Crib Note: National Family Volunteer Day

Saturday, November 21 is National Family Volunteer Day.  We encourage you to round up your family and make a difference in your community by volunteering together.

Crib Notes: iPhone Applications for Parents (and Kids) V

Here is yet another Apple iPhone application that will help to make the world of parenting easier for Moms (and Dads) everywhere!

Urban Spoon
Cost: Free!


Looking for a nice family night out? Or maybe you and your spouse would like to call the babysitter and have a night out on the town? Urban Spoon will help you find the perfect restaurant based on your needs. Simply select your area of interest, the type(s) of food you crave, and a price range. Finding the perfect spot (with directions and contact information) is just a shake of the phone away. Who said planning had to take more than five minutes?

Crib Notes: Safe Halloween

A safe Halloween acrostic for you. Enjoy and have a happy and safe Halloween.

Crib Notes: Start a Snack Revolution

Is your family always on the go? Are you constantly on the lookout for wholesome “on the go” snacks? You may want to check out Revolution Foods. Their line of organic, balanced nutrition snacks include: Jammy & Grammy Sammy, Pop Alongs, Mashups, and more. A glance at the nutritional label of the Mashups, described as squeezable fruit, reveals that it’s just that…mashed fruit in packaging that makes it easy for children to eat anywhere.


The company’s claim that their foods are “simple for parents to pack, simple for kids to eat, and a simple way to maintain a healthy diet at school or home” makes it a simple choice for me.

Crib Notes: iPhone Applications for Parents (and Kids) IV

Check this out for eco-friendly Apple iPhone applications.

Crib Notes: iPhone Applications for Parents III

Yet another Apple iPhone application that will help to make the world of parenting easier for Moms (and Dads) everywhere!





Scribble

Cost: Free!


The Scribble app is a perfect way to keep your child (or you!) entertained during a trip in the car or a wait in line at the grocery store. With a simple interface, this app allows users to make a drawing on the iPhone simply by moving their fingers around the screen. Changes in color and line width are just a tap away. Once the masterpiece is complete, simply shake to erase or save it to your phone and set it as a background. Who said finger painting had to be confined to the refrigerator door?

Crib Notes: Community Service Fun

It doesn’t get much better than having fun with your child and helping others all at the same time. On a rainy day, try baking and decorating a batch of cookies or cupcakes with your child and bring them in to a local food kitchen. When the weather is nice, plant flowers in pots and bring them to a local nursing home. You can even give back in your own neighborhood by taking your child to visit an elderly neighbor who does not get many visitors or by going around to collect items from neighbors for a local food pantry. This is a great way to have fun, set a good example, and give back to the community!

Crib Notes: iPhone Applications for Parents II

Here is another Apple iPhone application that will help to make the world of parenting easier for Moms (and Dads) everywhere.

Sit or Squat

Cost: Free!

For any parent who plans to drive any considerable distance (or any distance at all!) with their child, there is no question: this app is essential. The Sit or Squat app is a brilliantly simple concept: just enter your location, and the app will point out all of the nearest bathrooms to where you are. With thousands of registered bathrooms, the search against time for the nearest restroom just became a lot simpler. Simply choose a location from the list and map it out. The app will also tell you information on changing table availability, handicap access, and if the location is open at the moment you are searching. You will also find cleanliness ratings by other users (determining whether it is a “sit” or “squat” location), and some locations even have images of their facilities.

Crib Notes: iPhone Applications for Parents I

The Apple iPhone has helped countless individuals make their lives easier and far more efficient, and busy parents are no exception. Moms (and Dads) everywhere now have the ability to use the iPhone to make the world of parenting easier. Take a look at just some of these iPhone applications past generations of parents must wish they had had available to them:

Baby Brain

Cost: $4.99 (but some might say priceless)

The Baby Brain app has recently been seeing a large increase in popularity, and for good reason. This app takes a large load off of any new parent’s mind by helping to keep track of just about everything your baby does. Using this app, moms can keep detailed records of feedings (breast feeding or bottles), diaper changes, naps, etc. This is an easy way to keep current records for the early months of your child’s life, and at any moment reports can be e-mailed to doctors or spouses. If need be, you can even keep track of multiple children at one time. Well worth the $4.99, this app is considered groundbreaking by many recent users.

