honestbaby's Adventures With Babysitting A series of tips, hints and guidelines for using babysitters - Part 1-  Choose your sitter well

Of course, as with most things in life, common sense is your best guide when choosing a babysitter.  The bottom line is you’ll know it when the match is right.  If you have a doubt about the new sitter, do not shy away from acting on it.  There are plenty of ways to tactfully back out of a sitting situation if things do not feel right...MORE

honestbaby's Adventures With Babysitting A series of tips, hints and guidelines for using babysitters - Part 2-  The Babsysitter Checklist Now that you have hired a sitter that you are comfortable with and made plans for your night out, there are some essential steps that you should take to make sure everything runs smoothly during the sitting.  Here is a quick checklist of things to cover...MORE

honestbaby's Adventures With Babysitting A series of tips, hints and guidelines for using babysitters - Part 3-  Preparing your children for the babysitter.  Leaving your sitter prepared is essential - contact info, emergency numbers and instructions are required for a smooth session.  However, just as important as preparing your sitter is getting your kids ready as well.  While this is often overlooked, it could make life that much easier for you... MORE

honestbaby's Adventures With Babysitting A series of tips, hints and guidelines for using babysitters - Part 4-Firing the babysitter and other issues While we always hope for things to work out perfectly, sometimes things go differently than planned.  In some cases, there is a minor disagreement between the way things are and the way you want them to be and other times it can be a serious issue which must be addressed head on.  Here are some tips that may help you deal with issues, both big and small, which might arise with your babysitters...MORE

honestbaby's Top Ten Classic TV Shows and Movies For Kids - When I first found out that my wife was pregnant with our daughter, I started to wonder what life would be like when she was born.  As I thought about life with a young toddler, I started to have nightmares filled with Barney and the Teletubbies (I’d mention the Wonder Pets but I’m afraid I might start having seizures). It never occurred to me that my daughter would enjoy some of the things we enjoyed when we were younger.  Sure any animation that isn’t CGI is SO two decades ago, but what do our kids know.  They don’t have those biases yet and you’d be amazed at what you could find at your local Best Buy thanks to the magic of DVD.  In fact, thanks to video restoration, most of these shows and movies look better than even you might remember them...MORE

honestbaby's Top 10 ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your kids - Valentine’s Day is normally considered that special day for you and your significant other but it is also a great opportunity to celebrate with the kids. While it should always be a special and romantic occasion for you and your spouse, there are plenty of fun ways to include the whole family.  Here are a few suggestions...MORE

honestbaby's Top Ten Ways to Get Your Child to Eat Better and Healthier - The quickest way to get kids to lose their appetites is to tell them that what they are eating is good for them.  However, you can use some good old fashioned ingenuity to get your children enthused about eating better...MORE

honestbaby's Top 10 Snacks To Drop Unwanted Pregnancy Weight For Mommies and Daddies!!! -

Before I begin, I must start by saying that I am a man and, yes, we do gain pregnancy weight.  While my wife was carrying our first child, I joined her on her every craving.  Sure, I was gaining weight but at least we were doing it together.  After our daughter Jordan was born, my wife’s extra pounds melted away while I was stuck with extra poundage...... MORE

honestbaby's Classic Holiday Movies - The holiday season is a special time for families, providing a little time off to spend together, a chance to reflect on your faith and, of course, the chance to give presents to those who have been more nice than naughty this year (and get a few gifts as well!). And more so than any other holiday, there are many film and TV specials that you can rediscover and share with your children- perennial classics that have a timeless appeal...MORE

honestbaby Book Review Pat The Bunny: How Big Is Bunny? - Pat the Bunny is one of those timeless books that every child should have in their collection.  The newest addition to the Pat the Bunny series, the How Big is Bunny? Puppet Book, is just as impressive. It features a soft bunny puppet in the center of the book that helps brings the story to life.  It was a wise choice to add an interactive component to such a classic series...MORE

honestbaby Movie Review BARNYARD - A strong cow stands up for himself but a stronger cow stands up for others or so young cow Otis comes to learn as he takes over the role of protector from his father and defends the barnyard from the villainous coyotes constantly looking for a meal...MORE

honestbaby Movie Review FLUSHED AWAY - Roddy St. James is the luckiest rat in England, living in a gilded cage in a posh flat in the shadow of Buckingham Palace, the pampered pet of a loving family.  Left alone during the family’s vacation, Roddy’s privileged existence is literally and figuratively flushed down the toilet when an obnoxious and decidedly unwelcome houseguest, a rat from the sewer, takes his place in the lap of luxury...MORE

honestbaby Movie Review Peter Pan - The legend of Peter Pan has been realized many times over in print, on stage, in theme park rides, on television and in film but possibly never quite as wondrously as in Walt Disney’s animated masterpiece.  Now just released as a 2 disc Platinum Edition DVD, this 1953 telling of the tale stands out as a classic even among the many great children’s films that make up the Disney film library...MORE

