I know that we are spared from the endless sibling squabbles, next-level multitasking, and teaching multiple grade levels at home – kudos to you parents of two, three or more! Though, I worry that this ‘only-child syndrome’ thing may be taken to a whole new level as we navigate this new world of isolation.

While he’s happy and thriving (there are kids who have endured far worse!), I want to ensure he is not missing out on the social stimulation needed to support his development at this age. I am finding him harassing our cat, or talking to our Google Home, far too often. Here are some ways I’m trying to keep my ‘only’ from getting too lonely.

Embracing technology

Before COVID-19 there was no way I was giving my 4-year-old a device – especially my own phone – to use to chat with his friends. But now? He’s using Messenger Kids, WhatsApp, Zoom and Facetime to connect with friends from school, cousins and grandparents. Chatting with those he used to see regularly has given him some normalcy, even if these four-year-olds just say silly things, or co-exist virtually, saying nothing at all. I’ve been showing him Instagram stories that parent friends post of the kids he knows. He’s able to see that his peers are doing the same thing as him. And for grandparents, a video chat is like a big virtual hug, brightening their day as much as ours.

Walking the neighbourhood

We try to get out every day, no matter what the weather. Each time we do, we see classmates and bus buddies playing in their yards or out on a bike ride. My son is overjoyed to say hello from a distance and see that his pals are doing the same things he does. I’ve seen that older kids are leaving each other notes with chalk on their driveways, and we’ve use our walk to pop notes in the mail for friends.

Making time for play

This is a tough one for me, because I would rather work, make dinner or tidy up than pretend I am Rubble waiting on my mission from Chase. I often find myself saying ‘no’ to these silly requests, but I have to catch myself. My kiddo has no one else to engage in imaginative play, parallel play or anything else that four-year-olds like to do. It has to be me or my husband. This means I’m playing a game of tag in the house or dressing up much more often than I would like to, but my son is fulfilled when I say, ‘yes’ to play.

Having an honest chat

Our children are sensing our anxiety and fear, and for an only child who is around only stressed out adults, they can really internalize these feelings themselves. I make a point to ask my son if he has any questions about everything that’s going on and to talk about what he’s feeling. I try to keep things age-appropriate, but factual. I want to assure him that this situation is temporary and that I’m proud of him for handling it so well.

In the end, kids are generally resilient and most of our kids will get through this unscathed. While the lack of sibling bickering just might be saving our sanity, those of us who are parents of ‘only’ kids may just need to put in some extra TLC these days.

 …

The post My Only Child Won’t See Another Kid For Months. Here’s What I’m Doing About It appeared first on The Mabelhood.

Printables are a great resource for parents who are looking for free activities that their kids can do at home! Not only are they a fun activity for your kids, but they also require using a little brain power. Below are a selection of FREE printables for you to download and use right now!

Kids’ Printables

There are thousands of printables available online on various sites and blogs, but sometimes it’s hard to know which ones are age-appropriate for your child. To make it easy, we’ve categorized them.

All Ages:

Are your kids creating artwork to hang in the windows for passersby to enjoy? Here’s a sweet little thank you to frontline workers that can be coloured and placed in your window or on your front door – Thank You Frontline Workers Window Printable:

Preschool – Kindergarten:

This fun, spring-themed scavenger hunt will keep your kids busy while in the backyard or on a neighbourhood walk – Spring Scavenger Hunt Printable:

Have your kids follow the colour guide on this sweet picture – Color by Number Printable:

Early readers can practice their letter tracing and printing with these cute alphabet cards. Cut them out after they’ve filled them out for bonus sight word practice – Alphabet Cards Printable:

Grades 1 – 2:

Little ones can practice telling the time with this fun worksheet – Telling Time Printable:

This printable is a great visual way to practice early math skills – Adding to Ten Printable:

Send your kids off on an adventure through the house or the backyard with these scavenger hunt that involves writing practice – A to Z Scavenger Hunt:

Home Organization Printables

While they’re staying home, a lot of families are using the time to get organized, or check jobs off their to-do lists that they usually don’t have the time for. If you’re looking for some free home organization printables, here are a bunch we’ve created for you to print and use!

