Thanksgiving is a time of warm memories, delicious tastes and smells, and the joy of reconnecting. But if you’re the one hitting the road this year to celebrate with family or friends, it can be a little stressful, especially if you’re traveling with a little one.

Whether you’re going by car, plane, or train, traveling with a baby or toddler brings its own set of challenges. Before you pack your bags, here are 6 quick tips to help you and your child stay safe this Thanksgiving.

1. Stay cozy in the car

Colder weather usually means lots of layers of clothing, but bulky winter clothes can keep a car seat from doing its job. Instead, cover your child with a cozy blanket to stay warm after you’ve securely strapped him or her into the car seat.

2. Watch out for kitchen chaos

At Thanksgiving, things are guaranteed to get a little crazy in the kitchen. To help keep dangerously hot food out of the reach of little hands, make sure that pot handles and dishes aren’t close to the edge of the counter or table where they could be pulled down by curious kids.

3. Keep the cozy fire kid-safe

If there’s a fireplace in the home, be sure to check that it’s protected by a sturdy screen, and remember that glass screens can take a while to cool down, even after the fire has gone out. Always keep a close eye on children when a fire is burning.

4. Ask about medications

Kids are curious and can get into medications in all sorts of unexpected places, like purses, counters, and nightstands. In fact, in 2017 over 52,000 children under the age of six went to the emergency room for medicine poisoning. A good rule of thumb is “Up, Up and Away.” Keep all medications, vitamins, and eye drops out of reach and out of sight, and keep the Poison Help number (1-800-222-1222) handy.

5. Watch out for toxins

Ask your host to temporarily relocate easy-to-reach household cleaners, paints, air fresheners, and pesticides that could be dangerous to your little one. Some chemicals used in traditional cleaning products have been linked to asthma, allergies, cancer, and other serious health problems. If you’re traveling by car, you can bring your host a Thanksgiving “thank you” gift of a safer, plant-powered cleaner like Baby ECOS® Here & There All Surface Cleaner to use during your visit and for clean-ups all year long.

6. Make bedtime familiar

If holiday travel means you’ll be spending the night away from home, plan ahead to make baby’s nighttime safe and familiar. While you might be fine sleeping on the couch or an air mattress, make sure your baby always sleeps in a safe crib, bassinet, or Pack ’n Play®. Bringing familiar sheets and blankets and keeping up bedtime rituals like story time can help your child feel a little less unsure and a little more cozy when it’s time to sleep.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving with those you love!

It’s that time of year again when ghosts, vampires and pumpkins come out to play! They decorate our yards and disguise our children as they excitedly walk the neighborhood yelling “trick-or-treat!”

When we were kids, saving the environment wasn’t at the forefront of our parents’ minds. The truth is that the amount of waste generated by store-bought candy, costumes and decorations is a nightmare for the environment. But have no fear, we have a few tips for enjoying a more sustainable Halloween that your children - and the planet - will thank you for.

Reuse those costumes!

If just half of the kids in the U.S. swapped Halloween costumes instead buying new ones, it would reduce annual landfill waste by 6,250 tons - that's the weight of 2,500 cars! Plus, swapping costumes can make a super fun playdate party for both kids and parents. You can freshen up gently used costumes with a few sprays of Baby ECOS® Stain & Odor Remover and a quick wash with hypoallergenic Baby ECOS® Laundry Detergent.

If a costume swap isn’t in the cards, try your favorite local thrift store: It’s easy on the wallet, reduces waste and helps save the environment, plus it also supports charitable causes. Or simply make your child’s costume (and even your pet’s costume!), like many of our parents did when we were little trick-or-treaters. Once Halloween has come and gone, donate your gently used costume to a local daycare or children’s hospital where it will be enjoyed time and time again.

Use nontoxic face paint

Be sure to buy nontoxic face paint for your little ghoul or goblin. A 2016 study by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found that more than 50 percent of face paints and cosmetics marketed to kids contain at least one ingredient or contaminant linked to hormone disruption, developmental toxicity, learning difficulties or cancer. Of the products tested, lead was found in nearly 20 percent of face paints and cadmium was found in nearly 30 percent of face paints. No safe blood lead level in children has been identified; even low levels of lead in blood have been shown to affect IQ, ability to pay attention and academic achievement.

Ditch the plastic pumpkins

Instead of buying a plastic pumpkin for trick-or-treating, opt for a pillowcase (as you probably did when you were a child), a reusable tote or even a basket. According to Michael O’Heaney of the environmental nonprofit group The Story of Stuff Project, “Plastic pumpkins, like so many other plastic waste, will likely end up in a landfill, burned in an incinerator or in the oceans.” But if you do have a plastic pumpkin from years past, keep using it! Reusing plastic products as many times as you can reduces their overall environmental impact.

