In this country, we usually get a little snow each winter, enough to transform the look of your garden. Lots of us love snow, but even a little bit can be a worry for gardeners, like rain. No matter how beautiful the snow looks, it can cause some real problems in your garden. Snow is not just cold, but also heavy, which can damage your plants and garden structures. There are some steps that you can take to help your garden stay safe during snow. 

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Protecting Plants From Heavy Snow

It’s best to get your plant protection in place before the snowfall happens, but of course, it’s possible to be caught off guard. Luckily, the snow has an insulating effect, so a light covering of snow can actually act as a protective blanket against low temperatures. 

Deeper snow is a bigger problem and needs to be planned for in advance. Snow is heavy. How heavy snow is depends on the moisture content. The wetter the snow is, the more likely it is to squash your plants. 

Small plants are easy to protect from snow. You can use a sturdy plastic box to put over the plants as a cloche. Look for transparent boxes if you think you’ll have to leave them on for a while, and remember to clear the snow off them so the light can still get through to the plant. An opaque box is okay if you’ll only be using it for a day or two. In a pinch, an upturned plant pot will do the job. For seedling, cut the bottom of a plastic drinks bottle and use that. 

If you have large plants, these are best protected by low tunnels, and it’s easy to make your own. Plastic water or gas pipe is a cheap option for making hoops and is easy to cut to size with a hacksaw. Make sure your hoops are securely fixed in place so they don’t collapse under heavy snow. Slide each end over a length of rebar hammered into the ground, or feed the ends into rigid plastic piping. Link them with a central crosspiece. You can reinforce your tunnels by cladding them with wire mesh before adding a cover. 

The tunnel’s curved shape shed snow naturally. Plastic covers will keep plants dry and warm. Make sure you remove any snow that is building up so your tunnel doesn’t collapse. Don’t use horticultural fleece, as the weight of the snow can tear the fabric. 

Garden Structures And Snow

It’s not just your plants that are at risk of damage from snow loading. Make sure you dislodge any snow from the roofs of sheds or greenhouses where you can. If you have polytunnels, the shape of them should encourage snow to slip off on its own, but if it does cling, it can cause the whole structure to collapse. Make sure you knock it off so this doesn’t happen.

Fruit cages are often forgotten about in the snow, but despite having a lot of holes, a netting roof can actually hold quite a lot of snow. When this snow caves in damage both the netting and the fruit cage frame. Heavy snow landing on the plants inside could break branches too, meaning you’ll be able to produce less fruit next season. 

It’s a good idea to remove the roof netting from your fruit cages if you expect snow. As soon as your autumn fruits have finished for the season, put away the roof netting, in case you get any early snowfalls. You can put it back when it’s fruit-growing time again. 

Remember to keep your guttering clear and in good repair, so when the snow melts, the water has somewhere to go. The importance of gutter installation and maintenance can’t be over-estimated. If water can’t drain properly, it can cause major damage to your roof, including leaks. 

Harvesting In Snow

It can be worrying to find that your winter crops have been buried under a blanket of snow, but the snow actually insulates the soil and prevents it from freezing too solidly. This means it is actually often possible to dig down through the snow and lift root crops that have been left in the ground. As long as you can find them, you should still be able to harvest them. 

Brussels sprouts, cabbage, purple sprouting broccoli, and the hardier varieties of the leek can all stand up to a covering of snow and remain in good condition for harvesting. 

As wonderful and magical and fulfilling as parenthood can be, there are also moments where you find yourself thinking “there must be an easier way to do this.” Well, we are here to tell you that you’re probably right! There are plenty of tools that new parents need that can do wonders for simplifying your life. Take a look at our top five products that are sure to make your life as a new parent much, much easier!

1. A Sleep Sack

Is your little one struggling to get comfortable and fall asleep? Consider getting them a sleep sack! Sleep sacks are designed to regulate your baby’s body temperature without overheating them, ensuring that not only are they comfortable, but also that they are safe. There are sleep sacks in a variety of colors, designs, fabrics and sizes, making it easy to find the perfect sleep sack, whether you’re on the hunt for your six month old baby or your two year old toddler.

2. Easy Baby Clothing

There are loads and loads of baby clothes out there to choose from. However, some are definitely more inconvenient than others. Can we just acknowledge how terrible those pajamas are with a million snaps on them? You deserve easy baby clothing. Zipease baby rompers are a great option, featuring a zipper specifically designed to simplify diaper changes. Not only are they easy to use, but they’re available in a variety of styles.