Want to declutter your home? Here’s an amazing 30-day challenge to help you do it! Choose one area each day and check it off once you’re done – 30 Day Declutter Challenge Printable:

Don’t forget those random to-dos or thoughts that pop into your head throughout the day by always keeping this awesome brain dump sheet out where you can access it – Brain Dump Printable:

Motivate your little ones to keep up with their chores by printing and posting this customizable chore chart – Kids’ Chore Chart Printable:

Is every member of your family talking about the things they wish they could do right now? Use this family bucket list to keep a record of it all! Once it’s safe to be out-and-about, you can reference the list – Family Bucket List Printable:

Print a bunch of these awesome grocery lists to use every time you need to go food shopping – Grocery List Printable:

Plan each of your meals every week with this handy meal planner. It takes all the guesswork out of meal time and makes grocery shopping easy – Weekly Meal Planner Printable:

Have bookworm in your house? Reading is a great activity while you’re spending so much time at home and this fun reading list lets you keep track of the books you’ve read and choose a favourite at the end! It’s great for readers of any age – Reading List Printable:

Didn’t find the printable or worksheet you were looking for? Here’s a list of more websites with some of the best free printables, worksheets and activities for kids:

www.education.com

www.createprintables.com

www.funlearningforkids.com

www.scholastic.com

www.activityvillage.co.uk

The post The Ultimate List of Free Printables For Kids appeared first on The Mabelhood.

And by fight, I mean the kind of yelling match that lingers in the air for days after, leaving everyone feeling raw, exhausted and regretful of their behaviour. The kind of fight that only happens once every few years.

I knew we were due to crack, tensions had been rising for days. It was just a matter of when it would finally come to a head.

There’s been nothing normal about our lives over the past 3 weeks in isolation. We’ve both been trying to keep up our busy full-time jobs from home, while still caring for our 3-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter. Our days have been spent feverishly typing away on our computers during any spare moments that aren’t spent preparing snacks, breaking up bickering siblings or consoling their boredom tantrums.

They’ve spent hours each day zombied-out in front of a screen. It’s the only way we can get a moment of quiet to join conference calls or write critical emails. Sometimes 2pm hits and I realize I haven’t even fed them lunch and, because they’re deep into their 10th episode of Blippi, they haven’t even bothered to ask.

Online learning? Virtual classrooms? Pffff. My son has a 5-minute attention span and my daughter’s kindergarten assignments involve about 20 minutes of reading and writing practice, all of which are met with resistance and a battle that I just don’t have the emotional capacity for these days.

On top of that, the tension and stress in the house is palpable. The kids are more nervous, more sensitive than ever before. And how could I blame them? They’ve seen more crying and yelling in the last 3 weeks than they have their entire life. My husband and I are in a constant muttering-under-our-breath battle over whose turn it is to be “on” with the kids and who’s getting more quality working hours. Everyone’s nerves are frayed.

Believe me, I know we’re SO privileged to still have full-time work and a roof over our heads in this time when millions of people are losing their jobs and facing financial ruin. We’re lucky that we’re healthy and that we don’t have medical conditions that would make us high risk if we got sick. We’re all at home safe and our struggles are nothing compared to so many, but that doesn’t change the reality that this is hard as hell.

As a parent, it feels downright abusive to have to spend every day saying ‘no’ to each innocent request from my daughter who, in this time of uncertainty, is desperate for some normalcy. It feels wrong to be staring at my computer screen, ignoring my toddler’s presence, instead of making eye contact with him and giving him the loving form of reassurance he needs.

And as an employee I’m also failing. By the end of each day, my to-do list and email inbox have grown and I’m no further ahead. “Work unusual hours!” online articles suggest, but by 8pm when the house is finally quiet, my brain wants a break (no, NEEDS a break) so that I’m capable of continuing on the next day. The world needs to stop trying to find a solution to this and just admit what everyone who’s living it already knows: This can’t be fixed by working unusual hours or following a strict family schedule.