Up(cycle) your candy game

This year, 95 percent of U.S. households will spend $2.6 billion on Halloween candy, and 70 percent of households plan to hand out candy on the big night. That's a lot of candy and a lot of candy wrappers! Homemade or unwrapped treats are no longer an acceptable option for trick-or-treating, but you can still offer the little ghosts and goblins in your neighborhood organic and all-natural options, such as the adorably wrapped treats from the Natural Candy Store. But what to do with all the unrecyclable wrappers left over from Halloween? Upcycle them into colorful, eye-catching crafts like a decoupage notebook, artful hair barrettes or even a beautiful candy-wrapper gingerbread house.

Use leg power, not gas power

Get some exercise with the family and walk the neighborhood, which is more environmentally friendly than driving to farther communities. If your clan does need to pack up and drive to the best trick-or-treating spots in the area, be sure to carpool to reduce greenhouse gas emissions - not to mention, it’s more fun celebrating Halloween with friends!

Halloween doesn’t have to be frightening to the environment; it's a great opportunity to show your child how to make better choices for our planet and have some spooky, delicious fun!

Illnesses, injuries and even deaths can be prevented if you know what to look for.

On average, we spend approximately 90% of our time indoors, where concentrations of pollutants can be 2 to 5 times higher than outdoors. Whether it’s at home, work, school, or daycare, cleaning products can be the source of many of those pollutants. Many chemicals used in cleaning products have been linked to acute and chronic illnesses such as asthma, allergies, cancer, and other serious health effects.

Babies and children are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of toxic cleaning products. Symptoms can range from respiratory and skin irritations to neurological damage and developmental issues. Illnesses such as asthma, eczema, allergies and autism are on the rise, and many parents are concerned and looking for answers.

A large and growing body of evidence links the frequent use of many ordinary cleaning products with the development of asthma and other respiratory problems. In addition, common cleaners can contain 1,4-dioxane, a carcinogenic manufacturing byproduct, or cancer-causing formaldehyde.

Some chemicals found in cleaning products are known or suspected reproductive or developmental toxins, although much of that information is based on animal testing. Unfortunately, very few studies have looked at human developmental risks, such as autism spectrum disorder, tied to cleaning products, which greatly limits our understanding of the potential long-term effects of exposure.

Perhaps one of the greatest dangers of toxic cleaning products is the risk of poisoning in children. In 2010, American poison control centers received over 116,000 calls about household cleaner accidents involving children under age five. In 2006, over 10,000 children under age five required some form of medical treatment as a result of poisoning with household cleaners, and over 700 had symptoms that were life-threatening.

Despite the dangers, many cleaning product labels don’t disclose enough information about their ingredients to allow consumers to make informed decisions or provide enough information to relay to a poison control center if a child ingests a product. Government agencies haven’t adequately evaluated the safety of many substances found in cleaning products.

But parents and all consumers have a choice. They can look for products that are made with safer ingredients and that list all ingredients on the label, endorsed by a trusted third-party green certification like the U.S. EPA’s Safer Choice program. Using plant-based cleaners like ECOS® products, especially on floors and carpets where small children play, is an important way to help protect your family from harmful ingredients.

Forget the dumpster with these tips how to recycle and repurpose no-longer-needed household items.

Those outgrown clothes, toys and gear have more life to live—and not just in a landfill! Here’s how to responsibly and easily get rid of what’s taking up space in your home.

Sippy cups and dishware

Toss them into your curbside bin. Most are made of the commonly recyclable PET or HDPE plastic. If they’re still usable, ask local day care centers or churches if they’d like extras for snack time.

Food pouches

In most cities, the pouches and caps aren’t recyclable on their own, but Ella’s Kitchen, the organic kids’ food company, works with TerraCycle to recycle them (any brand!). Just collect and send them in with a free downloadable label from terracycle.com.

Milk jugs and cartons

Some areas accept beverage cartons as curbside recyclables, so check your city’s rules before placing these and plastic jugs in your bin. Just make sure they’re completely empty and the caps are screwed on tight. (Caps are too small to be recycled on their own.)

Baby-food jars

If your curbside-recycling program accepts glass, which most do, place these in the bin. You can skip the step of rinsing them first, though. As long as most of the food is scraped out, they’re ready for recycling, says Alexa Kielty, residential zero-waste assistant at San Francisco Department of the Environment. And the metal lids? Toss them in if your community accepts them; a magnetic steel drum will collect them during the recycling process.

Baby bathtub

Donate it. But if your recycling program takes rigid plastics (i.e., plastics that hold a shape and are hard to break, like a bucket or a laundry-detergent bottle), it can go in the bin.

Pacifiers

Because the nipples are prone to crack and harbor bacteria, Kielty doesn’t recommend donating used pacifiers. And unfortunately, they’re too small to make it through the recycling sorting process, so for now these little guys have to go in the garbage. (Sorry!)