Significant Self: Motherhood and the Importance of Self -The Scene:You are sitting on a park bench, your baby peacefully asleep in her stroller. An older woman walks by, stops, glances down at your child, smiles and says, “These days go by so quickly; make sure you treasure every moment.” You think: Treasure? I can barely lift my head. What’s wrong with me. Why can’t I love being a mother like everyone else--why can’t I just finally be happy...MORE

Are Birthday Parties Getting Out of Control? - Pony rides.  Magicians and storytellers.  Petting zoos and jumping castles.  Sounds like family fun at the local carnival, right? Wrong.  Try a birthday party for a two year-old.  Whatever happened to pin-the-tail on the donkey and musical chairs?  Birthday parties today are decidedly more elaborate than ever before.  Parents today are feeling more and more pressure to come up with the “perfect” party, with cool and unique themes, color-coordinated party accoutrements and expensive “favors” or “party bags.”   “Sometimes we go to a party and end up getting favors that cost more than the gift we gave,” says Laurie DiRusso, mother of two children ages 5 and 2, from New York City, NY.  “It’s really getting out-of-control.”...MORE

Significant Self: Sleepless Nights With Baby Holding on to Yourself and Accepting Who You Are -The Scene: Your baby won’t go to sleep and won’t let you sit down; you stand, bouncing your child in your arms from 11 PM until morning (or somewhere in between). You think (do you dare?): if this demon baby doesn’t stop crying (go to sleep, calm down, leave me alone, etc). I will throw him/her out of the window? I can’t take it any more!...MORE

Significant Self:Baby's Sleep:Choosing the Method That is Right For You -The Scene You go to your pediatrician's office exhausted and desperate for tangible advice that will help your baby to sleep through the night (or at least for a four-hour stretch). Your pediatrician states firmly that, at four months, your child can sleep for longer stretches: you have to stop nursing/bottle feeding your baby on demand and you must stop picking him/her up when she cries at night. You look at your child guiltily not knowing what to do: you feel exhausted, desperate and confused...MORE

Significant Self: Choices For Childbirth: Knowing Your Alternatives for a Satisfying Birth Experience - Choose The Right Birth for You Women today have more choices than ever about how their baby is going to enter the world: in their own home or at a hospital; aided by a midwife or obstetrician; with an epidural or drug free; with solely her medical staff or with her husband and a doula by her side. Many women opt for the popular choice (a gynecologist and an epidural), yet exploring all your childbirth options empowers you and gives you a shot at having the birth experience you desire. During pregnancy, you can educate yourself about all of your options and choose the method of childbirth that’s right for you...MORE

Significan Self: When Two Become Three: Keeping Your Post-Baby Marriage Strong Holding on to Yourself and Accepting Who You Are - It’s 7:05 PM and you’ve been with your baby all day. Your partner is in his study (or at the office) working. You are exhausted, frazzled and struggling to get through the night. You ‘know’ that you shouldn’t disturb your partner, yet you desperately need a break. You decide that you can manage without his help (and do) until your beloved walks into the kitchen (or calls) to check-in. Without meaning to, you burst into tears and tell him that you cannot take it anymore; that he’s doing nothing to help you; and that you should NEVER have become a mother in the first place. He looks at you like you are crazy and your blood boils: clearly he is incapable of ‘getting it’; clearly you married the wrong man!...MORE

What Every Parent Should Know About Rabies - Last summer while visiting my in-laws at their lake house, I put my kids to bed (ages 5 and 3) just as it was getting dark. Several hours later, someone opened the screen door from the deck and, without knowing it, a bat flew into the house. The bat eventually made its way into the bedroom where my kids were sleeping and only when my 3 year-old daughter woke up screaming, did I realize the bat was in the house. While my husband and father-in-law got the bat out of the house, I checked the kids over for bite marks. I saw nothing, so, although a little freaked out, I put them back to bed and assured them everything was fine...MORE