3. The Right Nose Products

Don’t fall for the false notion that the only way to clear your baby’s nose is with one of those suction bulb contraptions. Not only are they uncomfortable for your little one, but they’re wildly ineffective. We highly recommend getting your hands on a nose frida for easy snot removal, as well as a few packages of boogie wipes. Trust us- between these two items, your baby’s nose will be well taken care of.

4. A Tricked Out Baby Swing

You’ve likely received the advice of getting yourself a baby swing. We totally agree- most babies do incredibly well in a baby swing, and it can be a great tool for calming and entertaining your little one. We’re going to take things a step further and say that this is a baby item that you should splurge on. Get the swing that has preset motions that imitate the womb, play music and white noise, and have toys hanging from the top to hold their attention. You won’t regret it.

5. Smell Saving Diaper Pail

The last thing you want is your home or baby’s nursery smelling like a dirty diaper. You’re guaranteed to be handling a few thousand diapers in your time as a parent, so treat yourself to a smell saving diaper pail. They’re designed to hold a number of diapers at a time, capturing the smell and containing it within the pail so that the rest of the room can stay smelling fresh.

Parenthood is sure to be one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of your entire life, and you deserve to equip yourself with all of the best tools and tricks to make it as easy as possible. Consider some of our favorite baby items that are sure to simplify things for you!

The way you decorate your home has a significant impact on its attractiveness and comfort levels. The bedroom, mainly, often displays your taste. Although it is among the most private rooms in a house, it should provide you with the utmost relaxation. This explains why more people are investing in mirrored wardrobes.

Read on to discover the top benefits of purchasing mirrored wardrobes.

Styling

When it comes to styling, only a few materials can match mirrored doors. Mirrors are available in a broad range of styles, colors, and sizes. As a homeowner, you can customise the colors and finishes of the tracks and panels to suit your preferences. Even better, you can pick a style that matches your interior décor, such that the closet does not appear out of place.

For example, you can use lacquered or decorative glass door if you want to improve your bedroom’s visual appeal. Suppose you want to give your home a coastal feel, consider investing in crystal clear or stained glass.

Versatility

Because of their stylishness, the mirrored door can be used in multiple home areas besides the bedroom. To even make your mirrored wardrobe adaptable, install racks on the outer side for storing small appliances and accessories like laptops and jewelry. The doors can be used for looking at yourself when dressing up, dancing, exercising, etc. With wardrobe doors being mirrored, there is no need to purchase an additional standing mirror that takes up more floor space.

Illusion of Space

Another benefit of purchasing mirrored closets is that they make the space look bigger than it is. The ability to reflect light can make a confined room appear spacious. If you live in a house with a small bedroom, it would be wise to invest in a wardrobe with mirrored doors.

Maximising Storage

Most mirrored wardrobes have sliding doors, meaning that they won’t take up a lot of space like hinged closets. When you opt for a mirrored wardrobe, you do not have to worry about spatial constraints. Furthermore, you canmaximise the storage area by addend racks, hanging rails, and shelves to the door’s interior side. With storage space at a premium, every little alcove and cranny can prove useful.

Conclusion

Even in the most spacious bedrooms, fitting the bed, side tables, and closet can be a significant challenge. If you are lucky enough to invest in a wardrobe, it can come in handy in improving your home’s organisation, its visual appeal, and keeping clutter away.

Mirrored wardrobes are gaining more traction among homeowners because they make small spaces appear bigger. This particularly applies to people who are short of space. They are also more stylish, customisable, and versatile than other materials used for finishing closets. Even better, they are not as expensive as wood.

On the downside, glass is more brittle than other materials, making it susceptible to breaking. You need to be careful when you are close to a mirrored wardrobe unless you want to reinvest your money on replacements.

Meal kits are a growing trend in the west, but it is North America that has really taken to the idea. Meal kits are a bit like if you combined grocery shopping with a restaurant menu – you scroll recipes, select the ones you like the look of, and voilà, your chosen meals have arrived on your doorstep.

They’re not cooked already, though this is a service you can also find. Instead, the ingredients are measured for you ready to go, and in some cases, fully prepared. You can find meal kit companies all around the globe, and their trend looks set to continue and challenge major supermarkets on every continent. 

This article will cover the top companies in North America, such Hello Fresh, Chefs Plate and Blue Apron. Despite Blue Apron choosing not to expand to Canada, we will explore how and why these companies are thriving in NA, and what are pros and cons of each.

• Population sparsity

Both Canada and the USA share something in common that not many other countries do – land is plentiful. With only modest population figures yet huge land, their population is sparsely covering a large land mass. This makes grocery shopping a very different experience compared to somewhere like Europe.