The reality of all this is that it’s not going to get easier. Sure, we may eventually become a little more complacent and our kids may get somewhat used to this new ‘normal’, but it’s never going to feel right. Parenting and working are two separate full-time jobs and it’s impossible to succeed at both simultaneously.

And that’s exactly why my husband and I blew up. There’s no solution, so we blamed each other. But the morning after our fight we did what we always do as parents. We smiled, we put our brave faces on and we pretended everything was alright.

…

The post Why This Isn’t Working For Working Parents appeared first on The Mabelhood.

So, thank goodness for the bottle. The genius invention that gives a mama the ability to leave her child in another loving person’s arms while she takes a much-needed break, gets a little sleep, or finally goes to that long-overdue appointment.

Well, in theory, yes. But there are a lot of breastfed babies who STRAIGHT UP REFUSE to take a bottle. Some cry and seal their lips, others just chew on the plastic nipple, unsure about what they’re meant to do. Getting your baby to accept a bottle can be a huge stressor that takes a lot of trial and error, practice and patience.

So what are some things you can do to try and encourage success with the transition?

Lactation consultants suggest the following to help breastfed babies transition to bottle:

Have your partner give baby the bottle

Sometimes, that one degree of separation works! Some babies get flustered and confused when their food source is trying to get them to feed in another way. Leave the room and try having your partner or another caregiver bottle feed instead. A lot of babies are more likely to accept a bottle from someone other than their mom.

Get the timing right

A starving, fussy baby isn’t going to have much patience for a new feeding source. Wait to introduce the bottle when your babe is hungry, but happy and calm. Many mamas have had success introducing a bottle during dream feeds, when the baby is drowsy.

Try different positions

If your baby is laying in the position they always breastfeed in, they might be less willing to take something new. Try feeding the baby in different positions or when they’re a little more separated from you, like in a bouncy chair or stroller (with you holding the bottle, of course).

It’s hard to know which bottle to buy when there are hundreds of different ones available. Don’t worry, mama. We did some research so that you can hopefully find one that works for your little bundle of joy. Here are the highest-rated baby bottles that breastfeeding moms have had the most success with.

Remember, finding a bottle that works is a trial-and-error process, so don’t buy bottles in bulk during your testing period!

Top Picks of Bottles for Breastfed Babies:

Como Tomo

The Como Tomo‘s unique style of bottle is soft and pliable, which is meant to mimic a breast for babies with especially wandering and curious hands. The wide mound and naturally shaped nipple were designed to help babies switch from breast to bottle easily. With thousands of positive reviews on Amazon, this bottle is a top choice for moms who are struggling and desperate.

MAM

If your baby has rejected slimmer nipple options, a MAM anti colic bottle might be worth a try. The MAM Ultra Soft Silicone Nipple makes it easy to switch from breastfeeding and bottle-feeding, and back. So if your baby is struggling with the switch, this might bottle might be a top choice for you.

Dr. Brown’s

The Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Bottle is a great option for babies who struggle with colic, gas and reflux as it’s designed with a full venting system to prevent any air from entering. The teat has a natural flow to prevent nipple confusion (or preference), but as your baby grows you can purchase faster flow teats to use with the same bottle. The venting system can be removed if your baby outgrows their feeding struggles and no longer requires it. This simplistic looking bottle does exactly what it says it will and has thousands of rave reviews.

MimiJumi

With it’s natural colours and shape, the Mimijumi Bottle claims to provide the easiest transition from breast to bottle. The slanted top and skin-like texture of the nipple should feel more natural to your baby. Warning: this bottle is definitely not the cheapest option, but if it works and you can get away for the odd baby-free break, it’s worth every single penny!

Medela

Backed by research, the Medela Calma bottle boasts a special nipple design that allows your baby to have complete control of the flow of milk. It also grows with your baby, so you won’t have to change nipple sizes as your little one grows and eats more. Another bonus? The body of the bottle screws directly on to a Medela breast pump, meaning less milk transferring and cleaning if you’re pumping and feeding.