Fatherly Advice On Raising Girls From Hip-Hop Superstar Rev. Run of Run-DMC - While the young daughters of the celebrated are running amok, Rev. Run sits back and smiles with pride at how well his two girls are grounded and pursue a purposeful life. Joseph Rev. Run Simmons who is presently starring in the hit reality series, "Run's House" on MTV, has made it a priority to impart to his daughters the importance of morals and values in their daily life...MORE

honestbaby's Top Ten Tips For Taking Your Kids To The Movies - Summer movie season is upon us and the studios will be vying to get you and your children into the theater with one blockbuster after another. Here are some tips that might make your time at the movies more enjoyable...MORE

honestbaby Movie Review Happy Feet - “Happy Feet” danced it’s way to the top of the box office in 2006  with the tale of Mumble, a penguin who cannot sing along with the  other penguins but has feet that can’t help but tap out the rhythm in  his heart.  Ending out the year as the second highest grossing  cartoon (behind Disney’s Cars), this musical tale also walked away  with the Academy Award as Best Animated Feature Film.  Recently  released on standard DVD, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD, “Happy Feet” is a  worthy addition to the family film library...MORE

See Savvy Mommy Run: Follow the journey of a mom of three as she prepares to run 26.2 miles - I know what you’re thinking – “better her than me.” I’ve uttered those same words on numerous occasions but this time, I’m the one making the eyebrow raising comment to friends, family and all who will listen.  After four years of being a cheering spectator for the 37,000 amateurs and professionals hailing from around the world; I have made the decision to join them and run the 2007 ING New York City Marathon in support of NYRR Foundation Team for Kids, an organization which combats one of America’s greatest medical problems – childhood obesity...MORE

Sorrel King, Parent and Family-Centered Care Advocate - honestbaby News Brief - Sorrel King lived through a parent's worse nightmare when her 18 month-old daughter Josie, died as a result of a tragic sequence of medical errors that occurred while a patient at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore.  Ms. King, suicidal in her grief, rather than shutting-out the world, courageously decided to channel her anger in a positive direction, so other parents would not have to suffer through similar consequences in a hospital environment...MORE

honestbaby's Top Ten Homemade Holiday Gifts - (1) Picture Frame – Take a plain wooden frame and decorate with crystals, shells, sparkles, feathers, paint, or anything else you can think of.  Put a great picture inside and you’re done. (2) Coasters or Placemats – Have the kids make fun drawings or paintings and cut into circles for coasters or big rectangles for placemats.  Coat the designs on both sides with clear contact paper and cut them out or laminate them...MORE

honestbaby's Top Ten Ways To give Your Child Medicine - Once you enter the toddler years, some things are not as easy as they used to be. We learned that lesson when we had to give our daughter Jordan Ava antibiotics last month. She’s seventeen months old and is extremely perceptive and active. The moment we had the syringe of medicine in our hand, she bolted out of her room. We struggled for days to get through the medicine. We asked people for advice and we tested out a few of our own original tricks...MORE

honestbaby Top Ten Baby Proofing Tips - Part of the adventure of growing up is exploring the world and for a toddler, the world is their home.  Their mission is finding out what awaits behind the next closed door, certainly a healthy curiosity but one which needs to be managed and supervised as it is encouraged. However, some doors need to remain closed for the time being especially when household dangers wait on the other side like detergents, cleansers and anything else that poses risks to kids still learning the do’s and don’ts...MORE

honestbaby's Tips For De-Stressing -Being a mom can be one of the busiest jobs there is, encompassing the roles of babysitter, cook, laundry worker, house cleaner, taxi driver, therapist, arbitrator, party planner, nurse and drill sergeant among many other things.  And a mom is on call 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.  It is the rare individual who can keep up that pace without feeling overwhelmed every once in a while.  To make matters worse, most moms still believe in the myth of perfect parenting.  We are constantly reaching for unrealistic goals that we can be everything to everyone.  Every mom needs to give herself a break and learn how to de-stress.  Here are a few suggestions to help you deal with the everyday stress that comes with being a full-time parent...MORE