Plastic bags

Get this: In addition to grocery bags, any type of plastic bag or wrap is recyclable—bread bags, breast-milk baggies, plastic wrap and frozen-food packaging. Keep a shopping bag under your kitchen sink for stashing extras, suggests Brenda Pulley, senior vice president of recycling at Keep America Beautiful. When it's full, take it to Target, Whole Foods Market, or another retailer that has a plastic-bag recycling receptacle, usually near the main entrance.

Diaper pail

It’s made of rigid plastic, so if your town accepts that, recycle it. But post it on Craigslist or Freecycle first. No one likes diaper odor, so there’s a demand for this used item!

Toddler mattress

One too many accidents to give this away? Arrange a bulky-item pickup by calling your waste-management department. Depending on the program, your town may recycle it. If that’s not an option, try 1-800-GOT-JUNK?—a nationwide company that’s happy to responsibly get rid of your unwanted stuff.

Electronic toys

General rule: If it has a cord or a battery, recycle it with other electronics. This means you can group these with your broken hair dryer, toaster, TV and computer on your community’s electronics-recycling pickup day, or in a designated location at some recycling drop-off centers.

Batteries

Don’t just dump them in the trash—they may contain lead, chemicals and other metals that can seep into and contaminate our groundwater. Yuck! Instead, go to call2recycle.org to search 30,000 drop-off locations for old single-use, rechargeable and damaged batteries.

Breast pump

No longer need that breast pump? If you use Medela, like 80 percent of U.S. hospitals do, send the motor unit and cord back through the Medela Recycles program (medelabreastfeedingus.com/medela-recycles). Manual pumps, breast shields, tubing and other kit components can go straight into your curbside recycling container.

Kids’ clothes and shoes

Participating Goodwill locations will take your threads even if they’re ripped or stained. Just put the items in a bag labeled “scrap,” says Bea Johnson, author of Zero Waste Home. They’ll go to textile recyclers for various uses: jeans will be turned into insulation, and T-shirts will become cleaning rags for the auto industry. To donate shoes, print a prepaid shipping label from zapposforgood.com. Mail them off, and Zappos for Good, in partnership with Soles4Souls, will get them to someone in need.

Books

Libraries, schools and churches often welcome used books, but if many of yours are beyond repair, put them in your regular paper recycling (remove hard covers first). As for baby board books, they may not be recyclable because of their hard, coated cardboard, so check with your town.

Stuffed animals

Most plush toys can’t be donated to kids because of the potential germ factor, but pet rescues love them! Ask your local shelter if it’s in need and whether it has any safety restrictions on what’s donated, such as loveys with beaded eyes. If yours are beyond the point of donation, group them with any ripped and holey clothing going to charity marked as “scrap,” says Pulley.

Broken crayons

Crayons are made from wax that won’t break down naturally. Instead of throwing used and busted pieces away, send them to The Crayon Initiative (thecrayoninitiative.org), a nonprofit that turns unwanted crayons into new ones that are then donated to children’s hospitals.

Car seats and strollers

Strollers aren’t recyclable curbside. If yours meets current safety standards, sell or donate it. As for car seats, go to babyearth.com/renew. You pay for shipping to send it in, but all usable parts are recycled! Fabrics go to developing countries; metal, plastic and foam are used for construction projects.

© Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

What would we do without our moms? For all the sacrifices they make and all the love they pour out, they deserve more than a little bit of heartfelt appreciation. This Mother’s Day, celebrate the strong, selfless woman who raised you with one of these gift ideas.

Spend some quality time together.

Whether you embark on a forest hike, picnic at your local park or take a stroll through a lush garden, your mom will appreciate the precious time she gets to spend with you. To make the occasion special, think about what activities you enjoyed with mom as a child and try to recreate them. You’ll get to reminisce about fond memories while making new ones together.

Cook her favorite meal.

There’s nothing like a home cooked dinner. For years, you enjoyed (and likely still enjoy) the delicious meals your mom prepared. If you inherited even an ounce of her culinary skill, consider showing some love by whipping up some of her favorite foods. Prep fruits and veggies with ECOS® Fruit + Veggie Wash and get cooking. Once dinner is over, keep mom out of the kitchen and let her kick up her feet while you take care of the dishes. (ECOS® Dishmate® can help out with that too!)

Opt for potted plants over flowers.

While a bouquet of flowers will brighten your mom’s day, potted plants will bring her joy for weeks to come. Pick out some locally grown, native plants to support a small business owner and to enhance environmental health. If your mom has a garden of her own, offer to help plant them. Her green thumb will nurture her new plants and she’ll likely think of you as she watches them grow.

To all the moms, we thank you for working to make the world a kinder, brighter place. Happy Mother’s Day!

Video to Embed at bottom of the post: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2Odwblvo38

There are so many fun (and practical) baby shower themes, you might have a hard time choosing one. Get inspired to do something different with one of these baby shower ideas.

Set up the nursery.

The new parents will be wildly grateful when the shower guests go to work on the baby’s room. Assign a few especially handy types to assemble the crib and other nursery furniture, while the rest of the group paints or hangs pictures, curtains, etc. (be sure to tell everyone to wear old clothes). Have a barbecue after the work is done. It’s probably best to forgo the usual gifts at a shower like this—expecting guests to buy a gift and work for their meal is probably asking too much.

