http://www.minti.com/members/pfallerj/advice/ Most Recent Advice on Minti by pfallerj Copyright 2009 Minti en-uk pfallerj So, you’ve got a three hour road trip staring you in the face. You’ve got snacks, books, games and toys all packed for your toddler to play with. You and your spouse are up front, and your toddler is in the back seat with a mound of toys in his lap.This is going to be fun, right?Five minutes in, the ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6799/Road-Trip-Tips/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6799/Road-Trip-Tips/ Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:58:22 -0700 pfallerj Once your baby is weaned of the bottle and there aren’t any more little ones immediately coming down the pike, you’ll probably find yourself with a shelf full of bottles that’ll do little more than collect dust.Don’t despair! There are a million uses for old bottles. Just think of them like a different shape of tupperware. Instead of liquid, I’ve ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6718/Use-Old-Bottles-To-Hold-Snacks/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6718/Use-Old-Bottles-To-Hold-Snacks/ Tue, 10 Jul 2007 21:15:49 -0700 pfallerj My son’s at that stage where he knows that he wants something. He just doesn’t know how to ask for it. Lately, his word for when he wants something is “mama”, which makes me wonder if my wife is caving to his every demand when I’m not around. It goes without saying that things get a little frantic - I’m ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6664/If-I-Hear-the-Word-Ball-One-More-Time/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6664/If-I-Hear-the-Word-Ball-One-More-Time/ Thu, 05 Jul 2007 14:00:47 -0700 pfallerj Getting your toddler to brush his teeth can be a huge feat in and of itself. It’ll probably take them until they’re 4 or 5 to truly master it to the point where you don’t have to supervise. Even if they manage to not eat and swallow the toothpaste like it was candy, you’ll still need to make sure they ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6627/Teach-a-Toddler-to-Brush-His-Teeth/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6627/Teach-a-Toddler-to-Brush-His-Teeth/ Tue, 03 Jul 2007 19:06:21 -0700 pfallerj Our son was obsessed with trying to get his hands on our cell phones. When he did, he’d hold them up to his ear, chat away and push the buttons just like mom and dad. Trouble was, he actually ends up calling people more often than you’d think. He’s even managed to get 911 on the line.We tried getting him ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6137/Turn-an-Old-Cell-Phone-Into-a-New-Toy/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6137/Turn-an-Old-Cell-Phone-Into-a-New-Toy/ Tue, 29 May 2007 21:11:05 -0700 pfallerj I realized the other day that when I was reading to my son, he’d kind of just sit there and hang out. He wouldn’t really react to what was going on, he was just looking.Then we got this new book, Bear Snores On, and I started making funny voices for the characters (when I say funny, I mean talking in ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5659/Encourage-Your-Baby-to-Read-With-You/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5659/Encourage-Your-Baby-to-Read-With-You/ Mon, 23 Apr 2007 20:55:11 -0700 pfallerj About a month or so ago, my son became a real person. Before, he’d make sounds and gestures pretty indiscriminately. He could imitate us, but it felt like he was living in his own alternate reality.But then one day he started pointing at things. He started asking “What’s that?” He still makes lots of babble talk, but there’s a flow ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5597/Encourage-Your-Toddler-to-Ask-for-Things/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5597/Encourage-Your-Toddler-to-Ask-for-Things/ Wed, 18 Apr 2007 08:00:12 -0700 pfallerj What are you going to do when your little boy discovers that he’s a little boy?Regardless of the way you feel about touching your private parts, having a son or daughter that walks around in public with a hand down their pants isn’t really socially acceptable.The most important thing to remember right now is that your baby isn’t doing it ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5557/What-to-Do-When-Your-Baby-Touches-Himself/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5557/What-to-Do-When-Your-Baby-Touches-Himself/ Sun, 15 Apr 2007 20:11:26 -0700 pfallerj Do it Every DayThe most important thing you can do for your baby early on is getting him into a teeth cleaning routine. It’s especially important to do it at night, so try to work it into the pre- bedtime schedule.Use a Soft Bristled BrushThere are plenty of kid’s toothbrushes out there. Our dentist recommended the Oral-B Stages Stage 2 ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5487/Taking-Care-of-Your-Babys-Teeth/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5487/Taking-Care-of-Your-Babys-Teeth/ Tue, 10 Apr 2007 20:49:03 -0700 pfallerj We fell behind on the first dentist appointment because we moved from Detroit to Chicago while my son was approaching the 1 year mark, but today we finally got him in for his first dentist appointment.Even though your kid might have only three or four teeth, they should get into the dentist around their first birthday. They won’t get a ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5435/What-to-Expect-at-the-First-Dental-Checkup/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5435/What-to-Expect-at-the-First-Dental-Checkup/ Fri, 06 Apr 2007 21:20:30 -0700 pfallerj Remember the 72-hour diet I blogged about for when your baby has the stomach flu? The first 24-hours involve giving your baby Pedialyte or Gatorade exclusively to help them stay hydrated while they get through the worst of the vomiting/diarhea.An important thing to remember if your baby is vomiting - anything you put in will probably come back out. More ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5406/Buy-Clear-Pedialyte-When-Your-Kid-Has-the-Flu/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5406/Buy-Clear-Pedialyte-When-Your-Kid-Has-the-Flu/ Tue, 03 Apr 2007 17:06:01 -0700 pfallerj My son’s favorite fruit is bananas. But whenever we cut them up for him, the pieces are always sticky and slippery. He gets them all over his clothes and hands, and has trouble picking them up to boot.Here’s a way you can make the pieces a less messy and easier to pick up.Pick a banana that’s just become ripe. It’ll ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5300/No-More-Sticky-Bananas/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5300/No-More-Sticky-Bananas/ Mon, 26 Mar 2007 10:01:30 -0700 pfallerj If you made a short list of the things my son is absolutely obsessed with doing right now, it might include the following: Play with our computer and the cords Try to