In Europe, it is common to go to grocery shops a couple of times a week. Often a short walk around the corner, or at most a 10-minute drive, food is accessible. However, in North America it’s not uncommon to only shop once every ten days or so for food. Clearly, the latter culture is more suited to online meal kit deliveries.

• Awareness of healthy eating

North Americans are, in general, quite health conscious. Gyms have become a cool place to hang out and healthy plates of food have become a staple of the Instagram feed – a bit like how fitness has become fashionable in the past half decade. YouTube and podcasts have also played a huge factor in providing information to North Americans regarding health and lifestyle, something they have an appetite for.

Meal kits go hand-in-hand with this. Those wanting to learn how to cook can do so by ordering the ingredients without the extra hassle, and are provided an instruction list.

• Higher disposable income

Both Canadians and Americans have one of the highest disposable incomes in the world. The spare money is essentially an opportunity to start paying for more time. Given that we are all constricted by time, those with enough money can buy some of it back.

On top of this, meal kits offer fresh, organic ingredients. This high-quality produce isn’t always easy to find in supermarkets, so this becomes the higher quality, more costly alternative. It’s very unlikely that the poorest in America are paying for meal kits for much the same reason why meal kits aren’t a thing in developing countries.

• Long work hours

The US tends to have longer work hours and fewer days off than many European countries. Their culture of high work ethic means that there are millions of Americans who have little free time, and decide that opting for convenience is important to freeing up what little time they have left. 

Time and convenience are perhaps the biggest reasons for meal kit companies’ demand. Though, with the abrupt lockdown restriction last April, it was likely the obstacles that faced Americans when shopping, that led to online alternatives.

Do meal kits exist outside of NA?

Meal kits do in fact exist outside of NA. In particular, they are rising in popularity in Europe for much of the same reasons as above. There is a rising culture of being health conscious (partly from American Instagram influencers), as well as a middle class who are looking for convenient, healthy cooking in a time of a pandemic. 

Europe has many of the same companies that NA has, though there are many of their own too. Gousto, Square Meal, and Feast Box in particular are popular in the UK. Hello Fresh, which is perhaps the largest meal kit company in the US, Canada, and the world, is a German company.

Which are the biggest meal kit companies in North America?

The US and Canada share many of the same meal kit companies. The biggest is arguably Hello Fresh, as mentioned earlier, which is valued at over $10bn. With over 30% market share, Hello Fresh is the go-to for many people wanting reasonably priced, good quality recipes and a reliable service.

Home Chef is perhaps the next biggest North American meal kit company. This is a 2013 company founded in Chicago, and is owned by Kroger. Home Chef is rated the best company by many reviewers, with its great recipes, fresh ingredients and easy service.

Blue Apron is also a big hitter, but they do not operate in Canada. In fact, they were struggling for many years until the pandemic struck, where they then saw their best growth in a long time.

Freshly, EveryPlate, Sun Basket, Green Chef and Purple Carrot are some of the other noteworthy meal kit companies, who each have their own pros and cons. 

For example, Freshly offers ready-to-eat meals, so there’s no actual cooking required. This takes meal kit convenience to a whole new level, but of course at the cost of freshness. There’s no way that the meal can taste as fresh when reheated, though you could argue the ingredients are of the same organic quality.

As we can see, there is no single best company. It’s worth trying a few different ones before settling, as you can decide which suits you best. On top of this, you can make use of the promotional offers for new sign ups, meaning each company can be rinsed of their discounts before you consider paying full price.

(Image via https://twitter.com/incolorsdesign)

It’s totally normal to want to add a fresh look to your home every now and then, although making any major improvements can, of course, cost a fair bit of money. We’ve looked at some ways to improve your home before, but budget constraints weren’t the focus of that piece. If we can improve some spaces with a tiny investment, then why not? 

It’s certainly becoming a lot more common these days, particularly with mum’s who want to get their kids involved in some fun and creative design. Sprucing up – and ultimately adding value to – a home is a fun and rewarding exercise too, with numerous hacks and clever little additions you can make to help elevate a room. It’s certainly more productive than lounging around on the sofa all day watching television or exploring more online roulette games in Canada, and those leisurely activities will be far more enjoyable when you’re living it up in your swanky new space that cost next to nothing to improve. There are so many things you can do to give your home a facelift, too. 

So, with that in mind, here’s a look at some cheap and cheerful ways to spruce up your home. 

Use chalkboard paint on the inside of cupboard doors

We mentioned getting the kids involved, and this is one idea that they’ll certainly want to have a go at. Simply spraying some chalkboard paint on the inside of a cupboard can give your kitchen a stylish look, although if you’re wanting to add some fun into your dining space and get the kids involved then giving them some chalk to write on their very own cupboard could be worth trying. Alternatively, you could write a list of what’s inside the cupboard ahead of cooking up a big family feast or having people round to stay who might not know where anything is. 

