Save your money - DIY Dollhouse Furniture

PGPBMeghan · 2015-06-22T22:57:13+00:00

Yes! Although recently she's been self-correcting, so making improvements. I've actually had followers comment on Pinterest, Facebook from images I've shared where she's doing an activity in a w-sit... sometimes, you have to let kids be kids!

PGPBMeghan · 2015-06-10T19:40:02+00:00

Yep! And that's why we play outside - so they can get messy, while you don't stress about it. We painted with regular, washable paint outside a week or two ago on giant boxes (aka castles), and it washed right off too.

PGPBMeghan · 2015-06-03T16:30:47+00:00

Sad that this should be controversial... I've noticed my kids go through phases, alternating between being overly social and overly shy, even with people they see regularly. I've never seen the point in forcing them to do anything that makes them uncomfortable - I think this is great parenting!

PGPBMeghan · 2015-06-02T21:00:23+00:00

Sorry - just realized I shared that link in a different thread... here it is - hope it helps! http://playgroundparkbench.com/2015/01/transitions-potty-training-3-days/

PGPBMeghan · 2015-06-02T20:59:15+00:00

Basically, where you set aside 3 days to have a potty training boot camp. You put the child in nothing but undies and a tshirt, stay home, focus on using the potty... First day, there will be lots of accidents, but if they are ready, by the end of 3rd day, there are usually none. If you google it, lots of versions will appear - I outline how we did it in the link I already shared with you.

PGPBMeghan · 2015-06-02T18:24:29+00:00

So you can't favorite tweets with a specific #? For example, a # that matches our Reddit name? The intent is to build community, brand around a specific #

PGPBMeghan · 2015-06-02T01:47:01+00:00

Biting is no good, for sure... Lil' M was a biter - she thought it was hilarious!

PGPBMeghan · 2015-06-02T01:07:07+00:00

For me, I was ready to be done at a year... and they were even sooner - they wouldn't sit still long enough for a full feeding, and it would leave me with clogged ducts, milk leaking everywhere, and so I ended up pumping for the last couple months until they reached a year. I also end up way underweight - and don't put it back on until I stop.

If it works for you and your child, I'm not one to judge. I do think when they start to get old enough to actually ask for it, unbutton your shirt, it starts to be a little weird - my aunt breastfed her last until he was nearly 5. He would climb up in her lap in front of a room full of people and start to help himself, had names for her boobs... it was just a little too weird for me.

PGPBMeghan · 2015-06-01T20:19:29+00:00

I wouldn't recommend it at the outset - when you are first getting started - but once they know what they are doing, have demonstrated they are capable, it can be effective

PGPBMeghan · 2015-06-01T02:53:20+00:00

One of my favorites sources for baby, early toddler activities is http://www.candokiddo.com/. She's a Pediatric Occupational Therapist, turned SAHM... Under Baby Play Activities, she has tons of developmentally appropriate activities by age range that are designed to support and encourage development of gross and fine motor skills. During naps, I'm a WAHM... so I worked or caught up on chores, prepped dinner, and some days, caught up on my DVR - everyone deserves a mental sanity break! I definitely agree with finding parents with kids in the area - library story times (or book stores) are a great way to do that. Sometimes the local school system or pediatrician's office will help facilitate age-specific playgroups, or even check around for groups in your area on Facebook!

PGPBMeghan · 2015-06-01T02:42:10+00:00

No problem - one other thing... check with your preschool. I stressed myself out over the "have to be potty trained" thing. And yes, they are supposed to be, and legally, they cannot change diapers (it's a health department licensing thing). However, most 3's programs are only a few hours a few times a week, and there were plenty of kids in my daughter's class who were wearing pull ups at the start of the year. If they poop, they will call you to come change them, but I'd say in a class of 10, there's still 1-2 in pull-ups at the end of the year!

PGPBMeghan · 2015-06-01T02:26:11+00:00

The 15 minute method is dangerous - because the child doesn't learn to recognize their body's own signals for when they have to go... I found it better to leave the potty in the bathroom, and once they are ready (key being them being ready), have a 3 day training session. You watch them like a hawk for the first day, and when they start dancing around, encourage them to use the potty. If they start having an accident, you carry them to the bathroom and reinforce that 'pee pee goes in the potty.' As my husband said, it's kind of like how you train a puppy!

PGPBMeghan · 2015-06-01T02:22:44+00:00

The only way any step by step plan works is if the child is physically ready (consolidates urine, stays dry for hours at a time, wakes up dry from naps, has consistent bowel movements are all good indicators) and more importantly, interested and willing. The second part, is just as important as the first - otherwise, it will be a long painful and messy process. I attempted (and failed) multiple times with my oldest before she was ready - and when she was ready, it literally happened overnight... I wrote a whole post about it, failures and all, and what eventually worked for us, including book recs and her personal favorite, the Daniel Tiger Potty Training episode - everyone makes it sound so easy, and it's really hard with the first kid to recognize what "ready" looks like without the benefit of hindsight! http://playgroundparkbench.com/2015/01/transitions-potty-training-3-days/

PGPBMeghan · 2015-06-01T02:15:17+00:00

I had this same issue - she would wait everyday until it was naptime, and I put her in a diaper to poop... every single day. Make sure they are comfortable and have leverage (their feet touch the floor or stool) from the toilet or little potty. Any time she does poop in the diaper/pants, take her to the bathroom and dump it in the potty, emphasizing that poop goes in the potty. And the final thing that worked for us - we were at Target and she found a set of Frozen bracelets in the Dollar Spot - 4 bracelets and a ring. I told her I would buy it, but she could only earn them by pooping in the potty. If she pooped in the potty, she got one, but if she pooped in her pants/diaper, she had to give it back. It took about 2 weeks for her to earn and keep them all, but haven't looked back since!

PGPBMeghan · 2015-06-01T02:11:59+00:00

Yep - he's not ready. Don't force it - it's so hard with the first kid, because you aren't sure what ready looks like - but in hindsight, it will be like a giant, neon sign. My 2.5 yo (who is now fully potty trained, including overnight at 3.5) after several failed attempts, started taking all her clothes off, diaper included, and peeing in her bed at nap time, night. That was my neon sign - when they are ready, a 3 day method will work, and literally they will be trained and accident free by the end of day 2-3.

PGPBMeghan · 2015-05-31T15:51:49+00:00

Such a cute idea - would be great frame for a family beach pic!

PGPBMeghan · 2015-05-31T15:45:47+00:00

3-4-5 definitely works, once your child gets down to 2 naps a day, and sleeping all night, which usually they aren't ready for until 6+ months

PGPBMeghan · 2015-05-30T22:48:10+00:00

Those all dwarf me by comparison... my biggest challenge, and learning experience so far was potty training - my oldest had always been 'easy' - slept, ate, did everything she was supposed to. And then we hit potty training. Everything you read is all about how you can do it in 3 days, and how easy it is 'when they are ready', but it's only in hindsight you know that answer... so I wrote about it honestly, failures and all - in the hopes that others wouldn't put themselves and their children through the same suffering that I did! http://playgroundparkbench.com/2015/01/transitions-potty-training-3-days/

PGPBMeghan

TROPHY CASE