Transitions are challenging, regardless of age or situation. They can be even more difficult when the one making the transition is too young to understand the need for the change. You are a parent of a toddler now, which means your life is filled with changes and growth, and sometimes it feels overwhelming.

One of the changes you and your little one will soon face is the transition from a crib to a toddler bed. We know there are questions that come with the change, and we want to tackle a few of them.

Please remember to always consult your child’s pediatrician before transitioning them to a toddler bed.

When is the right time to transition a toddler?

Unlike many other toddler transitions, there isn’t an exact “right” time to make the toddler bed change— but there are several safety factors that are important to consider. The general rule is to make the transition before your child is able to climb out of the crib because that can lead to injuries. Typically, toddlers are able to climb out of the crib when they reach 35-37 inches, and most parents choose to make the transition between ages 2-3.

Some parents postpone the transition until ages 3-4 to prevent middle-of-the-night waking and wandering. If you choose to wait, here are a few tips to keep your child safe:

Lower the mattress to the floor.This prevents your child from climbing and falling.

Turn the crib around. Be sure the side with the higher bars faces outward. This makes it more difficult for children to escape.

Baby-proof the surrounding areas. One of the most common issues parents face during this time is wandering. When children are able to climb out of the crib, they will. Make sure their room and the surrounding rooms are safe, just in case.

How can we make the toddler bed transition go smoothly?

Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee an easy toddler bed transition, but there are a few strategies you can try!

Make it a big deal. Kids are always in a rush to grow up, aren’t they? Use that to your advantage. Play up the fact that this is a step toward your child becoming a “big kid,” and they will be more motivated to make it work.

Emphasize independence. As kids get older, they crave independence and responsibility. Explain the importance of changing beds by stressing the fact that you trust them to be more independent. It’s also a good idea to include your child as you set up a sleep schedule and create bedtime rules. Work together to figure out a time to go to bed. Ask your child which activity they want to do before falling asleep (reading, talking, etc.). When children feel like they are part of the decision-making, they are more likely to cooperate for a positive result.

Get excited! Kids often feed off enthusiasm—if you’re excited, they will be excited! Take your child to the store to pick out new sheets and blankets for his/her new big kid bed.

With the help of these tips and tricks, tackling the toddler bed transition can be fun and simple!

Transitioning from home life to school life for the first time can be challenging for both parent and child. With every new chapter comes new adjustments, right?

Let’s get your child ready for school success with 5 simple ways to prepare them for the journey ahead.

1. Start a Schedule Now.

One of the most important adjustments children must make is staying on schedule. Weeks before the first day of school, create a schedule with your child. Include a wake-up time, chore time, lunch time, nap time, play time, bed time, etc. The earlier they get used to a schedule, the easier time they will have with time management at school.

2. Go Out and Have Adventures.

While in school, your child will be experiencing all new things. New people, new personalities, and new challenges. By taking them out to new places beforehand, you can slowly expose them to new scenes, behaviors, and people. It’s a fun, subtle way to teach them how to interact in new surroundings.

3. Set Up a Chore Chart.

Not only will this help you keep the house clean, but it also teaches children about responsibility and accountability—two very important aspects of thriving in the classroom!

4. Take Time Away.

We know you’re going to miss them when they’re at school, and you want to spend as much time with them as possible while you can. But it’s important to get them ready for spending time away from you. Ask relatives to take them to lunch alone. Get grandparents involved, if possible. Set up playdates. Do anything you can to help them feel confident in their independence!

5. Get Excited!

Starting this journey can be scary for children, but excitement is contagious. Tell your child about your favorite school moments. Talk about your favorite teacher. Make a big deal about shopping for backpacks, lunch boxes, and school supplies. If you show them how exciting this time is, they will reciprocate the feeling.

The Fourth of July is a holiday known for lights, sounds and sun. This makes Independence Day exciting, but also an especially risky day for babies and toddlers. Young children are much more sensitive than adults, and there are a lot of hazards that children won’t understand at Fourth of July cookouts and events.