Make some cushions 

Not only is it relatively simple to do and incredibly cheap to buy the required materials also, but making cushions will give you the opportunity to apply a design you really like to a room. You can select the fabric you like and the exact type of pillow you want, all while giving a room a completely fresh look in the process too. Cushions can go a long way, after all.

Hide your router 

Internet routers aren’t the most attractive of things, which is why clever hacks like using a hollowed-out book to fit it into are worth considering. From there, you could place ornaments on top of the book, perhaps. A simple but effective touch, hiding your Wi-Fi router will allow you to declutter your space and conceal what can be an annoyance. 

Disguise what you can’t replace 

(Image via https://twitter.com/EmmaDrohan1)

Fixing a damaged floor or a stained carpet isn’t always kind on the wallet, which is why disguising an unpleasant sight is a clever alternative, and it works a treat too. Try laying a rug over a stained carpet or a beautiful throw over a dusty old sofa. It’s simple and can look excellent.

Turn old jewellery into fridge magnets 

Another one to potentially get the kids involved with, turning old jewellery into fridge magnets will enable you to add some extra style to your kitchen. Whether it’s a broken brooch or some rusty old jewellery, sticking them to the back of a magnet will add a fresh look to your fridge and ultimately give your kitchen a quirky new look too. 

Other ideas are spray paint photo frames, use old wallpaper on bookcases, and get creative with wall stencils. 

Image Credit: Pexels

You might end up having the urge to replace the appliances in your kitchen, your washer and dryer, the furniture set in your living room, but when is it time to replace your bed? A mattress, and a new bed frame set, is a big investment we often avoid until our sleep becomes nonexistent.

Maybe you’ve moved to the guest room or the couch to get some sleep because your bed is causing more harm than good. Although it may feel like it, a mattress is not meant to last you a lifetime. Especially when you can shop online and find the perfect match within minutes. Below are several indicators that it is seriously time to consider replacing your mattress!

It’s Going on a Decade Since You Had a New Bed

If your previous mattress came with a 10, 15 or 20-year warranty, this is the last thing you want to follow in terms of your mattress lifespan. Under ideal circumstances, your mattress should be replaced within 6 to 10 years. However, there are exceptions to this rule such as latex mattresses. For most mattress brands, they will begin to lose their shape, effectiveness and they’ll actually start to cause problems within 7 years.

Your Body Isn’t Happy When You Wake Up

Do you wake up more tired or achy than when you went to bed? The ideal sleep situation where you can get enough sleep on the right mattress, you should wake up well-rested and refreshed. However, bad mattresses often keep us up during the night, and make our bodies work harder to find the most comfortable spot to fall and stay asleep.

Your Mattress Appears Lumpy or Feels Uncomfortable

Have you seen springs popping out of your mattress? Compressed fibers? Is your mattress slumping to one side or caving in the middle? Sleeping on a mishappen mattress can often cause back, or neck pain along with spine misalignment. This is the opposite of support – instead your weight is unevenly distributed across your entire back.

If your mattress looks like it’s falling apart, subjected to the wear and tear of a long life, then it’s high time you consider a new mattress. There tend to be various options available in the market from traditional cotton and linen bedding to modern and improved bamboo bedding. You can choose one according to your specific needs.

Indentations in Your Memory Foam

While memory foam is supposed to mold to your body, it isn’t a good sign if your mattress starts to keep your shape. Memory foam will naturally soften over time. If you find yourself sinking too much into your memory foam mattress, where it’s difficult to lift yourself up, then it could be time to move on from your mattress. A good rule of thumb is to take notice of how deeply you’re sinking into the memory foam – more than 2 inches isn’t good – and whether there’s a lasting indentation long after you’ve gotten out of bed.

Your Frame is Falling Apart

The problem with your bed troubles might not even be your mattress – it could be your bed frame. If your mattress is in good condition, or if it’s a young mattress, check your box spring. The box spring could be misshapen, tilted, or broken, which could lead to sleeping troubles. A weathered frame could lead to lopsidedness or sagging, leading to terrible sleep.

Having a baby in a house means following three things are sure to happen:

• Messy House
• Disturbed Sleep Schedule
• And last but definitely not least…the battle to make the babies sit straight during mealtimes.

When babies reach the age of 12-14 months, they want to explore their environment. For this purpose, these tiny creatures cannot sit in one place, even during mealtime. In fact, during the mealtimes, the babies are focused on everything and everyone around them becomes except for their meals.

