Toddler Trip Checklist

We were able to take a trip to Charleston, SC. This was the first trip we took with Q. I tried to remember everything we would need. At the very least I wanted to pack the important items because anything else could be bought.

One thing I would highly suggest is getting a high chair that connects to the table.  I got a great deal at a yard sale for one and we used it the entire time. It's great to use in restaurants as well as the house we stayed at. We clipped it over the placemat so she couldn't try to take that off either! It was perfect. I think she likes it just as much as we do because she is right at the table with us.

Items that I made sure I packed on our trip were:

• Diapers/Wipes/Diaper Cream/Changing Pad
• Clothes - plenty of extra
• Sleep sack or blankets
• Bathing Suit
• Water Diaper or Diaper Cover
• Water Shoes
• Suntan Lotion
• Shampoo/Soap/Washcloths/Toothpaste/Toothbrush
• Medicines/Thermometer
• Milk/Food/Snacks - I give Q mostly organic foods and lots of fresh veggies and fruit so we packed most of her food for the trip
• Sippy Cups/Spoons/Containers/Bibs/Bottle Brush
• Child proof items for doors, cabinets, etc.
• Beach towels
• Pack N Play
• Radio/Music for bedroom
• Night light
• Favorite blanket or stuffed animal
• Toys
• Stroller
• High Chair
• Car Entertainment - I generally do not let Q watch alot of TV, but I did download an episode of Sesame Street on my iPad so she could watch it near the end of the trip when she was sick of sitting in her seat.

Photo A Day July - Texture

Photo A Day July - Letter

Make Your Own Baby Food

Before my daughter was born, I clipped coupons and bought jarred baby food, A LOT of it! The thought of making food for her never occured to me.  When it was almost time to start feeding her solids, I started to research.  Just like adults, nothing is better for a baby than fresh vegetables and fruits. Between my Magic Bullet blender and regular blender I started to make batches of baby food.  It is cheaper than jarred food, it just takes a little bit of time here and there. Once you make it in batches, you can freeze them in ice trays or trays made specifically for baby food and put in large freezer ziplock bags once frozen. When it's time to feed your baby, just defrost or microwave it.

One of the best sites to use for this is Wholesome Baby Food! It is an amazing resource that gave me step by step directions as well as great ideas and answered alot of the questions that I had. Including guidelines of when it is okay for your baby to move onto new foods.

My daughter loved everything I gave her and still eats great. She has at least one fruit and vegetable with every meal as well as a protein and dairy product. She loves avocado, grapes, blueberries, peas, watermelon, canteloupe, peaches, apples, sweet potato, banana, mango, and on and on. I have talked to friends who also made their baby's food and said their child is a less picky eater as a toddler than others they know. At 16 months old Q hasn't been sick once. I think this also helps keep her extra healthy.

If you have any questions and are interested in this, check out the Wholesome Baby Food site or send me an email! homesweethealthyhome@gmail.com

Photo A Day July - your favorite color

Photo A Day July - Big

Big storm today!

Photo A Day July - Lunch

Photo A Day July - Garden

Photo A Day July - Chair

Photo A Day July - On the Floor

Five is my favorite number.  I just happened to find this amazing refinished stool!

Photo A Day July - Fun

Playtime with Dziadz! (Grandpa)

Happy 4th of July!

Side table upgrade!

I have wanted a new side table for our family room for a long time.  I finally went to look for one and found this great table at Southern Marketplace in Indian Trail, NC. It matches the room great and is the perfect size.  I love old repainted furniture and this is a great addition to our collection.  

Photo A Day July - Best Part of Your Day

Best part of the day is when Q is up!

Car Seat Safety - Extended Rear Facing

Regulations have changed for car seat safety a little over a year ago. Many people think that once their child turns one and hits 20 lbs that they have to turn their car seats around and have them forward facing.  The guidelines have changed and the research shows that keeping your child rear facing as long as possible is the best option.

In a new policy published in the April 2011 issue of Pediatrics (published online March 21), the AAP advises parents to keep their toddlers in rear-facing car seats until age 2, or until they reach the maximum height and weight for their seat. It also advises that most children will need to ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until they have reached 4 feet 9 inches tall and are between 8 and 12 years of age.

New research has found children are safer in rear-facing car seats. A 2007 study in the journal Injury Prevention showed that children under age 2 are 75 percent less likely to die or be severely injured in a crash if they are riding rear-facing. (healthychildren.org)



I would love to have Q face forward so we can see each other better and so she can see out the windows better. But none of that matters if we were in a car accident.  I will keep her rear facing as long as possible because the research shows it is the safest way to be.

Below are articles that show more about the studies done. Once you read them I challenge you to make the best decision for your family. I would never want to ask myself "what if" in an accident situation.

AAP's New Car Seat Guidelines
Ten Facts About Rear Facing Car Seats
Why Rear Facing Is Safer
Safercar.gov

Cosmetics, Deodorants and Soaps, Oh My

Have you ever actually researched to see what is in your cosmetics, deodorants, sun tan lotions, soaps, body wash, shampoo, toothepaste, etc.? I can honestly say, I have never done that until recently.  It's easy to be naive and assume that companies make products that are safe for you. Sadly, that is not the case. I am convinced that childhood illnesses, cancer and other disesases are on the rise because of the products we use daily that have toxic chemicals in them. They can also cause allergies, asthma and reproductive harm.

I found Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep database. They research everyday products and give the truth about what is in them. They haven't reviewed every product available, but they have a pretty extensive database.  I encourage you to check out this site, and search for others like it that can let you know what are in the products you use. Most chemicals and other ingredients have LONG names that mean nothing to me unless I search them.

Other informative links:
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
Breast Cancer Fund
Cosmetics Info
Safe Cosmetics Alliance

They way I am trying to look at it is, I can spend more money up front on natural, chemical free products for my family, or we can pay the price later in health care costs from illnesses we get by using chemicals in and on our bodies over a lifetime. I know not everything can be avoided, but we can do our part to keep our bodies as safe and healthy as possible.

I am a work in progress in this area and there is no way for me to throw out everything I use and know exactly what products to get, but it is something I can work on. I hope you'll join me and keep me updated on what your findings are as well.

Photo A Day July - Busy

Photo A Day July - Self Portrait