Dana's Kids gives advice about New Years Resolutions

Resolutions for the New Year are often made and easily forgotten.  When we set manageable goals, we’re more likely to stick with our resolutions.  Check out our friends at Dana’s Kids they believe that empowered parents create happy families.  With that in mind, check out founder of Dana’s Kids Dana Rosenbloom’s top 3 realistic parenting tips for starting the year off right (and keeping it that way)!

1. Consistency-Children whose parents and caregivers are consistent have an easier time internalizing and following the rules.  They tantrum less and make better choices.  Talk to your partner and your child’s caregivers to make sure you are on the same page. 
2. Compliments-This year use specific praise.  Tell your child exactly what is was that you are complimenting.  Remember to encourage your children to be proud of their own accomplishments as well.  For example, “You put on your shoes and coat all by yourself today.  Great job.  You must feel so proud!” 
3. Quality time-Do your best to set aside, even 10 minutes, of uninterrupted interaction with your children. Talk, play, eat, hug, but most importantly, connect! A wise woman once told me: “Listen to a child and make sure you understand them as if you were going to be tested on it later.” What could be better, for both of you, than knowing your child in this way? I promise, it will make you both feel terrific! 

Dana Rosenbloom has a master’s degree in Infant and Parent Development and Early Intervention and has been working with children and families for over 10 years. Dana’s Kids provides parent education, play therapy, special education services, parent workshops and support groups, and professional development. To learn more about Dana and Dana’s Kids please visit www.DanasKids.com.  You can also follow Dana on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DanasKids1 and Twitter: @DJRkids 

Dana's Kids.  

empowered parents, happy families.

Big City Moms, always supporting LLD, invited us to their Sleep Experts Lunch to speak about the importance of communicating bedtime routines to your sitter. Here are a few important tips!

1. Give your sitter a tour of your home. Show your sitter the kids rooms, point out dangerous areas you want the kids to stay away from and give specific instructions on how things work.

2. Bedtime Rules. Talk to your sitter about your bedtime routine with the kids i.e. What time do you begin to wind down the night? What is your child's favorite story and/or bedtime song? What time should they be asleep by?

3. Special Instructions.  Are there any special rules you have? Do your kids have any allergies the sitter should know about? Are the kids sick and need medicine?

4. Exchange Contact Info. Be sure to leave your sitter with your cell phone and an emergency contact numbers. Be sure to get her cell phone number so that you can text her throughout the night if you have any questions or to check in.

5. Anything else? Sitters are happy to lend a helping hand. If you'd like them to unload the dishwasher or change the laundry most sitters won't mind. Especially once they have been at your home a few times and you feel connected to them. They will be happy to help! 

I stayed to listen to Kira Ryan, mom, sleep lover and co-founder of Dream Team, speak about her infant & toddler sleep tips.Here are a few!

·         Newborns should get 15-18 hours of sleep per day (24hrs)

·         A good bedtime for an infant is between 6-8pm

·         Signs of a sleepy infant: the cry is different, no engagement or eye contact, fussy

·          What is normal?

o   Up to 6 mo infants take naps every 1 ½ -2 hours

o   At 6mo infants usually take 2 naps per day

o   15-18 mo 1 long nap in the afternoon

o   Naps or ‘quiet time’ is recommended up to 3-4 years

·         White noise machines are great especially for city noise

·         Crib should be a sleep sanctuary, anything that screams party or playground should be removed

·         Check the nursery temperature! It should be between 68-72 F.

·         Is the room dark enough? Get blackout shades!

For more info on Dream Team click here or more info on Big City Mom events click here.

I'm obsessed with CleanWell wipes

It's cold season. Gross I know. LLD families know better and are prepared. A common household item my sitters and I have spotted recently is CleanWell's To-Go Disinfectant Spray. It cleans, disinfects & deodorizes + kills influenza virus including H1N1. Nice.

This no fuss spray can be easily packed into your purse or diaper bag. Quickly clean the kid’s toys at daycare or sanitize the high chair at your favorite local diner or spray down the table before serving the kids their meal. 

Use code CWECQ1 for 20% off plus a free gift now through 3/15/12!

Spray may not be the best choice for wiping down the kids face after he/ she finds your chocolate stash in your bag and smears it all over their face, so opt for the To-Go Disinfectant Wipes. They work like a charm.

There are very few products I can't live without and these CleanWell wipes are quickly becoming one of them. Click here to purchase CleanWell

Use code CWECQ1 for 20% off plus a free gift now through 3/15/12!

We LOVE BuggyLOVE!

Hey LLD check out what our new pal Kristy McLellan founder of BuggyLOVE has to say about what to do in NYC this weekend!

It's 27 degrees in NYC and we have an active 3 yr old. Since it's warming up to a balmy 48 degrees on Sat, I decided to concoct a plan so my husband can yell at the Giants in peace by Sun. On tap:  Cram into The Smith before the brunch madness starts, hike up to the Hayden Planetarium with a pit stop at the always crowded American Girl for a new "must have" something. Post museum, hit Wollman Rink for some fresh air and skate time. Next, carefully shield Chloe's eyes as we pass FAO Schwarz and head back downtown to Union Sq playground. End the day with an early dinner at Gigino's in TriBeCa or Mary's Fish Camp in the West Village, but only if we can get the coveted corner table.