climb in the fridge when it’s open Stand in the kitty litter box Rock the floor lamp back and forthFun stuff huh? My guess ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5262/Teaching-Your-Toddler-the-Word-No/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5262/Teaching-Your-Toddler-the-Word-No/ Fri, 23 Mar 2007 11:42:54 -0700 pfallerj So it’s almost spring time and you’ve got lots of those one-piece, super warm PJs all stocked up from the winter. It’s still cold out, but your toddler is quickly filling out all the warm pajamas you have on hand.You don’t want to buy all new ones, he’ll only use them for a month or so. You can’t put him ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5232/Make-Pajamas-Last-a-Little-Longer/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5232/Make-Pajamas-Last-a-Little-Longer/ Wed, 21 Mar 2007 21:05:29 -0700 pfallerj I don’t get it. At least seven times a day, my son needs his diaper changed. At least seven times a day, he cries, fights, struggles and tries to be anywhere in the world but getting his Pampers swapped.Chances are, the days of playing peek-a-boo behind the diaper are long-gone if you’ve got a toddler. So how do you keep ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5168/How-to-Keep-Your-Kid-From-Screaming-on-the-Changing-Table/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5168/How-to-Keep-Your-Kid-From-Screaming-on-the-Changing-Table/ Sun, 18 Mar 2007 15:35:52 -0700 pfallerj It’s springtime here in the States, and that means it’s perfect walking weather. My son is also getting to the age where he’s starting to get confident about his skills as a pedestrian.What a coincidence! Good weather + walking toddler = lots of walks.There are a lot of benefits to walking, for both you and your baby. Namely, the exercise. ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5130/Go-for-a-Walk/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5130/Go-for-a-Walk/ Thu, 15 Mar 2007 19:54:57 -0700 pfallerj Someone is always snubbedParenting is all about compromises. You want to read a book, your baby wants to play. One set of grandparents wants to see him this weekend, but you’re spending the day at the beach. Learn how to strike a fair balance in your family life, and you’ll be in for exciting times.In the beginning, it’s all about ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5083/What-March-Madness-Can-Teach-Us-About-Parenting/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5083/What-March-Madness-Can-Teach-Us-About-Parenting/ Mon, 12 Mar 2007 20:05:01 -0700 pfallerj I don’t usually post about products on this blog. In general, I also tend to ignore the dearth of USB-related products out there (USB Beer Cooler, USB Light Saber, etc.)But this Amber Alert Child ID Kit from Kingston caught my eye. You’ll probably never have to use it. But if your child gets kidnapped and it helps your find them, ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5045/Amber-Alert-Child-ID-Kit/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5045/Amber-Alert-Child-ID-Kit/ Fri, 09 Mar 2007 19:36:07 -0800 pfallerj My son is starting to discover different parts of his body - whenever he’s shirtless he’ll pat his stomach whenever we say “Where’s your belly?.”I’m starting to notice he’s learning about faces too. He knows eyes, nose, mouth, ears, etc. But we’re running into a slight problem. Instead of just pointing to the body part, he’ll jam his finger right ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5026/Tip-Teach-Your-Baby-to-Not-Poke-at-Eyes/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5026/Tip-Teach-Your-Baby-to-Not-Poke-at-Eyes/ Thu, 08 Mar 2007 11:50:22 -0800 pfallerj Our son couldn’t keep any kind of solid food down and had diarrhea. We had no idea what to do, so we called the doctor.The diagnosis was a stomach virus. According to the pediatrician, it has to run its course naturally while feeding our son a special diet over 72 hours. We were a bit skeptical, since he wasn’t keeping ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4998/72-Hour-Menu-if-Your-Baby-has-a-Stomach-Virus/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4998/72-Hour-Menu-if-Your-Baby-has-a-Stomach-Virus/ Mon, 05 Mar 2007 20:01:15 -0800 pfallerj When you wean your baby off the bottle and onto cups, they might stop drinking their milk. If your baby is going through a stage where he doesn’t want to drink the white stuff, how do you make sure he’s getting the calcium he needs?There are plenty of other sources of calcium, some you might not expect. If you do ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4959/Alternative-Sources-of-Calcium/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4959/Alternative-Sources-of-Calcium/ Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:00:42 -0800 pfallerj If you use these brands of bottles - Dr. Brown’s, Evenflo, Gerber, Playtex - you may want to read this article on CNN.The baby bottle industry is saying that the chemicals found by independent experts convened by the National Institutes of Health are harmless. The experts sy otherwise.I’m glad that we use Avent Bottles right now. It may be a ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4927/Study-Find-Some-Popular-Brands-of-Baby-Bottles-Dangerous/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4927/Study-Find-Some-Popular-Brands-of-Baby-Bottles-Dangerous/ Tue, 27 Feb 2007 19:55:21 -0800 pfallerj Whenever we take our son out to a restaurant or to see family and friends, we’ve got trouble getting him to eat. There’s always something else going on he’d rather be doing, some toy on the floor he’d rather be playing with. It doesn’t matter if there’s carrots or cake on his plate, he wants out of that high chair.It ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4924/Successfully-Eating-Around-Other-People/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4924/Successfully-Eating-Around-Other-People/ Tue, 27 Feb 2007 19:41:15 -0800 pfallerj Edit - Forgot to log-in before I posted. Sorry for the double post!Your baby is probably just getting to the stage where he “gets stuff.” You show him how to throw a ball, and he throws it. You show him how to play peek-a-boo, and he laughs and hides. Someone shows him how to scream at the top of his ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4876/Get-Your-Kid-to-Remember-Family-Members/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4876/Get-Your-Kid-to-Remember-Family-Members/ Tue, 27 Feb 2007 19:42:12 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Remember where you came from to get where you're goingDay 1 - Today's Tip - Have an OB that you like, trust and knows your wishes.Even though its common sense to trust your doctor, its even more important to like them and to know without a doubt that they're looking out for your best ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4821/Go-Back-to-the-Beginning/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4821/Go-Back-to-the-Beginning/ Wed, 21 Feb 2007 18:49:05 -0800 pfallerj Today's First Time Parenting Tip - Track your baby's milestones to make sure they're developing correctlyIts important to make sure that your infant doesn't have any developmental problems, but if he or she seems slow in one area, don't worry about it too much unless they're way behind or your pediatrician seems concerned. Everyone loves to compare their accomplishments to ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4820/Can-You-Do-This-Month-12/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4820/Can-You-Do-This-Month-12/ Wed, 21 Feb 2007 18:45:01 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Switch your infant from formula to whole milk gradually.If you've got a good natured baby that takes well to change, switching from formula to whole milk for their second year of life cold turkey might be a good approach. But if you've got a fussier baby or one that's more resistant to change, going ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4819/Switching-from-Formula-to-Whole-Milk/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4819/Switching-from-Formula-to-Whole-Milk/ Wed, 21 Feb 2007 18:43:36 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Try Crayola Color Wonder Fingerpaints and Coloring Book if your baby likes to color but you don't want a messColoring might be your infant's thing. If you let him mess around with crayons or fingerpaints every once and awhile, you know how much of a mess they can be. Especially fingerpaints. They have a ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4818/Finger-Paints-With-No-Mess/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4818/Finger-Paints-With-No-Mess/ Wed, 21 Feb 2007 18:40:25 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Track your baby's growth with yearly pictures and an objectWant to track your baby's growth, but don't want to mark up the doors in your house? Try what my wife and I are planning on doing.Every year, we'll take a picture. The idea is that he'll be wearing the same kind of clothes (I ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4813/Track-Your-Babys-Growth-Visually/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4813/Track-Your-Babys-Growth-Visually/ Wed, 21 Feb 2007 14:19:36 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Let your baby do his favorite things oftenRoutine and repetition are good for babies, so if he wants to read that story for the 15th time or wants to sing "Mary Had a Little Lamb" for two hours in a row, it's actually a good thing. It helps them build memory and cognition.So as ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4796/1st-Year-Round-Up-Top-5-Things-to-Do/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4796/1st-Year-Round-Up-Top-5-Things-to-Do/ Tue, 20 Feb 2007 20:19:27 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Give your baby his favorite, healthy foods and encourage him to try new onesIt may take up to ten tries for a baby to learn to like a food, so when you get success with one it's tempting to serve that up every time. It's always good to have some old, reliable comfort food ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4795/1st-Year-Round-Up-Top-5-Foods/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4795/1st-Year-Round-Up-Top-5-Foods/ Tue, 20 Feb 2007 20:18:25 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Bring out your baby's favorite toy as part of play timeIs there a toy in the toy chest that your baby goes for every single time? You should have some time scheduled every day for active and quiet play, and toys can definitely be a pert of that. While there are lots of great ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4794/1st-Year-Round-Up-Top-5-Toys/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4794/1st-Year-Round-Up-Top-5-Toys/ Tue, 20 Feb 2007 20:17:15 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Read your baby's favorite stories to him every day.When it comes to developing memory and learning to associate words with objects, there's no better tool than books. Every time you read them, the words and images are the same. If your baby loves a certain book, he could read it at least 15 times. ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4793/1st-Year-Round-Up-Top-5-Books/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4793/1st-Year-Round-Up-Top-5-Books/ Tue, 20 Feb 2007 20:15:43 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - At 12 months, your baby "should" be drinking about 2 cups of milk or formulaAs part of the first year round up, I'm going to look at taking stock of where your baby is at. Keep in mind that these are averages, and they could fall above or below these ranges and be perfectly ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4792/How-Much-Should-Your-12-Month-Old-Drink/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4792/How-Much-Should-Your-12-Month-Old-Drink/ Tue, 20 Feb 2007 20:13:38 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Serving sizes for a twelve month old are different than adultsAs part of the first year round up, I'm going to look at taking stock of where your baby is at. Keep in mind that these are averages, and they could fall above or below these ranges and be perfectly fine. The numbers are ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4791/How-Much-Should-Your-12-Month-Old-Eat/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4791/How-Much-Should-Your-12-Month-Old-Eat/ Tue, 20 Feb 2007 20:12:36 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - At 12 months, your baby "should" be sleeping 11-13 hours at night, with one or two naps during the dayAs part of the first year round up, I'm going to look at taking stock of where your baby is at. Keep in mind that these are averages, and they could fall above or below ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4790/How-Much-Should-Your-12-Month-Old-Sleep/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4790/How-Much-Should-Your-12-Month-Old-Sleep/ Tue, 20 Feb 2007 20:11:19 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Use your own body heat or water a few degrees warmer than body temperature to treat frostbiteWe just escaped a bitter cold spell here in Chicago, but it's still February and I'm not holding my breath. Even though your infant probably isn't outside that much if its bitter cold, if temps are chilly and ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4788/How-to-Treat-Frostbite/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4788/How-to-Treat-Frostbite/ Tue, 20 Feb 2007 20:09:35 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Sign up for preschool around your baby's first birthdayI know it sounds crazy, and it is, but around Chicago, if you don't sign up for daycare