s why I set out to find ideas of what to make for lunch for picky toddlers.  You know, meals that they would actually eat so that I wouldn’t feel like I was just making food for the trash can (yeah, the dog would end up getting a fair amount of it too). 

So, keep reading, and I’ll share my top 10 ideas for lunch for picky toddlers that they will actually eat!

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When it comes to food, there’s a good chance you struggle in some way with your toddler. Some don’t eat much at all and you’re always trying to get them to eat something…anything.

Some will eat, but struggle to eat healthy. And some are just downright picky in general.

We’ve tackled meals before, but now we’re going to focus on something near and dear to every toddler’s heart: snacks.

Snacks are usually less of a struggle, but how do you get them to actually eat something that’s healthy?

Let’s check it out…there’s a lot here!

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Planning for a baby’s nursery is one of the most enjoyable parts of preparing for a newborn.  There are literally unlimited options! 

Today, we’re going to focus on baby farm animal nursery ideas.  You know, like cows, pigs, chickens, etc.

Although we are going to show you some great examples of nurseries, we’re going to focus on the actual stuff you can buy (like signs and pictures).  

As with any nursery theme or design ideas, don’t feel like you have to copy exactly what you see on the internet.  Look at different pieces and take what you like (and ignore the things you don’t like).  I promise, whatever you come up with is going to look cute.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of these farm animal nursery ideas!

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