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  • Baby, Breastfeeding, Motherhood, New Born, New Mom, Sponsored

    MY BABY’S BEDTIME ROUTINE

    I partnered with Pampers to share my baby’s bedtime routine. All opinions are my own.

    About a month after I had my first child, a friend called and told me that she was in my area and wanted to stop by to see the baby. She asked me if that was okay and of course, I said yes. The thing is, it was already around my daughter’s bedtime and of course she wasn’t fun. She cried and fussed the entire time and since I didn’t want to make my friend upset I didn’t tell her that her timing was just terrible. I felt like a lousy mom in that moment and vouched to never upset my children’s bedtime routine again even if Beyoncé showed up to meet my baby — okay, I’ll make an exception for Beyoncé. I’ve stuck to the bedtime routine that I started 7 years ago with my daughter with lots of tweaks along the way as technology and our family dynamic evolved. So here is my baby’s bedtime routine:

    Kick off with a Bath.

    Only within the last few weeks, I moved the baby’s bathtime to bedtime. I always gave my babies baths at 11:00 am. Moving her bath to bedtime is much better since the warm water makes her really relaxed.

    Treat your baby to an infant massage.

    After drying her up and moisturizing her skin, I’ve been treating her to an infant massage. This is also a new addition to our bedtime routine.  I recently took the Pampers #SleptLikeThis Sleep Personality quiz and learned that she sleeps like a Koala and massages are great to get Koalas drowsy. I had no idea how to do it so I called my cousin who is a pediatric nurse and she showed me over FaceTime how to do it effectively. She hasn’t fell asleep from one of my massages yet but she definitely seems quiet and happy.

     

    Dress baby for a comfortable night’s rest.

    Don’t judge me but my baby doesn’t always sleep in pajamas, it really depends on the temperature. I keep her in light breathable clothing and in Pampers Baby-Dry diapers. Actually, I’ve been using Pampers brand diapers on my kids since day one on this motherhood journey at the hospital 7 years ago, it seems like we always have a big green box around my apartment. I trust Pampers Baby-Dry for bedtime because although she urinates much more frequently at night, we don’t have problems with leaks thanks to the diaper’s design and its Extra Absorb Channels. I don’t ever have to worry about her delicate skin in a wet diaper that would make her feel uncomfortable and wake up. The best part is that even though they can be used for up to 12 hours they’re very thin and not super bulky.

    Get some cuddle time.

    Next, we have some form of cuddle time. I may read her a book, file her nails, play with her or dance with her. It really depends on the day and the mood we’re both in.

    Bedtime feeding.

    Once she seems tired or she shows signs that she’s hungry I nurse her. Most nights she falls asleep while I’m nursing her but I absolutely love when she doesn’t and I can lay her down in her crib to fall asleep on her own. To ensure she doesn’t get right back up, I immediately put on her nightlight and noise machine.

    Some nights I rush through this routine while on other nights I skip steps and there are days when I stretch them out. It really depends on what’s going on but I think we both enjoy this bedtime.

    Be sure to take the Pampers #SleptLikeThis sleep personality quiz to get tips that you can incorporate into your bedtime routine and let me know what animal your baby sleeps like.

     

    What is your baby’s sleep routine?

    LEARN YOUR BABY'S SLEEP PERSONALITY

     

  • Lifestyle, Motherhood, Product Reviews, Sponsored

    CAR MAINTENANCE MADE SIMPLE FOR MOMS

    This post is sponsored by Cooper Tires. As always, all opinions are my own.

    You’ve probably noticed that I never write about my dad on this blog. You’ve probably made assumptions about the reasons why and there’s a good chance your assumptions are right. My dad and I aren’t close although I wish we were. Our history isn’t pretty, I didn’t meet him until I was 9-years-old even though we lived on the same small island and after that initial meeting, he was never consistent in my life. When I met him, he must have just turned 28 because he was 19 years old when I was born. I thought he was super cool in his Rayban Wayfarers with his introverted yet funny personality. I remember the first time my dad and I had a really good conversation it was about a BMW he wanted. He was so passionate about how the engine was built that even I got interested. I told him that I knew little about cars and he promised he would teach me. Another promise he never kept and that broke my heart so badly that I never really wanted to learn from anyone else. See my dad actually owns an auto-mechanic business where I even worked for a bit when I was 18-years-old so you would think that I’m the girl who could at least change a tire or her own oil. Nope!

    CAR MAINTENANCE MADE SIMPLE FOR MOMS

    Living in New York City, a car wasn’t necessary until I became pregnant with our first child.  My husband took full responsibility for our first car doing everything from making sure the tires air pressure were good, filling up the tank to getting the car in on time for maintenance at the dealership.  My father’s broken promise didn’t even matter because I didn’t have any problems. Even when the car didn’t start, I would call roadside assistance.  When we had a second child, things got busy and my husband started to forget. I would joke with him that “he’s slippin’” when I would pick up the kids from school and notice we need to put air in the tires or notice the oil needed to be changed urgently.

    That’s when I took it upon myself to learn about car maintenance and to do my part to ensure we’re always safe while driving. I can’t teach myself to change brake pads but I’m a technology lover so I decided to use it to stay on top of things that need to be checked monthly by setting alerts in my phone. Then last fall, I learned about the Cooper Tires Tread Wisely Safety app, and I’ve been using it since then. What I love about the app is that it educates and keeps me on top of things with me reminders that I can set for different time periods.