Follow these general safety tips for the Fourth so you and your children can have the best and safest holiday ever.

Protect Their Ears

More than adults, babies’ ears are particularly sensitive. You may want your little ones to experience the light and beauty of fireworks, but you don’t want to the loud booms to damage their ears. Invest in some noise-cancelling headphones or earmuffs so that your child can still take in one of the biggest traditions of July Fourth and stay safe.
 

Mind the Grill

Toddlers have a curiosity that many of us envy. This curiosity also tends to put them in dangerous situations. While one of the best parts of celebrating the Fourth of July is the cookouts and the food, we need to mind the curious children around us. Teach your children to not go near the grill when it’s on because it gets hot and smoky. Also, examine your grill before you use it to make sure there are no cracks, holes or leaks.

Practice Water Safety

The Fourth of July can be one of the hottest days of the year. Baby pools are, therefore, fun and smart things to include in kids’ Fourth of July parties. They may cool down your babies and toddlers, but don’t forget that children can drown in even an inch of water. Keep an eye on your child at all time, or opt for a sprinkler which is a safer option and still keeps them playing in the water.

Never Forget Sunscreen

Since the Fourth of July occurs during a day when the sun’s rays are strongest, and you may likely be celebrating at an outdoor cookout, don’t forget to protect your baby from a dangerous sunburn. Apply a non-toxic sunscreen on your child, such as Babyganics sunscreen, and reapply regularly throughout the day.

Avoid “At-Home” Pyrotechnics

While it’s best to avoid bottle rockets and sparklers all together, sometimes you will be at events where you cannot control what others do. These “at-home” pyrotechnics are extremely dangerous, especially near a baby who doesn’t know how or why to stay away from these explosives. If these sorts of activities are happening near you and your baby, head inside and enjoy the festivities there.

What safety tips do you have for your child during the Fourth of July? Share with us in the comments!

Summer’s here, so it’s time to head outside.

But wait, you don’t want to over-expose your kiddos to the sun! Does this mean you have to stay inside all season and miss the heat?

Not necessarily. If you pick activities that allow you to protect your kids from the sun’s rays and teach them how to enjoy the sun in a smart way, then you can still fully embrace this summer fun .

To help you out, we share five sun-safe activities to enjoy this summer.

Enjoy a “Smart” Beach Day

Going to the beach seems like the opposite of a safe sun activity, but if you do it right, it can be a great learning tool for your child. Plus, who wants to avoid the beach all summer long?! Clothe your children in protective attire, apply non-toxic sunscreen (such as this one from Badger Balm) when needed, give them a hat to shield them from the sun and explain how each of these things will keep them safe during a beach day.

Have Fun With Safe Gardening

Gardening can be a great activity in the summer because it keeps kids active and teaches them about ecosystems. To make this activity safe, adorn them in sun-protective clothing and equip them with the proper personal protective equipment for gardening. Gloves and long sleeve shirts are great examples of things to dress your little one in for safe gardening in the sun. Come prepared with some facts about plants and all of the animals that benefit from them.

Take a Nighttime Stroll

While you want to remind your children that they can get sunburnt at any time of day, the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. To avoid this primetime exposure and still get your kids outside, suggest a walk after dinner. Your children will get some outdoor exercise and avoid the sunniest part of the day. Plus, the cooled down temperature will be more comfortable for the kids, and you won’t have to worry as much about them overheating.

Explore and Learn at the Zoo

There are a number of animals who have the natural ability to protect themselves from the sun. For instance, elephants, gorillas and koalas all keep themselves safe from the sun’s rays. Plan a zoo day (dressing your child appropriately and applying sunscreen), and teach your child about these animals. It will be a fun way to explain sun safety and since it involves animals, your child may better retain the knowledge.