Do a safety check.

Ask guests to bring babyproofing devices such as specially designed locks for appliances, cabinets and toilets; protective cushioning for sharp edges; and safety gates. If the shower is held at the baby’s future home, the guests can even install the gadgets—even though the house won’t need babyproofing until Baby starts to crawl, it’s a great timesaver for the new parents to have this chore done.

Stock their freezer.

For parents who already have most of the baby gear, throw a “bring-a-dish-to-freeze” party, so that Mom and Dad don’t have to worry about what’s for dinner when they’re adjusting to life with one more. If the guests of honor don’t have enough freezer space to store everything, the host or hosts can keep some of the dishes, to be delivered periodically after the baby arrives.

Up their home entertainment game.

Ask guests to bring “date-night” gifts for the new parents, who’ll probably be spending most of their Saturday nights at home. Ideas could include videos or DVDs of their favorite films, music CDs, a nice bottle of wine and board games.

Make DIY coupons.

Give guests paper and markers and invite them to make a personalized coupon, to be exchanged later for a specific favor, such as a night of babysitting, a trip to the grocery store or a load of laundry. This is a thoughtful idea for parents who have small children and no family members living nearby. They’ll probably consider your freely offered help the greatest gift in the world.

© Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Delicious spring fruit—strawberries, apricots, mangoes and rhubarb—is in the market now. This handy guide offers information on picking the best spring fruit and the health benefits of each.

Apricots

Before peaches, plums and berries appear in markets, apricots arrive. Ancient Romans were so impressed by this fruit’s early ripening that they took to calling it praecocium, Latin for “precocious.” Most apricots are destined to be canned or dried, and their season is fleeting, so get fresh ones fast.

What you get: Low in calories and packed with nutrients, just three fresh apricots will give you almost half the vitamin A you need for the day, along with a healthy dose of vitamin C, potassium and fiber. In addition, apricots are packed with beta carotene, an antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals that damage cells.

Shopping tips: Purchase plump, fairly firm apricots that are orange-yellow to orange. Ripe apricots are soft and juicy—and should be eaten as soon as possible.

Storage tips: To ripen apricots, place hard fruit in a brown paper bag for one or two days. Ripe apricots should be stored in the refrigerator to prevent overripening. Fresh apricots can be frozen; just halve the fruit, remove the pit and freeze on a baking sheet. Once frozen, place the apricots in a sealable plastic bag.

Mangoes

Mangoes have been integrated into food cultures across the globe—sold fresh, as juice, in drinks, in curries and in desserts and appetizers.

What you get: The deep orange color of mangoes comes from a high content of beta carotene, a potent anticancer agent. Mangoes also contain vitamin C, fiber, lutein, potassium and zeaxanthin, phytochemicals known to boost the immune system.

Shopping tips: Most mangoes in U.S. grocery stores are one of five varieties: Ataulfo, Francine, Keitt, Kent and Tommy Atkins. Color is not an indication of ripeness, as mangoes come in many shades of green, yellow and red. Choose mangoes with a slight “give” if you plan to eat them within a day or two, and choose firmer mangoes for enjoying later.

Storage tips: Unripe mangoes will ripen at room temperature. Refrigerate ripe mangoes for up to 5 days.

Rhubarb

Rhubarb is often called “pie plant” in the U.S. because it’s so closely identified with strawberry-rhubarb pie.

What you get: Low in calories and full of fiber, potassium and vitamin C, rhubarb also contains catechin, a flavonol that may contribute to heart health.

Shopping tips: Look for bright, crisp stalks with minimal pitting, dryness or other visible damage.

Storage tips: Refrigerate rhubarb in a plastic bag for up to a week. Freeze diced rhubarb in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Strawberries

Few things are closer to perfection than a strawberry when its season arrives. Even though they’re plentiful in supermarkets year-round, nothing beats the flavor of a juicy, sun-ripened strawberry in season.

What you get: A 1-cup serving of strawberries provides more than 100 percent of your daily vitamin C needs. In addition, strawberries are low in calories and provide plenty of fiber, some potassium and several powerful antioxidants, such as anthocyanin and proanthocyanidins, which promote heart health and may promote optimum brain functioning.

Shopping tips: Strawberries do not ripen further after picking. Therefore, it is important to choose bright red berries, as white- or green-tipped strawberries are lacking in flavor. Don’t overlook the little ones—small strawberries are often sweeter than their big brothers.

Storage tips: Refrigerate strawberries immediately. Wash the berries gently in cool water just before you plan to eat them, leaving the caps on until after they are washed.

© Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Becoming a new mom is an experience unlike any other. Well before your little one arrives, your body begins producing hormones to help attract and bond you to your growing baby. Despite these hormonal changes, a number of women don’t feel an instant connection on baby’s birth date. There is pressure to immediately bond after delivery, but motherhood is a major adjustment that takes time. Here are some tips to help you connect with baby:

Put your phone aside.