Best meals for any craving during pregnancy - We all know about the importance of having a balanced diet during pregnancy, but with all of the common side effects, such as nausea, fatigue and food cravings, it can be hard to eat right. Below are some examples of meals that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch or dinner that not only satisfy your cravings, but contain many of the key nutrients needed during pregnancy...MORE

Arts-N-Crafts - “Mommy, I’m bored,” my 4 -year-old son says to me one winter afternoon.  Just three words send shivers up my spine, as I begin to frantically sort in my mind how to keep him (and his 2 -year-old sister) occupied for the two hours that remain before dinnertime.  Play outside?  Too cold.  Read books?  Already read three after pre-school.  And since they’ve both already spent a mind-numbing, guilt-inflicting hour watching Noggin, TV isn’t an option...MORE

Comfortfood For Kids -Winter is the perfect time for cozy dinners with the family but it’s sometimes hard to find food that will appeal to both adults and kids.  These hearty recipes will leave everyone warm and satisfied...MORE

Caring For Your Child's Teeth - Even though your children are certain to lose their first set of teeth, as a natural fact of growing up, it is important to observe proper dental care right from birth.  Those temporary teeth play a vital role, not the least if which is allowing them to chew their food but also stand in as placeholders for their adult teeth...MORE

Hitting the Slopes with a 3yr. Old - It’s not easy being 3—especially at a ski resort.  Just ask Ethan Sitzman, who is 3 1/2 (not 3!) and heading to ski school for the first time at Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado. There are all those clothes to put on: long underwear, fleece sweatshirt, heavy socks, ski pants and jacket, goggles, ski helmet, waterproof mittens and the special orange bib tied over his jacket that designates Ethan as a ski school cub who hasn’t yet learned to stop on his skis...MORE

Girly Girls at the Salon - “First time?”  A woman with platinum blond hair and a wide smile looked up at us from where she was getting her fingernails manicured as we walked into the nail salon.  My daughters, ages 6 and 4.5, were practically bursting out of their skin with excitement.  But they knew they had to be on “indoor behavior” so they were making an exaggerated show of acting ladylike.  The result was two grinning girls who wriggled rather than walked towards the manicure chairs...MORE

NY METRO PARENTS - Taking On The Outdoors - If you dream of relaxing hikes through picturesque mountains, viewing wildlife in its natural habitat or cooking over an open fire, you’re not alone. More families than ever before are choosing to explore the great outdoors during vacations, on weekend getaways and through everyday play. Today’s families can find a variety of outdoor activities to suit. Whether you’re planning an outdoor experience in the backyard or the backwoods, the time will be well spent and well worth whatever juggling of schedules that must be done...MORE

Car Run Over - When my daughter Athena was three, she came into the kitchen to show me the sorry state of the stuffed bear she received for Christmas. She had been doctoring Angel Bear with toothpicks and black hockey tape. There were “bandages” over every inch of the bear’s body, the black pieces obscuring her favorite’s stuffy’s eyes, nose, and mouth. Angel Bear looked uncannily like a preemie in the neo-natal ICU...MORE

AFTER THE DIVORCE - My husband’s parents divorced when he was three.  Mine split up when I was ten.  When my daughter’s teacher helped the kindergartens write five-line biographies about themselves, one little boy wrote at the bottom of his page: “My daddy doesn’t live with us anymore, and I want to go to his house.” ...MORE

THE ATLANTIS RESORT IN THE BAHAMAS - The two 10-year-olds couldn’t wait to hit the big water slides—until they saw them.

We were at the gargantuan, 2,317-room Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. The Atlantis is known for its extensive water playgrounds, featuring 11 swimming areas and five water slides, including two slides that catapult riders through a clear acrylic tunnel in a shark-filled lagoon... MORE

BIRTHING ATHENA - I assumed my second baby would be exactly like my first.  This idea was so implicit in my understanding of the world, and of myself as a mother, that I believed that my second born would weigh the same, look the same, have the same temperament, and come two weeks early, exactly like its sister...MORE

CARS MOVIE REVIEW - Not just for the NASCAR dad set, Pixar’s new release "Cars" is a vehicle designed to entertain the whole family.  While it does not approach the same level of perfect storytelling as "The Incredibles" or the two "Toy Story" films, "Cars" makes it own mark and delivers the humor, the songs, the message and the dazzling animation that is expected from Pixar...MORE