    CAR MAINTENANCE MADE SIMPLE FOR MOMS

    CAR MAINTENANCE MADE SIMPLE FOR MOMS

    One of those things is tires and back in November, I realized that we were very close to the mileage recommended by our car manufacturer so my husband and I went together to get new tires. We chose the Cooper Discoverer SRX™   for our SUV and it took about 30 minutes for the complete tire and new valve stem assembly installation. I’ve drove in different weather conditions with these new tires and they’re fantastic especially on the snow, although they’re not specifically winter tires. Actually, as I mentioned a few weeks ago our car was damaged and we had a rental car when a massive snowstorm hit the city. We struggled to drive in the snow with the rental, but soon as we got our SUV back you could feel the difference as the tires got us around safely, which is really what I need with a 10 week old, 4-year-old and 7-year-old. Talking about the kids, I’ve found that these tires ride much more smoothly than the ones we had prior which is perfect for our family with small children.

    I’ve also given my kids access to the Cooper Tires Tread Wisely app so they too can learn about car care with me. My goal is that they are empowered with the information that they need to be safe drivers and to maintain their vehicles in great working conditions.

    Fortunately for me, we’re in the era of smart cars and smartphones both of which alerts and educates picking up where my father left off. Who said technology can’t be like a parent?

    CAR MAINTENANCE MADE SIMPLE FOR MOMS

    Anyway, ladies!  Be sure to download the app and keep the following tips from Cooper Tires in mind so you can make the best of your driving experience:

    Tires should be checked at least once a month and before a long road trip for routine maintenance and safety.  Checking your tires for proper maintenance and safety is a simple, do-it-yourself routine that will get you road ready. As the only part of your vehicle connecting it to the road, checking them monthly and before road trips is recommended.

    Follow these easy steps that take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

    Check the Pressure

    Be sure to check air pressure when tires are cool (minimum three hours after driving). Find manufacturer’s recommended air pressure located on the vehicle door jamb,glove box, fuel door or the owner’s manual.

    Note: the tire pressure listed on the tire sidewall is the maximum pressure,

    Because tires are filled with air, the outside temperature can affect your tire’s pressure more than you might expect. On average, experts say that tire pressure decreases by about one pound per square inch for every 10° F drop in the temperature.2 The changing seasons are a good reminder to check pressure not the recommended pressure

    o Remove the valve cap and take the tire gauge and press firmly on valve stem.

    o If the reading is lower than the recommended level, add air and check again

    o Over inflated? Push on the metal valve core in the center of the valve with the nub on the back of the tire gauge to release air, and check again. o Once recommended pressure is reached, replace valve cap.

    Check the Tread

    o Insert the edge of a U.S. penny in the tire tread, with Lincoln’s head down. o If the top of Lincoln’s head is covered by tread, there is at least a minimum acceptable amount of tread.

    o If the top of his head is visible at any point around the tire, it is time to replace the tire.

    Check the Overall Condition

    o Visually check for cuts, cracks, splits, punctures, irregular wear and bulges.

    o If any of these conditions are spotted, or if you are doubtful about the condition of your tires, visit a dealer for a professional inspection.

    How do you stay on top of your car’s maintenance?

     

  • Home Decor, Lifestyle, Motherhood, New Mom, Product Reviews, Sponsored

    Kid-Friendly Decorating with Washable Rugs

    I partnered with Lorena Canals for this kid-friendly decorating post. All opinions are based on my experience.

    When I was growing up my mom had a rotating work schedule where she would work one week 9-5 and the following week at night. She was a single mom so for the weeks that she had to work at night, she hired a babysitter to take care of me. My babysitter’s name was Wendy and she was so awesome and impacted my life in so many ways, I might have to write another post just about her. The first day Wendy came to my house she brought a bunch of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles VHS tapes that we watched while eating popcorn. When Home Alone was released, I remember Wendy taking me to see the movie and she wasn’t even “on the clock” at the time, she always had something fun planned. I became a little obsessed with this cool teenager and I got to know her family really well too. Her mom hustled really hard around the clock and her home was I guess her pride but it was the scariest place for me as a child. Wendy’s home was far from kid-friendly, there were huge glass decorations all over their home and whenever I went there her mom would remind me constantly that I shouldn’t walk near them (she had huge ones on the floor) or touch them. I was 8 and terrified that I would break something constantly. Even up to this day, I am terrified of high maintenance home decor. Anything breakable or stains easily it isn’t for my kids and I, we keep things very low maintenance with quality kid-friendly pieces like Lorena Canals washable rugs.

    I first learned about Lorena Canal washable rugs while I was pregnant last year and looking for solutions for all three
    kids to play in the same space. As most of us moms, I purchased so many playmats that the kids tore apart or we a complete eyesore. I was gifted the Lorena Canal Terrazzo Sapphire which works well for all three kids and this style is gender neutral but they have lots of gorgeous styles for both kids rooms or shared spaces. We received our rug shortly after I gave birth to the baby and we’ve been using it since.

    Kid-Friendly Decorating with Washable Rugs

    Our rug was individually handmade with cotton materials and natural dyes so as a parent I’m not worried about the kids safety when they’re playing on it. My favorite thing about it it’s washable which is necessary for us parents with small kids. Even though I tell my little ones to not to use food, paint or slime etc. on it doesn’t mean they always listen. Actually, we’ve had our rug for two months now and I’ve seen everything from playdoh to applesauce end up on it but with a quick simple toss in the washing machine, it’s like new again.

    My only issue with my Lorena Canal washable rug was pilling for about a week or two which is normal for most new rugs. All the pieces in the kids hair were driving me nuts so I tossed it in the washing machine and it went away immediately.

    What’s your favorite kid-friendly decor piece ?