Weekly Recs #40: Quick kid lunch ideas, family birthday traditions & the 'Yes-No' sandwich to avoid meltdowns
Plus - the three-year-old sleep regression I wasn't prepared for
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Holy hell — why did no one warn me about the sleep regression that happens between 2.5 - 3 years old?! All of a sudden during the last few weeks, our normally calm toddler who would happily read books and then go to sleep without any fuss has turned into a bedtime MONSTER resisting every single step of going to sleep before naps and bedtime. It has been quite the sudden change that I wasn’t mentally prepared for and combined with the sudden dropping of naps at daycare has created quite the fun parenting stage. She is so exhausted at the end of the day, but WILL NOT go to sleep.
According to this very helpful post from My Baby Sleepology - toddlers between 2.5 to 3 years old, are undergoing major developmental milestones that leads them to test boundaries related to sleep as part of their increased independence, imagination growth, and growing awareness of separation.
So at least what Annie is going through is considered “normal”, but how do we get through this stage?!
We are still very much in it so I have no advice other than that I printed off a routine chart that I am going to try tonight and we set up a “Ready to Wake” clock from LittleHippo over the weekend and so far that has been very helpful in the mornings. Will report back if I find any solutions that actually seem to work. Holding boundaries isn’t my strong suit and it’s even harder when you have a screaming toddler melting down when they should be sleeping.
The past week or so has been a good reminder that you never know what new parenting challenge is on the horizon and that we should be kind to all parents (especially those of little kids) because we are all likely dealing with some parenting issue behind the scenes.
Meanwhile - here are three things we loved using over the last week:
Eat - Munchkin water bottle: We replaced the plastic water bottles that Annie has been taking to school with the Munchkin water bottle and she is a huge fan of it and so far, it is 100% leak-proof in her backpack.
Play - Richtim sticky bath toys: These have become our new go-to restaurant and bath toy. They stick to most walls, tables and bathtub tile and come in an easy carry case for transport and the package has enough that it isn’t a big deal if you lose a few along the way.
Buy - Framebridge frame: I treated myself to a new cute picture frame from Framebridge for Valentine’s Day. The velvet frame is adorable and they will print one of your digital prints. There isn’t any glass in the frame so it keeps the price down. Such a fun new addition to my desk and now I want one for every room of our house.
FYI - for anyone in the market for a double travel stroller, UPPABaby just released their Minu travel stroller as a double.
It’s almost Annie’s third birthday so I saved this list from College Nutritionist on birthday tradition ideas. This feels like the first year she really understand the concept of a birthday so I’m excited to implement some new family bday traditions.
Big Little Feelings has tips on how to say “No” to your kids without causing a full meltdown. They recommend a Yes-No sandwich to help diffuse the thing they don’t want to do. Example: “You want to color now. That will be so much fun! When I’m finished emptying the dishwasher in 10 minutes, we can color.”
I’m starting to look for baby carriers for baby #2 and discovered the account thebabywearing.ot who is an expert in all things baby carriers. Follow for tips on how to properly wear babies in carriers and which ones she recommends.
BusyToddler reminds us that it rarely works to tell toddlers to clean up, instead give them very specific instructions like “Your job is to pick up 14 things” or “Your job is to pick up all the green toys.”
The Pediatric Dentist Mom recommends keeping a baby toothbrush by the changing table and encourage babies to play with it while you change them. It helps with distraction and with desensitizing them to it.
Safe in the Seat reminds parents to never leave their infant in a car seat unbuckled, even when not in the car. Small babies can shift when unbuckled and sink forward causing them to cut off their airway.
Struggling to get baby to sleep? The Modern Mom Guide recommends the 8/5 Method — walk for 8 minutes, sit with baby for 5 minutes, put baby down butt first, hand on chest for one minute. This sounds intense but I’m intrigued to try in a few months if needed.
Annie loves paint pens, but we learned the hard way that the ones we have been using are not washable (RIP my husband’s nice Bonobos work shirt). So I was very glad to see this rec from Eat Play Say on these washable paint sticks from Crayola that I will be buying immediately.
We are planning on fully cutting pacifiers in a few weeks with the help of the magic pacifier fairy who leaves you a gift outside your door once you put all your pacifiers in a bag. For my Disney princess obsessed toddler, this "Enchanted Cupcake Party” game featuring Disney princesses seems like it might be the perfect pacifier fairy gift.
ByHilaryRose had the cutest roundup of fun signs and banners for kid’s rooms or playrooms. Including these options from Etsy — “Welcome to our playroom” and “Long live sisterhood”.
I’m very intrigued by these Melissa & Doug sticker sheets that have cupcakes and cakes that kids can decorate with stickers. As seen in
’s newsletter on things she packed for vacation.In our quest for less plastic in our lives, I am going to buy these snack containers from Munchkin that are made in stainless steel.
For kids that are obsessed with Bluey, Little Tikes now makes a car for kids that is Bluey themed.
I know many parents (myself included) use the SlumberPod to put over cribs when traveling. If you want an alternative, Natalie Paramore recommends this more traditional camping tent themed for kids to make it look like a shark. It fits perfectly over a toddler blow up cot.
This seems like the equivalent of a stress ball but for a toddler. The Spiroku toy stacks into each other and then expands into a long tube.
Easy 10 minute lunch recipe from Snacks with Jax for pizza bagels in the air fryer.
Food to feed constipated toddlers from My Little Food Critic.
Smoothies for kids don’t have to be complicated. My Toddler’s Kitchen uses just frozen mixed fruit and coconut water.
Confession - I am bad at making pancakes but sheet pan pancakes in the oven I think I can handle. Mealtime with Mummy has a super simple recipe suitable for baby led weaning.
My Toddlers Kitchen has the best snack ideas. Her latest post has 9 delicious looking snack plates I want to try copying.
Add more protein to muffins by adding blended cottage cheese from Real Little Meals. Recipe here.
Everyone is starting to have Easter play ideas and crafts. That holiday seems very far away but if you want to start collecting egg dyeing ideas, Kelly Oester has a fizzy egg craft to create beautiful pastel eggs.
Child’s Mind has fun family traditions that you can start. I like the ideas for “once a month, let the kids plan a day where the parents say yes to their requests” and “have a fancy dinner once a month with candles and special music.”
If you are feeling like DIYing this month, the Bast Fam shows you how to make your own DIY stickers from old books or magazines.
A volcano science experiment to really impress your toddler using just baking soda, soap, vinegar and food coloring.
The weekly Magna-Tiles design to copy - make a maze on a cookie sheet.
Help teach colors by covering a plate in colored tape and having kids match Fruit Loops to the colors from Stay at Home Activity Mom.
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And finally, truer words have never been spoken.
Great recommendations as always!!
Oh I love this idea. Moms really do know best! Thanks for including me, Kathryn!