A DIFFICULT SATURDAY MORNING  Saturday morning, “Pajama Wake-Up” storytelling is a favorite with my three children.  Last Saturday we planned to go.  Let’s go there, please, please, can we?”  My 5-year-old daughter Hesperus cried when I told her about it.  “Hurry up.  Hurry up.”  She draped herself on the top of the couch by the door the entire time I was getting ready, moaning while I put on the baby’s diaper, whining while I brushed my teeth, sighing while I tied her 4-year-old sister’s sneakers, urging me to hurry while I hoisted the screaming baby into his backpack...MORE

10 WAYS TO EAT SMART DURING PREGNANCY Eating when you don't want to -- or eating foods you don't really like -- can be stressful when you're expecting. Good nutrition is important during pregnancy, especially during the critical first trimester. Just because you know you need to eat well because you're building a baby doesn't necessarily mean you're going to enjoy it. But have hope: Counting nutrients, balancing food groups and finding foods that are as appealing as they are healthy doesn't have to leave you hungry for an easier way to eat...MORE

FLU VACCUINE 101 As flu season approaches, it is important to know what you can do to protect yourself and your family (including the little ones). What is the flu? Much worse and far more dangerous than the common cold, the flu is actually the influenza virus which affects the respiratory tract...MORE

MOTHERHOOD IS HARD Motherhood is hard.  I wish someone had told me that with a serious tone—not smiled when they said it, but sat me down, looked me square in the face, and said, “You might not survive this.” But into today’s madness of over achieving super model moms, anytime I try to confess my extreme difficulty--I get four hundred new “tips” of how to hold it all together.  I get stories of amazing mothers who never (gasp) feel the way I’m feeling. “It’s all worth it,” the freshly manicured Pollyanna assures me. I’m sure it is for her. People say heaven is worth it too, but I don’t live there yet...MORE

honestbaby HALLOWEEN COSTUMES FOR KIDS There are many commercial costumes available at the local stores, however between the cost, and lack of imagination, and the fact you end up with a half dozen kids all looking the same at a party, nothing beats homemade.  Below are some basic ideas for you to play with. All are cheap, easy, and allow for tons of imagination... MORE

WHEN INSPIRATION STRIKES Changing a diaper in a restaurant ... dropping a blanket in a puddle ... pushing a stroller uphill. Sometimes even the most mundane hassles of traveling with young kids can lead new parents on journeys they never expected to take - maybe even a new career.

Lady and the Tramp Movie Review Disney’s recent release of the 50th Anniversary Edition of “Lady and the Tramp” offers a new chance to rediscover this classic family film.  Walt Disney brought his magic touch to this 1955 film, combining a heartwarming story of love, loyalty and friendship with gorgeous hand drawn animation and memorable music.  This two disc special edition features the film and a plentiful collection of supplemental material...MORE

Brother Bear 2 Movie Review Disney's new direct to video release, BROTHER BEAR 2, debuted at number one on the home video sales chart last week thanks to the loyal fan base for the original 2003 hit and serves as a respectable follow up. Continuing the story of Kenai, a bear who started out life as a Native American boy before being transformed by spirits, BROTHER BEAR 2 relies heavily on the back story and mythology established in the first film. Audiences not familiar with the original may be lost at first with the transformation premise so viewing the two films in sequence is recommended...MORE

The Little Mermaid Movie Review Disney has once again opened their vaults in order to release a classic film on DVD that has been unavailable for far too long.  THE LITTLE MERMAID is a stunning film that revitalized Disney animation and created a new Golden Age for family entertainment that is still in progress.  This film now stands as a classic fairy tale that entertains children and adults alike, with universal appeal that made it the top animated film released in 1989...MORE

Notes From a Kid Watcher I’m the only person on my street of very old houses that has a river rock driveway.  Everyone else has either concrete or macadam.  But it is my driveway that is attracting the attention.  For all around my house are homes containing families who possess children—all between the ages of newborn to about six years old.  My driveway, chock full of stones of myriad shapes, sizes, and colors, has become the new destination for these young neighbors. Each day they gather with buckets and shovels at the edge of the driveway to play with these stones...MORE