or preschool early, you're sunk. We called at least 60 day cares and only found 1 that was taking infants. Guess who were sending him too.Supposedly it's just ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4787/Sign-Up-for-Preschool-Early/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4787/Sign-Up-for-Preschool-Early/ Tue, 20 Feb 2007 20:08:33 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Be sure to have some family traditions, they're the things memories are made ofIf you asked me what I remember most about growing up, I'd tell you I remember the yearly family vacations. I remember the way the excitement I felt every year when we'd go up north to Sleeping Bear Dunes Lakeshore for ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4786/Family-Traditions/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4786/Family-Traditions/ Tue, 20 Feb 2007 20:07:32 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Look back on the past year's expenses to figure out your new budgetIf you're the budgeting type, chances are you made one to account for the new expenses you knew would be associated with having a baby. Chances are, you were way off. Now that the year is up, it's a good time to ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4785/Set-a-Yearly-Budget/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4785/Set-a-Yearly-Budget/ Tue, 20 Feb 2007 20:05:50 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - If you're OK with your baby having sweets, try making cupcakes with this special fluffy frostingSome parents are alright with their babies having a sweet treat on a special occasion. Some even want it. There's nothing wrong with it at all, so don't let health nut parents make you feel poorly just because you ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4765/The-Decadent-Birthday-Treat/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4765/The-Decadent-Birthday-Treat/ Mon, 19 Feb 2007 20:21:54 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Try serving fruit smoothies for a healthy birthday snackIt's almost 1st birthday time, so what are you going to serve for dessert? Some day cares allow you to bring a treat for a birthday, and if you're throwing a party, you'll probably want something sweet and tasty to finish off a meal.But for the ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4764/The-Healthy-Birthday-Treat/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4764/The-Healthy-Birthday-Treat/ Mon, 19 Feb 2007 20:20:49 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Whether you cut your baby's hair yourself, or have a barber do it, safety is number oneMy son doesn't have a ton of hair, but even now after a year it's getting pretty shaggy. And when I think of him getting a haircut, all I think is - scissors...near the face...not a good idea.But ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4763/Your-Babys-First-Haircut/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4763/Your-Babys-First-Haircut/ Mon, 19 Feb 2007 20:19:47 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Buy clothes for your baby based on weight, and buy a size upHere in the States, the size standard for baby clothes goes by month. We've never been able to use this system because our son was so large when he was born. He was into "6 month" clothing right out of the gate!A ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4762/How-to-Buy-the-Right-Size-Clothes-for-Your-Baby/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4762/How-to-Buy-the-Right-Size-Clothes-for-Your-Baby/ Mon, 19 Feb 2007 20:12:34 -0800 pfallerj Encourage your child to explore their natural talents - stress free.By the time your baby is almost a year old, he might already be excelling in certain things. For instance, my son can walk around, kick a ball and pick up things I'd never guess a baby could pick up. Could your child be gifted? Every parent would like to ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4741/What-if-Your-Child-is-Gifted/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4741/What-if-Your-Child-is-Gifted/ Sun, 18 Feb 2007 20:11:52 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Keep only the essentials in your diaper bagWe got two diaper bags when our son was born. One was a gargantuan that was more like a duffle bag, and the other was a smaller, easier to carry version. It also has sequins and a woman shopping on the side of it, so you can ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4740/What-to-Pack-in-Your-Diaper-Bag/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4740/What-to-Pack-in-Your-Diaper-Bag/ Sun, 18 Feb 2007 20:10:00 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Plan ahead if you're taking a trip longer than an hour or so with your babyUnless you've got a very well-behaved infant, car rides can quickly turn from a pleasant, relaxing ride into a screaming journey into Hades. Some babies fall asleep in the car and will stay that way until you get them ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4739/How-to-Survive-a-Long-Car-Ride-with-Your-Baby/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4739/How-to-Survive-a-Long-Car-Ride-with-Your-Baby/ Sun, 18 Feb 2007 20:07:57 -0800 pfallerj Use 5 back blows, then 5 chest thrusts to help a choking infant.Your baby is chowing down on some cut up pieces of fruit when all of a sudden you see them try to cough and their eyes go as big as saucers. They're choking - what are you going to do?The important thing is to not panic. Commit the ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4738/How-to-Help-a-Choking-Infant/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4738/How-to-Help-a-Choking-Infant/ Sun, 18 Feb 2007 20:05:53 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Brush up on your first aid skills every yearWay back on Day 150 I blogged about taking a first aid class. I never posted any first aid tips specifically, and I definitely know I could use a refresher.Daycare and child care providers are required to take a First Aid class every year because they ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4737/Brush-Up-on-Your-First-Aid-Class-Once-a-Year/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4737/Brush-Up-on-Your-First-Aid-Class-Once-a-Year/ Sun, 18 Feb 2007 20:03:59 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Get a Chime Garden from Lamaze for your baby, our son loved itOur son's first birthday gift arrived in the mail from his aunt and uncle down in Louisville, Kentucky. It's a great toy that I can't say enough good things about, but the biggest vote of confidence comes from my son himself. He ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4716/Early-1st-Birthday-Gift-A-Chime-Garden-from-Lamaze/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4716/Early-1st-Birthday-Gift-A-Chime-Garden-from-Lamaze/ Sat, 17 Feb 2007 20:36:32 