Healthy Kids - Joyful Messes

How to Set Screen Time Boundaries

The question of how much screen time is too much, is becoming a growing concern for parents! As we depend more on technology and our own devices than previous generations, technology is also more accessible to young children every day. As mamas, we want to do all that we can to ensure that screens aren’t raising our kids, but we also want to give them a little freedom. And, to be honest, we have all had those moments as parents when we needed that parental break from reality, right? What if there was a happy medium? With a few carefully placed time management strategies, you can help your child become less screen craving and rekindle your child’s ability to engage in screenless play. While technology can be a good thing. the American academy of pediatrics recommend that your child not be in front of a screen for more than 2…

Baby Goods

7 Products That Are Good For Baby and the Environment

Most of us are at least a little environment conscious. However, we tend to become even more so once we start having babies! After all, parents want nothing but the best for their baby. That means not only the things they come in contact with but also things that will affect the world they will grow up in. Let’s help you venture down the increasingly earth-friendly road you may be traveling. We have compiled a list of seven items to get you started with the basics! Burt’s Bees Crib Sheets and Pajamas Babies spend the majority of their time sleeping for a few months. This means a lot of time in pajamas curled up in their bed! Take care of the environment and your baby by selecting one of Burt’s Bees 100% Organic GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified bedding and pajamas. Burt’s Bees has a large variety of organic cotton sheets. There are sure to be…

Healthy Kids

Baby Wearing Pros and Cons

There are few things in life sweeter than the feeling of holding your baby close. However when all you really want to do is hold your sweet little one yet there is so much to do around the house, what is a mom to do? Thankfully there is this wonderful thing called “baby wearing”. This has been done for centuries throughout the world by women of all walks of life. There are many companies out there that produce multiple styles of baby carrying products. Hopefully by the end of this article you will have an idea of which style baby carrier you feel will work best with your baby and lifestyle as well as the pros and cons of baby wearing. Pros to Baby Wearing When it comes to the pros of baby wearing, one of the first things moms tend to think of is having their baby as…

Food & Recipes

Toddler Lunch Meal Prep to Make Your Week Easier

The life of a mom with toddlers can be hectic, and sometimes feels like we are constantly running behind schedule! From the constant toy clean-up to the meals that require special prep to ensure the foods are safe, tasty, and healthy, and everything in between. A mother’s work is never done! Many “life-hacks” can save you time throughout your day. Prepping your toddler’s lunch meals for the week is one of these such hacks. You can do in about the same time it takes you to prep their lunch once! Here are some tips for practical meal prep of your toddler’s lunches to make your week easier. Bento Box The Bento Box is one of the most effective tools for creating school lunches full of flavor, color, and nutrients. This is a way to keep your toddler happily eating healthy foods! With multiple spill-proof sections, they are easy lunchboxes to use.…

Exercise

Tips for Hiking with Kids of All Ages

Hiking is a favorite pastime for people of all ages. It is a wonderful way to absorb some natural vitamin D and get tons of fresh air. Added bonuses are getting exercise while enjoying the beauty of the natural world around us. Going hiking with kids however can be somewhat challenging if you have never done so or are not properly prepared! We have compiled a list of some of the most important things to do in preparation. Also, there are some ideas for keeping the hike fun and engaging for everyone no matter their age! Length of Your Hike When planning out your hike with kids, one of the first things to determine is the length of the hike. While young kids always seem to have a limitless supply of energy, hiking may use different muscles than they are used to. A good way to decide how long your hike should…

Healthy Kids

First Day Vitamins for Kids and Women: An Honest Review

Do your kids eat their vegetables and other foods that are good for them without a fuss? They do? No way, how did you do that?…If you did’t answer yes to that first question, don’t worry you are not alone! Most of us parents are in the same boat and we want to make sure they get the right nutrition for their growth and development, but it’s not always easy. We try things like shredding and hiding vegetables in things we make from meatballs to muffins. Kids Multi Vitamins While that sometimes works sometimes, more often at least one of my kids will somehow figure out the slight ‘difference’ they are tasting. A more reliable and consistent way to get the right mix of nutrients into your kids from fruits and vegetables is First Day Kids Multi Vitamins. My kids love them and they are made from 12 real…

Healthy Kids

5 Ways to Instill Good Dental Habits in Your Child

Raising a kid is perhaps one of the hardest jobs in the world. At the same time, it is also the most satisfying, especially if you see your child healthy and happy. Among others, one of the most difficult parts of being a parent is getting your child to develop a dental hygiene routine. A task as simple as toothbrushing can end up being a nightmare! If you are clueless about how to help your child build a better habit for oral health, we’ve got you. Keep reading and learn from the tips we’ll be sharing. Help Your Child Develop Good Dental Habits With These Five Tips From keeping toddlers entertained to teaching kids to become more responsible, parents have a long list of seemingly endless tasks. Below, however, we will focus on making sure that your child grows up prioritizing oral health. Go to the Dentist Early On …

Food For Kids

Baby-Led Weaning

Your precious baby is growing before your eyes, and you know the time is nearing to introduce them to something other than breastmilk or formula. While this is a significant milestone for every baby, it can be stressful for the parents! What foods to start with, how to introduce them, and when exactly to start are essential things to consider. You may have been hearing about this not-so-new trend called “Baby-Led Weaning” and are wondering what exactly it is. When you hear this phrase and hear that it often starts around six months old, you may be wondering why wean your sweet baby so early? Baby-led weaning isn’t referring to weaning your infant off breastmilk or formula. It simply refers to beginning to introduce solids on your infant’s readiness schedule instead of baby cereal or jarred baby food. How To Know If Your Baby Is Ready One of the…

Healthy Kids

COVID-Related Stress and Isolation in Children

Before you had your child, you may have felt like you knew what was coming. Late-night feedings, diaper changes, and making your way through those challenging teen years are all par for the course when it comes to parenting. While you might have felt ready to handle anything parenting could throw your way, you may not have anticipated being tasked with guiding children through a global pandemic. Parenting right now is more challenging than ever before. Currently, children are facing a huge amount of stress, and an increasing number of them require help for mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. Seeing your child struggle emotionally is painful, but you can take some steps to help them learn how to deal with the changes COVID-19 has brought and is bringing into their life. How is COVID-19 impacting children’s lives? Before the pandemic, you aimed to do…

Healthy Kids

STEM Lessons Your Kid Will Learn in their 1st Year of Kindergarten

Science abilities can be acquired through simple hands-on activities and tests performed right under the safety of your home. Studies show that even before age two, children have a robust understanding of the principles of science. Scientists have shown time and time again that kids are curious, want to explore, and want to learn by doing. Around the time they’re in first grade, they know how to work out a theory, and if time remains to investigate it on their own. According to your state’s program, you may expect your kindergartner to learn the fundamentals of experimental experiments, though, you can also expect to discover the following concepts: Physical Science Life Science Earth Science We’ve compiled a few helpful tips on how you can improve your child’s newly developed science skills at home. Weather & Seasons Young learners discover the physical phenomena they see in their day-to-to-day lives. Children will…