It’s typical to feel obligated to respond to the congratulations and well wishes of friends and family, but we’re sure they’ll understand if it takes you longer to respond to their messages as you spend time getting to know your newborn.

Look into baby’s eyes.

There is a lot of truth in the statement that the eyes are the windows to the soul. Making frequent eye contact with baby will help strengthen your bond with your new little one.

Go skin-to-skin.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, you should keep baby against your skin as often and as frequently as possible during their first three months of life. Snuggle up and enjoy the warmth of your tiny human.

Revisit your own baby photos.

Take a nostalgic trip back to your own beginnings by pulling out old photo albums. You might discover that baby has your nose and furrows his brow the same way that you did. Seeing these resemblances will make you smile and feel closer to him.

Talk to her often.

In any relationship, communication is key. Even though baby won’t be able to speak for quite a while, she can express herself through giggles, smiles and silly faces. Babies love to hear the sound of their mother’s voice, so get the conversation started and wait for her response.

Take your time forming your bond with baby. Motherhood is a tremendous journey and with some effort and patience, you’ll soon feel like a natural.

No need for marathon organizing—just a few minutes here and there can take your family home from chaotic to clutter-free.

If your home is looking, well, a little less than spick-and-span, you may blame it on not having enough time for the type of marathon cleaning sessions you imagine are essential to an organized house. And sure—if we all had four hours to clean twice a week, our houses would probably look great most of the time. But if your cleaning sessions only arrive in blocks of a few minutes, don't delay—you can accomplish plenty in the time it takes for your coffee to brew in the morning.

If you only have 5 minutes

• Clear out the spice rack. Toss anything that's discolored, lost its scent or flavor, or is more than one year old. Keep a permanent marker handy to date spices.
• Set up automatic bill pay. When a monthly expense arrives, find the company website where you can sign in and designate the payment option. Once the amount is scheduled, you no longer have to think about it.
• Set up an inbox and outbox on your desk. Everything that needs attention goes on top in the inbox. Put what you want to hold onto in the outbox for filing and recycle the rest. Pro tip: wait until the outbox is full before filing.
• Neaten the hall closet. Designate a single small bin for family gloves and mittens, one for hats and another for scarves. If you have an additional five minutes, hang outerwear according to type and length—shorter casual jackets on one side and longer dressy styles on the other—so they're easy to find. Check that a few extra hangers are on hand for company.
• Do a quickie clothes-closet makeover. Face all hangers in the same direction to reduce wardrobe search time, and group like items together. It's easier to find your favorite shirt if you know it's hanging with the rest of your button-downs.

If you have 15 minutes

• Stop junk mail and unwanted catalogs. Register online with the Direct Marketing Association.
• Straighten up a shelf. Remove everything, dust it and put its contents in groups or pairings, weeding out as you go. This technique works everywhere, from bookshelves in the family room to dishes and glassware in the kitchen.
• Spiff up the laundry room. Consolidate half-empty bottles and wipe away any drips. Mount a storage rack over the washing machine.
• Pick up a room. Set aside a bin or basket to corral stray stuff. Put misplaced items into the bin and store in a closet or out-of-the-way spot. Later, carry the container room to room and put things back in their proper places. This also means you can have an in-house lost and found where family members will know to look for missing belongings.
• Stage a pantry mini-makeover. Arrange cans of similar items together for easy access. Next, transfer rice and pastas from boxes and bags into labeled clear plastic containers so you can quickly assess when you need to stock up.
• Use the shredder. Place a file or tub near your desk—or under a table where you open mail—for papers containing personal information, like a Social Security number or birth date. Wait until it's full, then shred. Set a timer for 15 minutes. If you tackle this task in short increments, it won't be as tedious.
• Round up recipes. Gather clippings and favorite printouts in a binder, and organize by category (appetizers, desserts) with tabbed dividers. Or snap photos of recipes and upload to a folder on your computer along with web pages for dishes you find online.

If you have 30 minutes

• Plan a weekly menu and grocery list. Give yourself extra time if you like to pore over cookbooks and online recipes. Flag any recipes you plan to try that week.
• Tidy up the garage. Reduce clutter by getting items off the floor. Hang bicycles from hooks, and stow basketballs, bats and other sports equipment in wire ball bins. Do the same with gardening gear and tools like rakes and shovels.
• Organize your jewelry box. Spread out everything on a flat surface. Set aside pieces that you no longer want, to give away or donate. Sort what's left according to type—bracelets in one compartment, necklaces in another.
• Get rid of half your closet. Quickly flip through each garment and pull out anything ill-fitting or that you haven't worn in a year. Toss rejects into shopping bags for future donation. Arrange the rest by category and further sort by season and color. Pro tip: your closet will look neater if you use one type of hanger.

© Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

As many as 90 percent of all kids live with a pet at some point during their childhood, says Gail F. Melson, Ph.D., author of Why the Wild Things Are: Animals in the Lives of Children. Most kids love pets—and for good reason. Creatures large and small teach, delight and offer a special kind of companionship.

Thinking about adding an animal to your household? Here are a few reasons to let the fur fly in your home.

Pets can provide comfort.

Melson asked a group of 5-year-old pet owners what they did when they felt sad, angry or afraid. More than 40 percent spontaneously mentioned turning to their pets. “Kids who get support from their animal companions were rated by their parents as less anxious and withdrawn,” she says.

Pets can encourage nurturing.

Melson began studying the impact of pets in order to learn how human beings develop the ability to care for others. “Nurturing isn’t a quality that suddenly appears in adulthood when we need it,” she says. “People need a way to practice being caregivers when they’re young.” One solution? Animals! Pets provide children with a wonderful opportunity to practice nurturing and caring for other living things.

Pets can help with learning.

Educators have long known that bringing therapy animals into schools helps developmentally challenged kids learn. Now they are finding that all children can benefit from the presence of a nonjudgmental pal with paws. In one study, children were asked to read in front of a peer, an adult and a dog. Researchers monitored their stress levels and found that kids were most relaxed around the animal, not the humans. “If you’re struggling to read and someone says, ‘Time to pick up your book and work,’ that’s not a very attractive offer,” says Mary Renck Jalongo, Ph.D., author of The World of Children and Their Companion Animals. “Curling up with a dog or cat, on the other hand, is a lot more appealing.”

Pets can help teach responsibility.

Asking your children to help with the feeding, cleaning or walking of a pet is a great way to teach responsibility. Start by giving them one small age-appropriate task per week and encourage them to see how their actions benefit your pet. You could ask your toddler to help you pick up Buster’s toys, or ask your school-aged son to help you fill food and water dishes. As kids get older, ask them to take on additional tasks.

Pets can build family bonds.

One of the biggest benefits of having pets is often unexpected, even for parents who grew up around animals: they can help families grow stronger and closer. A pet is often the focus of activities that families do together. Everyone takes the dog for a walk, or shares in grooming and feeding and play. Spending time like this can help slow the hectic pace of life and allow you and your kids to enjoy sharing these animal-focused moments with each other.

Since baby arrived, capturing her many picture-perfect faces has likely become one of your favorite activities. The holiday season provides a wonderful opportunity for you to showcase your budding photography skills and introduce your new family member. To help you get inspired, we’ve gathered some of our favorite baby holiday images from the web.

And remember, even baby’s holiday photo outfits could use extra care. Make sure to pick your favorite and wash with Baby ECOS® Laundry Detergent before getting baby dressed up for the big shoot.

Happy holidays!

When he’s not dreaming of his next meal, this munchkin is dreaming of a white Christmas.

This sweet cherub is as cozy as can be with her festive leg warmers. Can we borrow those sometime?

‘Twas the night of this photo, when all through the house, not a baby was crying, not even a peep!

Who said there can’t be two Rudolphs in Santa’s crew? The more the merrier!

We think he’ll hear you out, little cutie.

These dazzling ornaments bring out baby’s inner sparkle!

Is Thanksgiving truly Thanksgiving without the food? We don’t think so. However, baby won’t be able to enjoy the delicious dinner unless their food is especially prepared for them. We’re here to help you transform your family’s Thanksgiving spread into a baby safe feast!

Tear off Some Turkey.

Babies 7-8 months and older can gobble up some turkey. However, it is best to avoid dryer breast meat and opt for fattier meat as it is easier to gum. For 7-8 month olds, add some milk to fattier turkey pieces and blend into a puree. If baby is nearing her first birthday, you can cut the turkey into small, roughly ¼ inch, swallowable bites.

Consider Cranberry Sauce.

Despite being healthy and high in Vitamin A, cranberries are very acidic. For this reason, it is a good idea to pass on grandma’s cranberry sauce until baby is 9 months old. If baby is 9 months or older, the acidity may still upset her tummy. To cut the acidity, you can stir applesauce into the cranberry sauce. Blend out thick chunks to achieve a thinner consistency so baby can easily slurp it up.

Serve up Sweet Potatoes.

Packed full of brain-boosting nutrients, we highly recommend dishing up sweet potatoes if baby is 5-6 months or older. Before preparing, make sure that the sweet potatoes are free of nuts to avoid a potential allergic reaction. We also suggest removing top layer marshmallows to skip the artificial sugars. Once nuts and marshmallows are taken care of, simply mash, puree and serve!

Skip the Stuffing.

Since stuffing usually has many unique ingredients and the dish definitely doesn’t seem very appetizing as a puree, we suggest skipping it for baby. However, if baby is 10-12 months or older and the bread crumbs are fairly soft, you can separate out celery, onion and other pieces. While it won’t really be stuffing without the fixins, baby will still get some yummy bread!