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Get a sippy cup with a screw capMaybe they make better sippy cups with snap on lids than the ones we just bought. But this was my experience with them.I filled the cup up with formula. I took extra care to make sure the cap was on tight, knowing that my son would drop ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4715/Get-a-Sippy-Cup-with-a-Screw-Cap/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4715/Get-a-Sippy-Cup-with-a-Screw-Cap/ Sat, 17 Feb 2007 20:35:13 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Use patience, imitation and a baby-safe fork to teach you infant how to use flatwareGiving your baby a spoon seems a lot more natural and safe than giving them a fork. After all, the spoon doesn't have sharp tines they can poke their skin or eyes with.But you can teach them how to use ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4714/How-to-Teach-Your-Baby-to-Use-a-Fork/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4714/How-to-Teach-Your-Baby-to-Use-a-Fork/ Sat, 17 Feb 2007 20:34:21 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Take advantage of the freebies you get when your baby is youngWhat's the best part about having a baby? Is it the unconditional love? The innocent laugh? The hugs?Nope! It's all the freebies you get to take advantage of because your baby is under 2. Kids only get more expensive with age, so cash ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4713/9-Things-You-Can-Do-For-Free-With-Your-Baby/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4713/9-Things-You-Can-Do-For-Free-With-Your-Baby/ Sat, 17 Feb 2007 20:32:47 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tips - Pampers are the best kind of diapers for preventing bowel blowouts. Every bit as disgusting as it sounds.Usually I'm pretty brand agnostic. If there are two biggies out there, like Coke and Pepsi, or McDonald's or Burger King, I switch between the two pretty freely. There's rarely a discernible difference that makes me want ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4712/Pampers-Vs-Huggies/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4712/Pampers-Vs-Huggies/ Sat, 17 Feb 2007 20:31:38 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Say please and thank you to your infant when they do what you want them toHow many times have you seen a parent at the grocery store ask their kid to be quiet or to stop doing something, and then once the kid does what's asked of them, the parent just turns away and ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4711/Say-Your-Pleases-and-Thank-Yous/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4711/Say-Your-Pleases-and-Thank-Yous/ Sat, 17 Feb 2007 20:30:27 -0800 pfallerj Today's First Time Parenting Tip - Track your baby's milestones to make sure they're developing correctlyIts important to make sure that your infant doesn't have any developmental problems, but if he or she seems slow in one area, don't worry about it too much unless they're way behind or your pediatrician seems concerned. Everyone loves to compare their accomplishments to ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4709/Can-You-Do-This-Month-11/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4709/Can-You-Do-This-Month-11/ Sat, 17 Feb 2007 20:27:27 -0800 pfallerj Part 4 - The Thank You - Part of the First Birthday SeriesToday's first time parenting tip - Make easy, hand made "thank you's" by your babyThe party's over, the food was a hit, everyone had a blast and you got some great, practical and fun gifts for your baby. What's the best way to say thank you to the ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4700/First-Birthday-Ideas-Part-4-The-Thank-You/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4700/First-Birthday-Ideas-Part-4-The-Thank-You/ Sat, 17 Feb 2007 06:52:55 -0800 pfallerj Part 3 - The Gift - Part of the 1st Birthday Ideas SeriesToday's first time parenting tip - Get your baby something fun, and something practical for their 1st birthdayYour baby is turning one, and especially if he's the first baby in the family, he's going to get spoiled. How do you keep people from going overboard and inundating your ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4699/First-Birthday-Ideas-Part-3-The-Gift/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4699/First-Birthday-Ideas-Part-3-The-Gift/ Sat, 17 Feb 2007 06:51:51 -0800 pfallerj Part 2 - The Fun - Part of the 1st Birthday Ideas SeriesToday's first time parenting tip - Throw fun games centered around your baby to keep people entertainedYou've got the food for your party...now what will people do after the meal is over? This is where parties can get very extravagant, very fast. I've heard of some parents getting ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4698/First-Birthday-Ideas-Part-2-The-Fun/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4698/First-Birthday-Ideas-Part-2-The-Fun/ Sat, 17 Feb 2007 06:50:59 -0800 pfallerj Part 1 - The Food - Part of the 1st Birthday Ideas SeriesToday's first time parenting tip - Pick foods that are easy to prepare, easy for baby to eat and that can be made ahead of timeThe 1st birthday is right around the corner! Are you going to plan a birthday bash for your little one? They may not ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4697/First-Birthday-Ideas-Part-1-The-Food/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4697/First-Birthday-Ideas-Part-1-The-Food/ Sat, 17 Feb 2007 06:49:55 -0800 pfallerj Part 1 - The Food - Part of the 1st Birthday Ideas SeriesToday's first time parenting tip - Pick foods that are easy to prepare, easy for baby to eat and that can be made ahead of timeThe 1st birthday is right around the corner! Are you going to plan a birthday bash for your little one? They may not ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4696/First-Birthday-Ideas-Part-1-The-Food/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4696/First-Birthday-Ideas-Part-1-The-Food/ Sat, 17 Feb 2007 06:49:47 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Use 'silent' moments with your baby as an opportunity to sing and learnHow many times have you been driving in the car, stuck in traffic, with your baby in the back seat and the only sound in the car is the radio?Turn this 'silent' time where you're seemingly separated and unable to interact with ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4685/Sing-in-the-Car/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4685/Sing-in-the-Car/ Fri, 16 Feb 2007 21:48:14 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Babyproof your toilet. Yes, your toilet.When our son discovered there was water he could splash around in the toilet bowl, it was over. Whenever the bathroom door is open, he makes a beeline. If my wife or I are taking a shower, he'd crawl over hot coals to play in the water. He just ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4684/Babyproof-Your-Toilet/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4684/Babyproof-Your-Toilet/ Fri, 16 Feb 2007 21:46:18 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Feed your baby these ten foods and you'll be giving them some great nutritionKiwi - More vitamin C than an orange, it also comes with a good amount of fiber and potassium. Plus, according to a study by Thorax, it helps prevent asthma.Apricots - Vitamin A and dietary fiber. These were my son's favorite ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4683/Ten-Super-Nutritious-Foods-for-Your-Baby/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4683/Ten-Super-Nutritious-Foods-for-Your-Baby/ Fri, 16 Feb 2007 21:08:09 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Moisturize your baby's skin to fight off excemaRed, itchy, dry skin. It's all part of excema, a skin condition where the upper layers of skin become inflamed. If it becomes severe, the skin can crack, blister and even scar. The best way to treat excema yourself is to keep the skin moisturizes. Excema is ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4682/What-to-Do-If-Your-Baby-has-Excema/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4682/What-to-Do-If-Your-Baby-has-Excema/ Fri, 16 Feb 2007 20:28:57 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Make weaning your baby off his bottle as stress-free as possibleThere's no right or wrong time to wean your baby off the bottle. And your way of attacking it can be as gradual or as cold turkey as you want. My advice would be to go with as stress free a method as possible.The ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4680/How-to-Wean-Your-Baby-Off-a-Bottle/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4680/How-to-Wean-Your-Baby-Off-a-Bottle/ Fri, 16 Feb 2007 19:57:25 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Use 'silent' moments with your baby as an opportunity to sing and learnHow many times have you been driving in the car, stuck in traffic, with your baby in the back seat and the only sound in the car is the radio?Turn this 'silent' time where you're seemingly separated and unable to interact with ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4678/Sing-in-the-Car/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4678/Sing-in-the-Car/ Fri, 16 Feb 2007 19:40:24 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Rather than just saying no, give your baby a chance to play with a safe toy as an alternative.We don't have a ton of baby toys, but we've got a good variety of ones our son likes to play with. Yet all he seems to want to do if play with the stuff he's ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4677/Safe-Alternatives-for-Unsafe-Behaviors/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4677/Safe-Alternatives-for-Unsafe-Behaviors/ Fri, 16 Feb 2007 19:34:10 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Use patients and a calm attitude to get dogs and infants to co-exist by establishing pack dominance.If you've had a dog for a few years and add a baby into the mix, things can get hairy. Before the fur flies, you should do everything you can to get them used to each other, so ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4655/How-to-Make-Sure-Your-Dog-and-Infant-Get-Along/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4655/How-to-Make-Sure-Your-Dog-and-Infant-Get-Along/ Thu, 15 Feb 2007 20:25:34 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Learn how to spot the signs of croup in your babyA co-worker was telling me the other day about how his daughter ended up in the emergency room because of croup, and it made me hop online to check out the symptoms to make sure I was prepared.Croup is a viral infection that causes ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4654/Sypmtoms-of-Croup/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4654/Sypmtoms-of-Croup/ Thu, 15 Feb 2007 20:24:31 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Save the pages your baby rips out of books for a collageI don't know why we give my son books with paper pages in them. Most of the time, he likes to look at the pictures, on his own or with us. If it's an animal book, he'll make lion roars or monkey noises.But ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4653/Turn-Ripped-Out-Pages-Into-a-Memory/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4653/Turn-Ripped-Out-Pages-Into-a-Memory/ Thu, 15 Feb 2007 20:23:37 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Have your baby paint some heart magnets and give them to family members for Valentine's DayIt's right around Valentine's Day, and grandparents are probably going to use this time as an excuse to shower your baby with more gifts. It's about time your baby gave something back! Here's a fun idea my wife came ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4652/Heart-Magnets-A-Valentine-Gift-From-Your-Baby/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4652/Heart-Magnets-A-Valentine-Gift-From-Your-Baby/ Thu, 15 Feb 2007 20:22:27 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Drop your baby off at a babysitter and do something you would have done before your marriedToday at work we were talking about plans for Valentines Day, and one of the guys was making a big dinner with his fiance. Oysters, wine, steamed crab, the works. Every single one of the married people there ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4651/Go-Back-to-the-Days-Before-You-Had-Kids/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4651/Go-Back-to-the-Days-Before-You-Had-Kids/ Thu, 15 Feb 2007 20:21:09 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - As you give your baby more and more regular foods, keep a close eye out for food allergiesYour infant is probably getting to the point where he's trying all sorts of new foods at your house, at other houses, at a restaurant, at daycare, etc. Since you don't know how they are prepared or ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4649/Symptoms-of-Food-Allergies/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4649/Symptoms-of-Food-Allergies/ Thu, 15 Feb 2007 20:19:46 -0800 pfallerj This post looks better on my blog with pictures...might want to check it out thereToday's first time parenting tip - Parenting is a lot like Chicago Sports.So this might be a bit of a stretch, but I noticed some uncanny similarities between Chicago sports teams and parenting today. Let me elaborate.Chicago Bears No matter how good a job you do, ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4648/What-Chicago-Sports-Teams-Can-Teach-Us-About-Parenting/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4648/What-Chicago-Sports-Teams-Can-Teach-Us-About-Parenting/ Thu, 15 Feb 2007 20:18:11 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - As your baby gets older