Picnic in a Pavillion

Grab a basket and a blanket and a handful of healthy snacks and head out for a picnic...in a pavillion! Picnics are great family fun, and it’s always nice to enjoy some sunshine while having a meal. Find a park with a pavillion so you can set up your spread there to avoid the sun’s direct rays.

What safe sun activities do you like to do in the summer with your children? Let us know in the comments!

As every parent knows, potty training is never an easy feat. Teaching your child any new routine is a challenge, especially when it comes to putting away the diapers.

Luckily, there are products that make this period a little smoother for both parents and children. And simplifying your lives doesn’t mean you have to introduce chemicals into the routine either. We rounded up our five favorite non-toxic potty training products!

1.) Primo 4-in 1 Soft Seat Toilet Trainer and Step Stool

Made in the USA and free of phthalates, BPA and lead, this non-toxic toilet trainer is not only eco-friendly, it’s also designed for smart potty training. The Primo Toilet Trainer is equipped with handles for your child’s safety and features an extra wide base that doubles as a step stool. It is designed to help parents learn how to effectively potty train their children in four simple steps.

2.) Under the Nile Organic Training Pants

The transition from diapers to potty does not happen overnight. Help your child ease their way into this new routine with Under the Nile’s training pants that are GOTS certified, made with organic Egyptian cotton and contain no BPA or flame retardants. They also feature extra padding and a comfortable elastic waist.

3.) BabyBjorn Toilet Training Seat

Getting your child to use the “big kid” toilet while training is always a plus because it saves you from having to transfer messes. When training on the toilet, you will need a training seat. That BabyBjorn Toilet Training Seat is made from BPA-free plastic, fits most toilets, is ergonomically designed, has a handle for safety and includes a built-in splashguard.

4.) Babyganics Flushable Wipes

No child goes from messy diapers straight to perfectly clean potty training. Trying to rely on just toilet paper after using baby wipes is not always the best for keeping your training child clean, so many parents invest in flushable wipes. Babyganics flushable wipes are paraben-free, so they won’t irritate your child’s more sensitive areas, and they still provide maximum conditioning.

5.) Prince Lionheart faucet EXTENDER

 Teaching your little ones the importance of washing hands is an integral step in the potty training process. Instead of making your child reach and strain to get to the sink, try adding a faucet extender. The Prince Lionheart faucet extender is BPA and phthalate-free, fits most faucets and is antimicrobial.

The first few months of a baby’s life are filled with wonder, excitement . . . and exhaustion.

We know how tiring it is to do the late-night feedings, followed by the middle-of-the-night diaper changes, and finished with the early morning wake-up calls that now consist of cries. And every day is a repeat of the day before.

We promise that one day, you’ll look back on these days and miss them more than you can handle.

But until then, we’ve got some sleep tips for new parents to make those sleepless days and nights a little easier!

Take Shifts.

It takes a village, right? If you’re in a position to use teamwork to your advantage, do it! Create a sleep schedule. It could be one night on, one night off or you could split the night in half. Figure out what works best for the two of you, and take on this adventure as a team.

When Baby Sleeps, So Do You.

Don’t underestimate the importance of catching some extra Z’s whenever the opportunity presents itself. Your nights may be difficult, but the days won’t feel as bad when you and baby share nap times.

If Someone Offers Help, TAKE IT.

Now is not the time to be shy or to feel like you have something to prove. If friends or family offer to watch your new baby for a little while, say YES. You need all the rest you can get, whenever you can get it. If you’re especially tired, don’t be afraid to ask for help, either. Your friends and family know this is an exhausting time for you. They want to help.

Go to Bed as Early as Possible.

Most newborns are up every few hours, so it’s a good idea to go to bed as early as you can. Even if you’re not sleeping, you’re still relaxing. Your body is still taking a break, which is important to your health.

Snack on Superfoods.

You are going to be sleep-deprived for the first few months, there is no way around that. But one thing you can do is feed your body foods that keep your energy high. Some of these foods include brown rice, honey, bananas, apples, oranges, and spinach. Ask your doctor for more suggestions.