No matter what foods baby enjoys this Turkey Day, she’ll likely get a little messy. After the holiday celebration ends, spray Baby ECOS® Stain & Odor Remover to lift sweet potato stains from the new onesie and to erase dribbled cranberry sauce from the carpet.

We wish you and baby a great Thanksgiving with your loved ones. Happy feasting!

Sources: https://www.parenting.com/article/thanksgiving-food-for-babies
https://www.mightymoms.club/baby-thanksgiving/

Image Source: https://www.fitpregnancy.com/baby/real-mom-tips-for-making-baby-s-first-thanksgiving-the-stuff-of-memories

Let’s face it--Halloween costumes are expensive. Instead of spending a scary amount on something that will only be worn once, you can use clothing and craft supplies you already have to create a memorable costume. Whether you are going for a cutesy or spooky look, baby’s personality will shine in one of these eco-friendlier, DIY costumes!

Gumball Machine

Colorful and sweet, this costume will also keep your baby’s head warm in the autumn breeze.

What you’ll need:

• Multi-color craft pom-poms
• Glue and glue gun
• Baby bonnet
• Red, long sleeve onesie
• Black pants
• Scissors
• Grey felt
• Black felt

How to make it:

1. Glue individual pom-poms onto bonnet using a glue gun.
2. Cut out large square from grey felt. It should be large enough to cover the majority of baby’s chest and tummy.
3. Cut out smaller square from black felt. It should be roughly 1 inch smaller than the grey felt square.
4. Cut out a 2 and a 5 as well as a cents symbol from grey felt. We recommend tracing out these pieces before cutting.
5. Glue felt numbers and cents symbols to the black felt. Then, glue the black felt square to the grey felt square. Finally, glue the grey felt square to the red onesie.
6. Dress baby in onesie and black pants and tie on the bonnet.
7. Watch your little one dispense adorableness all Halloween night!

Mummy

Go spooky with this Egyptian-inspired Halloween costume!

What you’ll need:

• Cloth bandages from a first aid kit
• Long sleeve white onesie
• White pants
• Bonnet
• Sewing machine
• Tan thread
• Scissors

How to make it:

1. Cut cloth bandage in various sized pieces so it can be draped/wrapped across onesie, pants and bonnet.
2. Using a sewing machine and tan thread, sew cut pieces of cloth bandages around pants, onesie and bonnet. Make sure that bandage pieces are sewn across at different angles.
3. Sew extra layers of cloth bandages in some areas to make it look a bit messy.
4. Dress baby in mummified clothing.
5. Take baby out for some Halloween fun!

Sushi Roll

Who doesn’t love sushi? Turn baby into a bite-sized cutie with this unique costume.

What you’ll need:

• Glue and glue gun
• Double-sided black tape
• Large sheet of green construction paper
• Orange paint
• Paint brush
• White onesie

How to make it:

1. Using orange paint, paint on 3 curvy, roughly 2.5-inch rectangular shapes on the chest/tummy area of the onesie. Leave roughly 1-inch white space between shapes.
2. Add a 3-inch tail 1 inch below the third rectangular shape. To create the tail, paint two rounded triangles that point downward.
3. Cut the two short edges of green construction paper so they resemble blades of grass.
4. Cut a piece of double-sided black tape that is long enough to wrap around baby’s tummy.
5. Dress baby in onesie. Secure tape around their tummy. Attach green construction paper to tape on baby’s back. Reinforce with more tape as needed.
6. Baby is ready to roll for Halloween!

After Halloween, you can peel glued craft materials off or unstitch thread from onesies. For stubborn glue residue or stains from the evening, try our Baby ECOS™ Stain & Odor Remover. We wish you and baby the happiest of Halloweens!

Moms are so busy helping everyone out that they often don’t take time for themselves. Finding balance is important so you don’t feel burned out. You may have heard the term ‘self-care’ buzzing around, but what is it really? Self care is doing something for you that helps put your mind at ease and restores your inner harmony.

Self care isn’t selfish; it’s actually really important for maintaining healthy relationships. Your relationship with your little one will be its best if you find time to relax and treat yourself! Feeling rejuvenated will help you be the active and engaged parent you want to be. Don’t worry, it’s actually really easy, and we’ve got you covered with a few tips to add joy to your day!

Schedule a hair appointment

Rock a fresh new hairdo a month or so after the baby is born, whenever you find a few hours to treat yourself. Pick a salon close to home and give yourself the pampering you deserve! You’ll feel confident with your fresh look and get a few hours to relax in the salon chair.

Catch up on your favorite show

Don’t forget about the little things that make you smile! Streaming services are great because they provide you with easy access to catch up on your favorite shows at your own pace. When baby is down for a nap, tune in to a favorite show that gives your brain a little breather from the everyday.

Get your nails done

Getting a manicure with a non-toxic polish or gel is an easy way to brighten up your day. You can paint your nails at home yourself during some down time, or an outing to the nail salon. Pick a fun color that makes you smile. Non-toxic gel is a great alternative because the protective layer is harder to break, and your nails will look fresh for 2+ weeks.