and more active, washing their hands more often is more importantWhen your baby's idea of a good time was laying on their back for two hours looking at a ceiling fan, cleanliness wasn't as much of an issue. Now they're into everything, playing with and eating food, making messes ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4629/Wash-Your-Babys-Hands/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4629/Wash-Your-Babys-Hands/ Wed, 14 Feb 2007 19:37:33 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Encourage constructive destruction. I know that'll need an explanation.Are you frustrated that all your baby seems to do is throw things down, knock over the buildings you build and try to rip all the pages out of his books?Don't be. That's all my son does when he plays.At this age, infants haven't developed the ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4628/Destruction-vs-Construction/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4628/Destruction-vs-Construction/ Wed, 14 Feb 2007 19:36:30 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Take your baby to the local aquarium and watch them be wowed.Looking for a fun activity you can do on the weekend that'll keep your baby interested? Try taking them to the aquarium. Our son absolutely loved his trip to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.Unlike the zoo, you can get right up close to ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4609/Take-Your-Baby-to-the-Aquarium/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4609/Take-Your-Baby-to-the-Aquarium/ Tue, 13 Feb 2007 15:54:09 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Patience and imitation are your best friends when teaching your baby how to use a spoonUsing silverware is the next step for your baby after they learn how to eat with their fingers. Since it requires fine motor skills, balance and coordination, you can expect the process to take a little bit of coaching. ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4608/How-to-Teach-Your-Baby-to-Use-a-Spoon/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4608/How-to-Teach-Your-Baby-to-Use-a-Spoon/ Tue, 13 Feb 2007 15:53:16 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Anything with a button or something your baby can press should be a big hitOur son is getting to the age where he can actually start interacting and using his toys for what they were 'meant' to do. This will make them last quite a bit longer than if he kept picking them up ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4607/Busy-Baby-Fingers-Love-to-Play-with-Buttons/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4607/Busy-Baby-Fingers-Love-to-Play-with-Buttons/ Tue, 13 Feb 2007 15:52:03 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Keep one of your kitchen cupboards reserved for your baby to play in.Once you've baby-proofed the whole house, to your baby it may no longer seem like a fun place to play. They might get frustrated and all the more determined to get back the cabinet locks you've put on all the cupboards in ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4606/How-to-Keep-Your-Baby-Out-of-the-Cupboards/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4606/How-to-Keep-Your-Baby-Out-of-the-Cupboards/ Tue, 13 Feb 2007 15:50:13 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Make your baby a dentist appointment for around their 1 year birthdayYour infant's first dentist appointment should be somewhere close to their one-year birthday. Your baby may or may not have all his teeth in yet, but the dentist should still check their teeth and gums to make sure they're healthy.Like your pediatrician, you ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4605/Make-a-Dentist-Appointment-Around-the-1-Year-Birthday/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4605/Make-a-Dentist-Appointment-Around-the-1-Year-Birthday/ Tue, 13 Feb 2007 15:47:37 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Treat a yeast infection with an anti-yeast creamSo the diaper rash we thought our son had turned out to be a yeast infection. It's a little bit different from a diaper rash and it can also spread to their mouth as well. Here's how to tell if your dealing with a yeast infection: ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4604/How-to-Treat-Yeast-Infection-in-Infants/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4604/How-to-Treat-Yeast-Infection-in-Infants/ Tue, 13 Feb 2007 15:44:39 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Play kick the ball rather than catch the ballAt 10 or 11 months, your baby probably won't get the hang of playing catch. Our son mostly just watches the ball come towards him as we roll it along the floor, it'll hit him, he'll laugh and then pick it up. He enjoys it quite ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4603/Play-Kick-Instead-of-Catch/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4603/Play-Kick-Instead-of-Catch/ Tue, 13 Feb 2007 15:43:33 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Play games of hide and seek with your babyWant a good way to have fun with your infant, develop their memory and improve their understanding of objects in the world, all in one shot?Playing hide and seek games with your child is the answer. By showing them an object or a person, and then ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4596/Play-Hide-and-Seek-With-Your-Baby/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4596/Play-Hide-and-Seek-With-Your-Baby/ Mon, 12 Feb 2007 20:21:56 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Let your baby interact with the world as much as possibleAs your baby gets older, he's going to want to do more and more of the things you do. While you might be in a rush to go and get on your way, you should slow down and let your infant try to do ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4595/Let-Your-Baby-Take-the-Wheel/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4595/Let-Your-Baby-Take-the-Wheel/ Mon, 12 Feb 2007 20:19:16 -0800 pfallerj Today's First Time Parenting Tip - Track your baby's milestones to make sure they're developing correctlyIts important to make sure that your infant doesn't have any developmental problems, but if he or she seems slow in one area, don't worry about it too much unless they're way behind or your pediatrician seems concerned. Everyone loves to compare their accomplishments to ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4594/Can-You-Do-This-Month-10/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4594/Can-You-Do-This-Month-10/ Mon, 12 Feb 2007 20:15:44 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Keep cool and treat a fever naturallyYour eleven month infant's temperature hits 102. You panic. What could it be? You'd like to think it's teething, but you're just not sure. It might be something worse. Everything else seems