Philip’s Avent

With an ultra-soft nipple and anti-colic design, the Philips Avent Natural is a great choice for mamas who want to switch easily between boob and bottle. The soft material and comfort petals on the nipple mimic the breast and allow for a natural latch and they’re easy to find at any store or online retailer (Bonus: they’re affordable). Reviews for these bottles often mention how easy they are to assemble and clean, which is a feature any busy parent will appreciate.

Trial and error, and a guilt-free breather

Selecting the right baby bottle can be very overwhelming, and what works for one baby may not work for the next. It’s a matter of trial-and-error, and as frustrating (and time consuming and expensive) as it can be, just know that you will eventually find something that works for you and baby! Remember, all moms deserve a break, so make sure to allow yourself a guilt-free breather.

Oh, and once you do find that holy grail bottle – don’t forget to get some Personalized Labels  for it so that you don’t lose it! Once your baby is all set with bottle feeding they’ll be more prepared for daycare. Good luck mama!

The post Best Bottles for Breastfed Babies Who Refuse a Bottle appeared first on The Mabelhood.

While we don’t have a way of truly predicting what names will be big this year, we can follow trends and see which monikers are gaining popularity and will likely continue to do so over the next 9 months.

We see a lot of names here at Mabel’s Labels. In fact, we see so many names each year, we may even consider ourselves to be baby name experts. So we took a good look at what’s gaining popularity to put together a list of all the names you might want to consider if you’re having a baby in 2019!

Here’s what we found:

Gender Neutral Names

In 2019, mamas-to-be are looking for gender-neutral names. There are lots of Google searches for “neutral baby names” and “unisex baby names”. These kinds of neutral names have been gaining big traction on top baby name lists for a while now, and it looks like they’ll continue to do so through the rest of the year.

Hued Names

Ever really LOVE the name of a paint colour? Well, evidently lots of other people do, too! Colour names are on the rise, especially ones depicting soft and muted hues – think Ash, Fawn and Sage.

Royal Baby Names

There’s no denying how powerful royal baby fever can be! During any year when a royal baby is due, there’s a huge surge in popularity for names that people think might be contenders. You can bet all the contending names, and whichever one Harry and Meghan end up using, will instantly soar to the top of all the name charts.

Spiritual Names

Interestingly, Biblical names (which are seemingly always popular) are trending downwards, whereas spiritual names are trending upwards. Names that originate from Sanskrit and Buddhism are quickly gaining traction, perhaps as a substitute for the more common Biblical ones.

‘Ugly’ Names

Yup. Those names you laughed about when you were a kid will soon be the hottest names on the school playground. Okay, maybe not. But they’re definitely seeing a little bit of a resurgence, likely because of their unpopularity for so long. If you name your daughter Gertrude, it’s safe to say she’ll be the only one in her school!

Utilitarian Names

Is it a sign of the times?! Names like Francis and Ruth are trending up, up, up. Feel like you’ve got a strong-willed girl on the way? Maybe she’s your own little Rosie the Riveter!

Celeb-Inspired Names

As always, whatever unique names celebrities have come up with for their kids will have their own little moment in the general public. Expect to suddenly come across a few kids named Stormi on your local playground this year. Another trend? Using the names of characters from popular movies and TV shows. Game of Thrones and Black Panther are particularly hot right now.

HERE ARE THE NAMES THAT ARE ON THE RISE IN 2019:

Girls

• Olive
• Fawn
• Alice
• Victoria
• Eugenie
• Diana
• Ariel
• Maude
• Francis
• Ruth
• Rosie
• Arianna
• Khaleesi
• Arya
• Merida
• Emilia
• Luna
• Stormi

Boys

• Sage
• Harry
• James
• Albert
• Arthur
• Phillip
• Bodhi
• Pax
• Clyde
• Alfred
• Hank

Gender Neutral 

• Briar
• Billie
• Quinn
• Finley
• Parker
• Ash

…

The post 35 Baby Names That Will Be Popular in 2019 appeared first on The Mabelhood.