Crib Notes: Summer Craft List

In some parts of the country, everyone is complaining of extreme heat; in others, it’s the unseasonably cool weather and rain, but universally I’m hearing, “summer is almost over.” Don’t believe the hype! Make the most of everyday and the couple of weekends we have left before Labor Day.

Check out this great list that was posted on the Long Thread in June. It’s filled with all sorts of unique craft projects, activities and treats.

Crib Notes: Keep those Baby Food Containers – Two Uses

The plastic baby food jars make great paint holders when trying to give each child their own paint from the tube and it keeps colors separate for picky kids who don’t want all their colors on one plate. Plus, the caps make it easy to save unused paint for the next time so you’re not throwing away paint all the time (because you know you always give them too much).

And glass containers adorned with a simple ribbon make great outdoor votive candle holders. Soak the jars in soapy water and the labels come right off. Too make them extra clean you can also run them through the dishwasher. Tip: Burn the votive for a little while before your guests come and by the time the party starts, the candles will be wind-proof and ready for outdoor dining.

Crib Notes: Stuffed Animals and Band-Aids Don’t Mix

Putting bandages on your child’s favorite stuffed animal may seem like a good way to model first aid or prepare for a doctor’s visit. But test out a very small portion of the adhesive bandage on your furry friend before committing 100%. If you find it’s not removable, pull the bandage very taut and use a sharp razor blade to remove it with minimal mess or discoloration.

Crib Notes: Crowd Safety

When taking your child to a crowded place, such as an amusement park, fair, or festival, outfit them with a bright yellow Livestrong wristband (or one of the many other similar cause bracelets – many come in youth sizes) and use a permanent marker to write your cell phone number on it. If your child gets lost, event staff or police will be able to track you down easily.

Crib Notes: Slow Melt Popsicles

To help cut the mess from summer popsicle fun, try Slow Melt Popsicles. There’s a touch of gelatin to help slow the melting process. Helps keep clothes clean on a hot summer day and helps keep the furniture clean for indoor popsicle eating. One warning, the colors of the SwirlWinds version we bought bore no resemblance to the cool pictures on the box, but they tasted good regardless.

Crib Note: Make your Frosting go Further

If you use store-bought frosting, before you frost your cakes or cupcakes, empty the container into a bowl and whip it with your electric mixer. By whipping air into the frosting, you will get so much more frosting and it will save you from getting another container for just a few cupcakes.

Crib Notes: Sandy Kids?

Pack a bottle of baby powder in your beach bag and before getting in the car sprinkle sandy feet and legs with powder. The sand will come right off.

Crib Notes: California Baby Products

California Baby Calendula Cream cleared up a nasty diaper rash faster than anything we’ve tried before. It is all natural, isn’t too thick and has a nice smell (from essential oils, not added fragrance).

California Baby Cold and Flu Aromatherapy Bubble Bath does wonders for helping sooth a stuffy nose. The scent is described as Douglas fir and eucalyptus, but it’s not offensive and beats the medicinal smell of Vicks VapoRub. It comes with a bubble blower too so bath time during cold and flu season can be a little more enjoyable.

Crib Notes: New Age Diapers

Pampers diapers have reached new levels! I was planning on using Pampers Swaddlers with baby #2 already. In fact, even before the baby was born, I bought a box of the newborn size. My hospital uses them too! You can imagine my surprise and delight when I quickly learned that the newborn size has a wetness indicator on them- a yellow line that turns to blue when baby has peed. There's no more guessing as to whether or not a cry is that of wetness and discomfort. Unbutton a couple buttons on the babies outfit and voila! You can see if your baby needs his/her diaper changed. One can only hope this feature soon becomes available in the larger sizes too!

Crib Notes: Children’s Poetry Slam

For a great book of poems that are funny, hip and appropriate for children aged 2-92, try Polkabats and Octopus Slacks: 14 Stories. A personal favorite story/poem/song of ours from the book is Funky Snowman (he loves to dance, though you’d think he’d hardly have the chance, without two feet or even pants…)

Crib Notes: Road Trips with Children

Since many of you may be taking long car trips this upcoming Memorial Day weekend, here is a great resource with some road trip tips.