Tackle small projects around the house

There’s something therapeutic about having things in order, especially when you’re figuring out motherhood, which is largely unpredictable. However, cleaning the entire house at once can feel overwhelming. Tackling small tasks one at a time will leave you feeling accomplished without the stress. Help put your mind at ease by organizing your house and cleaning with Baby ECOS™ products. Clean your countertops with Baby ECOS™ Here & There All-Surface Cleaner and your linens with Baby ECOS™ Laundry Detergent. An organized house will give you one less thing to feel worried about and a clean space to enjoy with your family.

Join a group

Sometimes it's easy to feel alone when you’re a new parent, but joining a group will show you that you’re far from alone in your parenting triumphs and struggles! There are so many other new parents that are figuring it out just like you, and hearing their stories will be refreshing and reassuring! Join an online parents group or search online for in person meet-ups in your area.

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No doubt you’ve done the necessary prep work for your baby’s arrival. But all that stuff is fluff when it comes to making it through the early days of parenthood. That’s when you quickly need to acquire new skills, like breast-feeding, soothing a crying infant and surviving on no sleep. To help you ease into your first week, we’ve asked expert parents how to handle the most common challenges.

Nap when your baby naps.

Yes, your newborn will snooze as much as 20 hours a day, but it won’t be in long stretches—think one- to four-hour spurts. It’s important to try to catch some zzz’s when your baby is sleeping. But, if you’re not wired for naps, enlist help, stat. Have your partner, a friend or relative take some night shifts with the baby so you can get some uninterrupted sleep.

Swaddle and sway to soothe crying.

Infants fresh out of the cozy confines of the womb crave constant holding and soothing, says Harvey Karp, M.D., author of the Happiest Baby on the Block. Don’t worry about spoiling your newborn—it’s not possible. Instead, re-create the sensations of the womb, which can trigger a calming reflex in your newborn, Karp says. To do this, he recommends swaddling, swaying, shushing, holding your baby on her side and letting her suck on your finger. “These steps performed individually or together can often be a virtual ‘off’ switch for the crying,” he says. Experiment to see what works for your baby.

Get expert help with breast-feeding.

It happens naturally, right? Not always. Make plans to see a lactation expert ASAP post-delivery, and ask her to come to your house to help you get the hang of nursing there. “Having an expert with you from the beginning to help you learn about latching, positioning and milk supply—and to boost your confidence—can make the difference between a beautiful breast-feeding experience and giving up," says Giuditta Tornetta, a doula, lactation educator and author of Painless Childbirth.

Be prepared for round-the-clock feedings.

“Expect to feed the baby every one to four hours—that’s counting from the start of each feeding,” says Laura Jana, M.D., co-author of Heading Home with Your Newborn. Since you’re going to be bound to a couch, rocker or bed while your baby eats, try to get as comfortable as possible. Use a nursing pillow to help position your baby and ease your neck, arms and back. Keep water and snacks close by and stock up on good books to read or shows to watch.

Take care with the first bath.

“The saying ‘slippery when wet’ applies here—many new parents are very nervous when giving that first bath,” Jana says. Relax and take it slow. Because you’ll want to work around the umbilical cord (the faster it dries, the sooner it will fall off), a sponge bath is the way to go at this stage. Plus, if your baby has been circumcised, you’ll need to wait for the area to heal before completely submerging it in water. Gather the supplies and have them within arm’s reach—this way you can have one hand on the baby at all times. Then place him on a towel and gently wash the areas that need cleaning with a warm washcloth and baby bath wash.

Ask for help when recovering from delivery.

It’s normal to experience pain and exhaustion after giving birth. In time, your body will bounce back and you’ll regain your strength. But while you’re healing, designate a family member to take care of you—or at least to make sure you don’t overexert yourself. Recruit your partner, relatives and friends to pitch in with housework, baby care and meal prep while you recover.

Focus on what matters.

Between lack of sleep, physical discomfort and plummeting hormones, even the most excited new parent can feel overwhelmed. Decide what’s most important to you—say, learning how to breast-feed, sleeping and cuddling your baby—and focus on those things. Then let everything else go for a while.

Try to go outside or get out of the house every day. The fresh air (or seeing other humans) can help you stay sane. Spirits still low? “Remember that it’s normal to feel the baby blues for the first couple of weeks postpartum,” says Liz Maseth, R.N., a nurse lactation consultant at Akron Children’s Hospital in Ohio. “Just make sure that your family understands about the baby blues—and that if your feelings of sadness or depression last beyond those first two weeks, your loved ones can assist you in getting the help you need.”

It’s Halloween season! Finally you can enjoy delicious snacks with a spooky theme. If you’re looking for healthy alternatives for your kids, you’re in luck! We’ve crafted a list of our favorite healthy Halloween treats from around the web just for you and your kids to enjoy.