In Flight Entertainment

We just returned from my parents' house in the Chicago area yesterday, which was Samantha's first plane flight. I asked many friends for tips on airplane travel with a 17 month-old and went armed with books, a few new small toys, a water bottle to sip during altitude changes and lots of snacks -- great suggestions, all.

One of the most entertaining objects on the trip for our toddler was a FREE one you don't even have to bring with you; Sky Mall magazine, home of the Retro Hot Dog Ferris Wheel, the Deluxe Cushion Keeper, the Pet Ramp and Staircase and my favorite, the Bug Vacuum. Samantha loved pointing to all the photos of dogs, cats and people, and asked me to identify lots of odd objects, which was entertaining for both of us. I got to learn about Thermostone Rock Covers. Woo hoo!

The next activity was joyfully ripping out pages. After that, we crumpled up pages. The most fun of all was our new game, 'Bah', made up on the fly and the cause of many, many fits of giggles.

Here's how to play:
-The parent wads up a page of Sky Mall and hides it in their closed hand
-Toddler pries the adult's thumb away from the closed fist, then the next finger
-After a dramatic pause, the adult playfully says 'bah' and gently flings the wadded up Sky Mall page at the toddler's face or chest, depending on the child's preference. Samantha liked the face.
-Laughing ensues for everyone

Just a thought for your next plane flight. I'd love to hear about more tips for flying with a toddler, or more fun uses for Sky Mall for that matter.

Crib Playtime

Want to know one of the best combinations ever of time to yourself and a good activity for your older baby/toddler on up?

Crib Playtime -- A.K.A. the Play Nap, Room Playtime, Play Yard Time, Alone Playtime, etc.

When Samantha was smaller, her morning nap was the time where I took a shower and was able to steal some precious time to myself to get something done, read a little, or check Facebook. As she dropped her A.M. nap, I wondered if I'd be smelly and tousle-headed until the afternoon every day or have to get up (horror!) at 5:30AM to be showered before Sam's early wake up.

Enter Crib Playtime. Most every morning, I gather up a couple of Sam's favorite toys that keep her busy and one toy that she ONLY gets to play with during Crib Playtime. She and those toys go in the crib for about 20 - 25 minutes while I shower and dress.

Everyone benefits. I get clean and presentable. Samantha's learning more about entertaining herself and building focus on just an item at a time. We've done Crib Playtime for several months now, and most days she asks for it and plays happily the entire time. Recently, she's liked bringing odd things into the crib with her like a brush and her polka dotted diaper cover. She has fun, so why not?

A friend of mine does 'Alone Playtime' with her two kids. The younger one plays in her crib, and the 4 year old plays in his room while she gets ready for the day.

Gotta love a win-win situation.

Finding humor

Sometimes it's the little things that make you laugh.

I encountered an oversize pink toy cell phone the other day in our church's childcare room that had 'play phone' emblazoned in big block letters across the top by the manufacturer.

Glad they told me. I was wondering why my calls weren't going through. Or were they worried that a parent might get it mixed up with their own cell? ;)

A Home Worth Buying in Any Market

We're so proud. Our daughter became a homeowner at 11 months old. Her grandparents paid cash for it and gave it to her as a gift, so there's not even a chance of her defaulting on the mortgage. Granted, she's taller than parts of its plastic roof and the gutter plays 'the eensy weensy spider', but it's got some of the best features a toddler could want. Mommy likes playing with it too, she has to admit. Plus, it keeps Samantha having fun and learning, so what's there not to love?

We all wonder if we're making a good investment when we fork over a larger amount of money for something, toys included. Samantha and her cousin each have Fisher Price Learning Homes, and both homes have gotten heavy use. Like most toddlers, Samantha loves to imitate what the big people do, so ringing the Learning Home's doorbell, opening and closing the mailbox to get her own little letters, turning a light on and off, and opening and closing a door have been favorite pasttimes.