Mommy Wars The Yankees and the Red Sox. Cowboys and Indians. Mommies who work . . . and mommies who stay home. Why do people who have so much in common despise each other so much?  Because I work part-time, I am a double agent in The Mommy Wars. Sometimes I get mistaken for the enemy. No harm there. In this war, we are extremely polite to the enemy, or at least extremely polite in the face of the enemy. Often enough, though, I’m mistaken for a true believer. I get to hear things I’m not supposed to, and things I wish I never did...MORE

Packing the Right Stuff It’s that time of year again…your home is abuzz with talk of new teachers, homework, and of course, school lunch. Although some schools have improved the quality of cafeteria meals and snacks in recent years, many still fail to meet basic nutritional needs. The best way to ensure that your child is receiving a nutritious midday meal is to send her to school with a healthful, home-made lunch...MORE

Are You A Yes Parent? Most parents think of NO as negative — a word with all kinds of harmful ramifications, one to avoid because it sets our guilt meters running, especially where our children are concerned.  We’ve become a culture of “yes-parents” who don’t want to see our children unhappy for a single minute. In the best interests of our children, we automatically agree to every favor, request or demand without taking your needs, schedule or other commitments into consideration. We don’t want to deprive or disappoint them...MORE

Outings 101 Museum visits are a great way to have fun with your child, as long as you don’t think of them as Introduction to Art 101. Don’t plan to spend the entire day or even more than a couple of hours, because no kid can handle that. Go when your child is rested, and leave before he’s bored. If he gets tired, have a treat in the restaurant, visit the gift shop, or leave...MORE

honestbaby Rock and Roll Music For Kids In fifteen or twenty years I will probably mimic my parents and say, “the crazy music kids listen to these days…you can’t even dance to it and forget about understanding the words!”  But for this brief moment in time, I discovered that I can actually enjoy the same music as my kids...MORE

Can You Spoil A Baby? “I couldn’t believe they let me out of the hospital with my son,” confided a new mom to me as we chatted in parenting aisle of the bookstore.  “I had no idea what I was doing.”  By definition the parents of infants are amateurs—full of love, wonder, and worry at the prospect of caring for a new baby that seems so…floppy and breakable...MORE

Traveling With Little Ones After Older Kids Are Back in School Fall is a great time to find bargains—if you have the freedom to get away from school schedules.  Lucky stiffs.  While the rest of us ramp up for the fall grind of homework, carpools and music lessons, you can head off on vacation because your little darlings aren’t yet old enough for school...MORE

Great Places for Babies and Toddlers The Wisconsin innkeeper was not happy. He glared at my two adorable babies, who, fortunately, were too busy sucking their lollipops after the long drive to notice his distress...MORE

Sharing a New-Style Halloween Think twice before stocking up on all that Halloween candy this year.  It’s not that kids won’t be trick-or-treating. It’s just that the little princesses and pirates (this year’s favorite costumes, according to the National Retail Federation) may have better places to strut their stuff than down your block. Halloween has become a big deal for more than just the makers of costumes and candy—a multibillion-dollar business with everyone from theme parks to zoos to hotels getting into the act. This year, Halloween will feature an abundance of ghost stories, haunted houses, scary mazes, not-so-scary musical shows and spooky sleepovers around the country...MORE

News You Can Use To Save Some Bucks Even rich families like bargains. Those of us who enjoy living like royals on vacation without paying a king’s ransom certainly do...MORE

honestbaby Top Ten Breast Feeding Tips 1. Educate yourself.  Before you give birth read up on the basics of breastfeeding or take a course so you have some idea of what to expect.  Don’t under estimate mental preparation...MORE

honestbaby Top Ten Books for Young Children Getting your kids interested in books at an early age just might be one of the most important lessons you ever teach them. Reading is not only fundamental but will inspire their imaginations, improve their performance in school and introduce them to the entire world of ideas that awaits them.  Of course, I don’t even remember being read to as I sat in my parent’s laps as an infant, but it laid the groundwork for inspiring my lifelong love affair with books.  And as I got older I looked forward to this special time with my parents...MORE

honestbaby Top Ten Tips for Disney  1. OFF SEASON.  Every year, millions of people visit Disney World so the parks can get quite crowded during peak travel season.  Off season travelers not only get the benefit of lower rates but also get to share the park with smaller crowds.  Holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter see the biggest attendance and you might find the lines taking hours instead of minutes. Disney actually bases their pricing for reservations on four different seasons - value, regular, peak and holiday. Consult their schedule when making your arrangements (and note that rate of the whole trip is based on the arrival date alone)...MORE

honestbaby Top ten Toilet Training Tips 1.    READY.  Make sure your child is ready to start using the potty by looking for the tell tale signs:  Are they uncomfortable in their dirty diaper?  Have they started using words that reflect understanding of how it all works?  And do they show an interest in or curiosity about using the bathroom?  (Children’s books about going on the potty are also a helpful tool.)...MORE