to be fine. No change in behavior. Bowel movements are normal. Fevers are the bodies natural ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4593/4-Ways-to-Treat-a-Fever-Naturally/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4593/4-Ways-to-Treat-a-Fever-Naturally/ Mon, 12 Feb 2007 20:13:13 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Name and call out colors for your baby 24/7As early on as 1 month old, your infant can tell the difference between colors. And since the world is filled with lots of different hues, its a very easy thing to teach your baby about the world around them.Here are some fun activities you can ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4583/Games-to-Teach-Your-Infant-About-Color/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4583/Games-to-Teach-Your-Infant-About-Color/ Mon, 12 Feb 2007 13:05:20 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Mix vegetables in with eggs for a high-protein, high -vitamin breakfast for your infantHaving trouble getting your infant to eat their vegetables? Try mixing them right in with some eggs and watch them gobble it right up.Ingredients:1 large egg1 heaping tablespoon green beans1 heaping tablespoon peasDirections1. Puree the vegetables with the egg2. Scramble or ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4572/Recipe-for-Veggie-Eggs/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4572/Recipe-for-Veggie-Eggs/ Sun, 11 Feb 2007 19:43:15 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Try a variety of solutions to stop diaper rashIt's that red rash on a baby's bottom and the scream they let out when you go to wipe them that makes diaper rash a lot less fun than a picnic for both you and the baby. Diaper rash is caused by the skin down there ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4571/4-Ways-to-Get-Rid-of-Diaper-Rash/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4571/4-Ways-to-Get-Rid-of-Diaper-Rash/ Sun, 11 Feb 2007 19:42:09 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Cross your baby's arms to improve cognitive developmentThis one comes from my mom, a preschool teacher. As a person responsible for getting young minds ready for school, she's got a whole repertoire of activities designed to help kids socialize, develop, etc.One easy one she told me last weekend was how she and her teaching ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4528/Improve-Your-Babys-Right-and-Left-Brain/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4528/Improve-Your-Babys-Right-and-Left-Brain/ Fri, 09 Feb 2007 07:26:49 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Rotate the toys your baby plays with to keep them interested.I knew my son was getting bored with the toys he was playing with when he'd refuse to pick them up and instead tried to play with the computer, push over the boxes holding our clothes (we're still moving), rip pages out of magazines ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4514/How-to-Keep-Your-Baby-Interested-in-Play/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4514/How-to-Keep-Your-Baby-Interested-in-Play/ Thu, 08 Feb 2007 18:42:22 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Do a daily "partial" cleanupWhen you've got a baby, toys, a short attention span and the urge to move everywhere, your house can feel a lot like a plastic jungle with toys, tupperware, books and clothes all over the place. One of my son's favorite activities is to carry stuff back and forth across ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4486/Keeping-the-House-Clean-with-an-Active-Baby/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4486/Keeping-the-House-Clean-with-an-Active-Baby/ Wed, 07 Feb 2007 10:36:09 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Brush your baby's teeth in the morningBy now your baby should have a couple teeth all the way in, with more on the way. Hopefully you've made a dentist appointment around his 1-year birthday (I need to get on that), and you're brushing his teeth with a soft bristled brush at least once a ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4468/Brush-Babys-Teeth-in-the-Morning/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4468/Brush-Babys-Teeth-in-the-Morning/ Tue, 06 Feb 2007 16:24:23 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Play tag with your babyLooking for a fun game you can play just about anywhere with your baby? They'll usually love tag, or any type of game where you come to get them. My son likes to hide behind the bedroom door, peek around and then run away once he knows I've seen him.Games ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4427/Tag-Youre-It/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4427/Tag-Youre-It/ Mon, 05 Feb 2007 13:17:57 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Stock up on savings bondsIf family members or friends are looking for "the perfect gift" for your baby, turn them on to the idea of savings bonds for babies. While not as fun as a giant plastic playhouse, a savings bond is a gift that your child will appreciate far more than a plastic ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4409/Save-Up-With-Savings-Bonds/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4409/Save-Up-With-Savings-Bonds/ Sun, 04 Feb 2007 20:10:35 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - If you've got a long drive with your baby, make it at nightOnce your baby is moving around, they probably don't like to be restrained very much. So long car rides can quickly turn from a Sunday drive into a screaming drive.If your baby gets antsy when they're in the car for long periods, ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4408/Travel-at-Night/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4408/Travel-at-Night/ Sun, 04 Feb 2007 20:08:39 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Cover up all exposed skin in the bitter coldIf anyone else lives in the Midwest, you know that right now we're in the midst of a ridiculously cold spell. It's so cold that my hair, still damp from the shower froze solid when I went outside.This kind of weather is dangerous, not only for ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4399/Bundle-Up-in-the-Cold/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4399/Bundle-Up-in-the-Cold/ Sun, 04 Feb 2007 14:43:56 -0800 pfallerj Today's first time parenting tip - Write a letter to your baby at least once a year.Time seems to fly by very fast. You're probably taking lots of pictures, keeping your baby book meticulously up-to-date, etc. As the years go on, this will probably subside. Not for lack of love, but just because all the new things that seem to ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4358/Write-a-Yearly-Letter-for-Your-Baby/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4358/Write-a-Yearly-Letter-for-Your-Baby/ Thu, 01 Feb 2007 18:52:29 -0800