Of course, there are a variety of not-so-realistic features like a spinning garden with a pink rabbit, a phone book of animals and the aforementioned musical gutter, but those have tons of appeal as well. Here's Sam demonstrating the gutter ball drop in its counting mode:



Like the 'welcome home' song that the Learning Home plays, "you can learn the alphabet, colors, shapes and so much more." through the house's sounds and happy music. Yes, you will memorize most of what the home says, but the phrases and songs are a lot more appealing than most toys. (At least in my opinion; my husband doesn't like them as much, but I'm the one around the house more often. ;) Plus, he likes the sounds of some singing maracas that bug the heck out of me.)

Not surprising to me, the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio gave a high rating to the Fisher Price Learning Home (look for the comments with the Learning Kitchen). We've made up a number of games with the home too. I'll knock on the window, and when Sam opens it, her stuffed dog pops his head out and barks at her. Good for lots of giggles. We like hooting like the owl and crowing like the rooster with the night and day dial, and putting junk mail postcards and small toys in the mailbox for each other to discover.

For lots of fun for your 1-year old, it's well, well worth the $60 to $70 for the great times to be had with the Learning Home. Imagine how much you'll get done while your toddler has a blast.

Winging It

Samantha likes to sit on my lap and look at my laptop. Until recently, she's liked watching some educational music videos, but lately she's been fixating on looking at our photos. Today she got really picky about the photos and only wanted to go through the ones of her at the pool, the beach, and the splash pad over and over. Then it got to be the just the pictures where she's wearing her 'flag' swimsuit. Transitioning to another activity got tears each time.

Finally a light bulb lit up in mommy's head. "Sam, do you want to put on your swimsuit?" Instantly her big green eyes were riveted on mine and she frantically signed 'please'..or in actuality 'please, please, please, please'.

One problem: a thunderstorm was headed our way. Think fast, mommy. I grabbed her bucket, shovel and a toy fish, telling Sam we were going to have a fun water adventure. I put on her suit and filled up the tub. She was thrilled to get to splash and play with her pool toys and wear her swimsuit. I squirted her with the shower to pretend we were at the splash pad.

Great fun, and a new activity to add to the rainy day activity repertoire. Wish I could be this good at winging it all the time.

Happy Baby Puffs

With my little gal and I on the go more in the mornings since she's dropped her morning nap, (yessss!!) I've been happy to find something I can put in her Snack Trap that's convenient, healthy, won't spoil and doesn't make a mess. I used to feel like I was limited to Cheerios or risk delving into the high-sugar world of BeechNut or Gerber puffs, or the salty world of goldfish or pretzels.

Enter Happy Baby Puffs, an organic whole grain melt-in-baby's-mouth snack with greens, apples or bananas baked right in. My daughter likes the greens ones a lot, and loves their o-like shape which she thinks looks like a flower. I admit that I've eaten a few and found them appealing. Happy Baby Puffs are fortified with vitamins and minerals including vitamin D, much like the 'big brands' puffs.

More bonuses about these snacks:

- Half the sugar of other brands
- Better value - 40% more puffs inside in a convenient flip-top package
- Green Packaging: Their containers are sourced through a green partnership with Method. They are made with 25% recycled materials, are BPA free, and are recyclable.

I've saved the package to use for storing other small items, and it's great for travel.

Looking for more healthy toddler finger foods? Take a look and tell me what you think. Please share some of your child's favorites too.

4th of July Festivals

Where I grew up, 4th of July parades complete with floats, bands, horses and the Shriners riding around on go-carts were the thing to do. Lots of stuff to keep young kids' attention, but also lots of loud noises to startle them. Even as a 4th or 5th grader, the fire engine sirens were a bit too much for me but all the candy the parade people threw to us on the sidelines was way worth it.

Here around my new 'hometown' in central Florida, I've found a new fun pasttime...a festival a town park. All the stroller brigade was out in full force to listen to a great choir sing patriotic songs, stroll along Park Avenue to take advantage of the AC pumping out through the open shop doors, and to see all the red-white-and-blue clad dogs, carriage horses, people and buildings. Lots of eye candy for a toddler and festival ambiance for parents. Without the carnival rides, this festival was just the right speed for a young family. Plus, it was FREE. :)

While not technically part of the festival, splashing in the fountain was an extra bonus for Samantha. She got soaked and then dirty from sitting on a bare spot on the ground, but it was worth it.

Happy 4th, y'all!

How are you celebrating Independence day with your child(ren)?