On Their Own Time"Whaddya doing Max?" a father shouted at his 5-year-old when his son stood looking longingly at the snack bar. "We came here to go on the water slides! We're going on the water slides! C'mon!"... MORE

First Foods for Baby: A Guide to What to Feed Them  Starting a baby on solid foods is exciting. They raise their eyebrows at you, pucker their little lips, and look shocked as they roll the new food around on their tongue, not sure what to do with it. More food ends up on their bib (and on you) than in their mouths the first few times a baby tries to eat...MORE

Does the Gender of Your Baby Really Matter?  “I really wanted a boy,” my mother said of her first pregnancy. We were sitting side by side at a faux Japanese restaurant where the food’s prepared at an enormous grill in the middle of the table. I had left my three children at home with my husband so my mother and I could spend some time together. A handsome Korean twirled his spatula in the air. “And I had a boy.” My mother looked pleased. In one deft movement, the chef squirted teriyaki sauce on the tofu on the grill...MORE

Gee Your Baby Smells Delicious I recently took my almost 2-year-old son on a writing retreat in Ohio. “Airplane, vroom, vroom,” Etani, who still nurses at night, started saying a few weeks before we left.  Etani and I both bonded with my formerly cyberspace-only friends.  Marjorie read him a book about a mouse who drives a truck over and over again, saying that she missed her little boy (whom she had been delighted to leave at home) and Jody regaled him with a complicated story about a Funky Hippo who leaves his watering hole in search of disco dancing dudes.  The elaborate plot—and their subsequent search for the Funky Hippo (“Do you think he’s by those bushes?”  Jody would ask.  “Yah!”  Etani would shriek)—kept him from fussing during the 2-hour car ride back to the airport...MORE

Is There Such a Thing as Gentle Discipline? Before you have children it is easy to be smug about discipline. You see a child hurling spinach on the floor in a restaurant or having a screaming fit in the produce aisle of the supermarket and you think confidently to yourself that you will never allow your future children to be so _______ (insert negative adjective of your choice here: disruptive, rude, inconsiderate). Then you actually have children and you realize that your former expectations about how they would behave and real-life child development are often not one and the same (to put it mildly)...MORE

New Mom Still In Pajamas If you’re a woman and you’re reading this after you just had a baby, you’re still in your pajamas. It’s three o’clock in the afternoon and the baby is napping. If you’re not in your pajamas, maybe you’ve managed, barely, to take a shower and get dressed and, perhaps, make the bed. Your cognitive self doesn’t think showering and putting on clothes are feats to celebrate but the rest of you is feeling very successful...MORE

A Song A Day Keeps the Chidren at Play  “Mr. Fork, Fork, Mr. Golden Fork, please feed me some food,” I sing to my 5-year-old and 4-year-old daughters at breakfast as I take two forks out of a drawer and have them dance towards the table.  “These little children are asking you, if you can come out and be a good dude . . .” This rendition won’t top the charts, and I’m not even close to on key this early in the morning, but it does the trick.  Hesperus and Athena giggle and eat their scrambled eggs, singing bites into their mouths.  They are entertained by this just long enough for me to boil water for coffee and find a slice of dried mango for our 18-month-old son.  Even my husband laughs...MORE

Foodtrainers’ Top 10 Healthy Snacks for Kids When it comes to children and nutrition, parents are in a tricky place. While we all want our kids to consume enough calcium and iron, you don’t want to deprive them of being a child.  In the list below, we included kid-tested, delicious snacks that just so happen to be healthy...MORE

Do It Yourself Chills and Thrills: Homemade Halloween Costumes Before the summer beach balls have a chance to settle into the storeroom, the Jack-O-Lanterns take their place on store shelves.  Halloween marketing starts heavy right after summer as the party stores switch motifs and the mail order catalogs, online sites and even the local pharmacies gear up for October 31st...MORE