Two guarantees. One - the day will be fun! And two - our Zoomy (aka stroller) will take a beating. Its swanky wheels will squeak from all the nonsense we crammed in the undercarriage.  It will smell like whatever restaurant we ate in. It will have some type of liquid on the seat and I will be generally grossed out by how many strangers it met that day.  Thank heavens for BuggyLOVE, the only organic cleaning kit for strollers on the market.  WheelLOVE will silence the squeaks, PolishLOVE will get the grime off the frame and tires, FabricLOVE will get the mystery stains out and FreshLOVE will make it all smell like new.  The night will end like this - sleeping, happy kid, Daddy on stroller cleaning duty and Mommy sipping a glass of wine in silence.  Ahhhh - thank you BuggyLOVE!!

Thanks Kristy! We can't wait for all our families to hear about BuggyLOVE! To learn more about these helpful little kits, visit the BuggyLOVE Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Emergency Mani/Pedi?? Nail Taxi NYC to the rescue!

Have you ever been stuck in the office and really need that manicure? Nail Taxi can come to your rescue! Since 2005, Nail Taxi has been serving women by visiting them at their homes, in the hospital, at their office, and even at or before their weekend parties and providing them with top-notch manis and pedis. There are locations all over the USA in Atlanta, Chicago, LA, Washington D.C, and of course, NYC. Nail Taxi offers basic manicures and pedicures and even signature services that include a relaxing soak, massage, and a revitalizing mask or scrub. Who wouldn't want to have a Peppermint Pleasure Pedicure or Cinnamon Bun Manicure in the comfort of their own home! After talking with Danielle, the owner of Nail Taxi NYC, we were able to get the back story on how she started the business in New York. Keep reading for some exciting news about the future of her businses!!

How did you come up with the idea of Nail Taxi NYC?
Prior to owning Nail Taxi NYC, I owned Passionate Planning, a spa and event planning company in Long Island. The success in Long Island intrigued me to branch out to, NYC.  As I researched the mobile spas in NYC, I noticed that Nail Taxi was well known for fashion week events but no one owned the licensee.  Fast forward, Passionate Planning and Nail Taxi merged.  Nail Taxi Nyc is a licensee with several locations around the USA.  My family and I own the NY licensee.

Tell us some great benefits for moms that use your service?
Moms love our services because we bring the spa to them while the babies or toddlers are napping, at play dates or at school.  Most moms prefer evening appointments; they put the children to bed, settle down with a glass of wine and treat themselves to a spa mani/pedi. We value client suggestions! In Spring 2012, we are launching Spa Taxi.  An exclusive sister company only in New York.  Spa Taxi will offer skincare, weight loss, body treatments and more.

 

Where is Nail Taxi NYC now available for moms?

We currently offer services in the five boroughs and Nassau County.  We are looking forward to offering services in Suffolk County and the Hamptons this summer.

Thanks so much Danielle for all this great inside info! Visit Nail Taxi NYC's facebook and follow them on twitter to stay up to date on deals as well as the development of Spa Taxi!

Kids + Relaxation=The Beloved

Confused on matching kids + relaxation?

The cure is The Beloved in Playa Mujeres, Mexico.

This place is parent’s paradise meets kids playground. I have been to many family resorts in my years of babysitting and The Beloved joins the big leagues in my holiday handbook. As you know I'm not yet a mommy, but many of you parents can relate on being completely unfazed by kids splashing in a pool or throwing sand on the beach. There was plenty of that, but in a way it made me feel more at home having all the families nearby. It was a sense of safety being in far off 

Mexico.

The Kids Club is free to guests ages 4-12 and includes activities like mask making, face painting, and traditional Mexican pinata making. The building is so cool in the shape of a huge spool of thread fully loaded with activities to wear out you lil' ones.

This all inclusive hotel serves up top- notch gourmet meals, you are served beach & pool side by the friendliest of staff who will bring you an array of snacks and alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages. It is absolute bliss.

Hey I even picked up on some great new baby names from the shouts at the kids life size chess game. Ainsley was my favorite.

The resort is only about 25 minutes from Cancun airport an easy hike into paradise.

-LB

Pure Yoga is the ticket to prolong your paradise vacation

Happy New Year LLD! 

I hope that you are off to a relaxing and optimistic start to 2012!

I began my New Year in Mexico on the tropical island of Playa Mujeres.  More to come on  my experience in a bit. But I didn't want my trip to end, so I decided to go to the one place that keeps tropical paradise alive. Pure Yoga.  I took the Hot Power Yoga class, which is a perfect combination of stretching,  meditation and flow. Eric Elven is the instructor on Tuesday’s at 8:30am, and he is so chill in directing us through every move. The hot powered yoga class is taught in a room heated to 100 degrees. The heat provides for a detoxifying sweat while you flow through an athletic and dynamic sequence of postures. What a great way to start your day. The  friendly staff is there to answer any of your questions after the class.

Click here for a class schedule. If you interested in a trial offer click here http://www.pureyoga.com/en/newyork/purecontracts/enquiry.php for more info.

LB