Cynical Parent

If you are finding yourself expecting your second child, or (congrats!) you’ve already given birth. You may have found this article because you are in desperate need of some sanity! Fear not friend. As a mom to a rambunctious 2-year-old and a newborn baby, I am here to offer you some understanding, insight, and pro tips for creating the perfect toddler and newborn schedule.

The first few days are going to feel crazy, let me warn you now. Not only are you trying to heal and recover from childbirth, whether natural (like my first) or C-section (like my second), but you are now going to be feeling a little overwhelmed having as many kids as you have hands.

The toddler will be loud, and the baby will be sleepy. You are going to be tired and might contemplate pulling out your hair. HOWEVER, if you use some of these tips for creating the perfect toddler and newborn schedule, those newborn days are going to be a lot easier!

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If you have ever taken a vacation or traveled with a toddler, you know that more often than not, the vacation is for anyone but the parent!

One of the primary concerns you’ll find is the sleeping arrangements. Most 2 year-olds aren’t quite old enough to understand invisible boundaries and sleep in a regular bed all night. However, they are old enough to climb out of most travel cribs making for an interesting night and one LONG vacation.

What now?

We did a bit of research and came up with the best travel crib for 2 year old toddlers. With the sleeping arrangements managed via a nice toddler travel crib, you can stop fighting your toddler about sleeping and get back to rest and relaxation.

Here’s what we found.

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Pregnancy is a time filled with joy, but for some parents-to-be, it is also a time of panic. While you are anxiously awaiting the arrival of your precious little one, weird things are happening to your body, and the stress of preparing your home can feel overwhelming.

However, even amid chaos and nausea, there is something to look forward to (other than your baby, of course) – creating your baby registry! The best place to do baby registry setup? Let’s find out!

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As our children grow, we must be intentional to teach them the skills they’ll need to be successful adults. One of the most important lessons they’ll learn (hopefully) is how to manage their money.

It’s never too early to start teaching your child to save, but it becomes even more necessary as they age.

Ages 7-10 are a great time to use money management activities to teach children to save and be smart with their money.

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There are a lot of toys out there marketed for babies (and that may be an understatement – it’s sometimes overwhelming). It can be hard to know which is worth purchasing and which isn’t.

As an experienced mom, my top priorities when shopping for toys are as follows: versatile/grows with baby, education, safety, and cost.

Something that really fits all of these priorities is a non-toxic play mat. This simple “toy”, if designed right, can grow with a baby’s needs, provide education across that timeline, and practically pays for itself in entertainment.

Keep reading to find out more about our selection for the best non-toxic play mat for your little one!

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Great readers start at an early age, and toddler-hood is a great time to start emphasizing the importance of reading and how much fun books can be.

As far back as I can remember, I have LOVED to read. It has always been one of my favorite past times, and I have a large home library to prove it. As a result, cultivating a love for books and reading in my kids is something I consider very important.

Learn how to teach toddler to read using these six easy and effective steps to give your child a love of reading!

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There’s a period of time after your baby is born where you feel like your hands are always tied (unless the baby is napping).

I know we felt that way while our daughter was only a few months old.

It’s hard to move around the house (or out of the house) when you’re either holding a baby in your arms or pushing a stroller.  The funny thing was, we got a baby carrier at our baby shower and it took us a few months before we realized that this thing was the answer to most of our problems.

As soon as we started using it, it was huge weight off our shoulders (figuratively, that is; literally, it added weight to our shoulders).

It was great during the cooler months, but now that the weather’s heating up, we’re trying to figure out if this is really the best baby carrier for summer.  

The one we have (I’ll explain more below) is amazing quality, but it’s heavy and you heat up quickly when wearing it.

Anyway, let’s take a look at what’s out there and decide on which is the best baby career for summer.

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One of the things I enjoy most about preparing for a new baby is getting the nursery ready.

In my house, we had a boy first and then a girl, so I was able to do a little of each.

However, if you are “team green” and plan on being surprised by your baby’s gender when he or she is born, then you may find yourself scratching your head in the nursery department. Or, perhaps you’d just prefer to not do a traditional boy or girl’s room style.

How can you make your nursery stunning, adorable AND gender neutral?

Keep reading for our list of 12 absolutely stunning, gender neutral baby nursery design ideas!

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As a new parent, one of the things you become really aware of before your baby is born is the concept of diapers.

Buying them.

Changing them frequently.

People would lead you to believe that your world revolves around it. And in some ways, they’re not wrong (at least, for the first couple months of your baby’s life).

As you get ready for a baby (and prepare your baby registry), one of the things you tend to look at is the diaper disposal system. (Also known as a “diaper pail.”)

But which is the best diaper disposal system?

There’s some debate on which is best, and in fact, some people claim you don’t need one at all.

In this post, we’ll dive into all the specifics about whether you need one, why you might want one, and what we think is the best diaper disposal system you can buy in 2018.

Let’s go.

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Congratulations! You have officially made it to the last leg of your pregnancy, and are now getting through the third trimester. By now, your baby bump is in full swing, you may (or may not if you choose) know what your new child’s gender is, and you are anxiously ticking away the days until their arrival!

When you first find out you are pregnant, nine months seems like it’s FOREVER away.

However, now that you are in the last part of your pregnancy you may be feeling the pressure to prepare for baby. As a seasoned mom, I’ve put together a list to help.

Here is my list of the top 10 things that should be on your third trimester to do list!

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