Holding the feeding items, making the baby sit straight, and feeding them, all these tasks together can make the mealtime quite tiresome for the mothers. Not to mention, that it can take up a lot of time to make the baby eat his meal properly.

Mothers are always running around the clock to manage their chores and to be available for their babies. A lot of mothers search the internet to look up tips and tricks to make their lives easier without compromising on their babies.

If you are also one of those mothers, who wants to make her life easier and mealtime with babies a little less messy, then all you need is that one piece of furniture that will transform your mealtimes with the baby. 

A highchair is the answer to make the mealtimes with a baby easier.

Buying a highchair is not necessary. If the parents can manage their babies while feeding them then there is no need for a highchair. But, if your baby is a little wigglier and doesn’t focus on his meals, then you should invest in a good high chair.

A high chair may seem like a simple piece of furniture used during mealtimes, but you’ll be surprised to know how many benefits it has in store for both the baby and the mother.

Advantages of a High Chair

• Time-Saving 

Perhaps the greatest benefit of the high chair which overshadows the rest of the benefits is that it saves a lot of time. Feeding the baby while he is seated in a high chair makes the mealtime finish much faster and without hassle.

• Self-Dependence

If you want your baby to become an independent eater, then you must inculcate this habit at a tender age. A high chair comes with a tray which is used to keep the feeding items of the baby. This feature of the high chair allows the baby to feed himself and focus on the meal, without having to hold anything.

• Family Time

A person enjoys mealtime more when he eats with his family. A high chair allows the baby to be included in the family mealtime. Including the baby in family mealtime can strengthen the bond between the baby and his family members.

• Safety and Security 

Making the babies sit in a regular chair or on a lap can sometimes be risky as they might slip away and hurt themselves. With a high chair, parents can be relieved that the baby will be safe and secure during mealtime no matter how much he twists and turns.

• Other Activities

The primary purpose of a high chair is to make mealtimes more convenient for the babies and their mothers. But, a high chair can also be used for other activities. For instance, it can be used for reading time or for playing with flashcards. 

If you don’t have anyone to watch over your baby while you work in the kitchen or a room, etc. then you can place the baby inside the high chair and keep him closer to you.

The benefits of high chairs are not only limited to the above-listed ones. There are many more advantages that you and your baby can reap by using a high chair. 

But wait…there is just one condition attached to getting these benefits. 

The condition to benefit from a high chair is to make your baby sit on it. Making the babies sit on the high chair may seem easy but, as they grow up it becomes difficult to make them sit for longer durations.

Wondering how to overcome this problem? Well, don’t worry we have a solution for you. Below we have mentioned seven easy tricks to make your babies sit longer in the high chair for peaceful and less messy mealtimes.

All you have to do is keep reading…!

Tricks To Keep Your Child Seated Longer in Their High Chair

• Invest in the Right Chair

   

The first trick to make your child sit longer in a high chair is to get the right high chair for them. If the high chair is comfortable and safe, the child will enjoy sitting in it. If the high chair is uncomfortable and unsafe then the baby will give you a tough time while sitting in it.

Before you buy a high chair make sure that you take the following considerations into account.

• Safety Features

When it comes to buying things for babies, safety is the priority of all the parents. Babies do not have complete control over their bodies and sometimes they find it hard to balance themselves. For this purpose, make sure that the high chair has the feature to keep the baby secured.

There are numerous chairs available in the market. However, remember that not every chair is suitable for your baby. Each baby has different needs. What suits one baby doesn’t necessarily mean that it will suit your baby too.

Make sure that the chair you purchase is sturdy and won’t topple if the child throws a tantrum. Also, check the safety strap and the harness points. Furthermore, do check that the chair is properly polished and there are no sharp edges or hinges which might hurt your little one.

• Comfortable Seat

How long can you sit on an uncomfortable chair? 5-10 minutes right? Do not expect your baby to sit longer in the chair if it’s not comfortable. If the seat is soft and cozy, the little ones will enjoy it and let their parents have the mealtime in peace.

Buy a high chair that is well padded and comfortable for your munchkin.

• Versatility

Gone are those days when the only type of high chair was available in the market for the babies. Nowadays, there are many high chairs which grow with your baby. The chair can be modified and used according to the needs of your child.

Invest in a chair that can be changed from a baby high chair to a toddler high chair and then into a booster. Be smart about your purchases and save your money. Get your baby the items which he can use longer.

• Footrest

Many parents overlook this aspect when they purchase a high chair. A footrest allows your baby to rest their legs on it instead of keeping them dangling.

A high chair footrest allows the baby to rest their feet while he is seated on the chair. It improves the postures of the baby and avoids the risk of varicose veins. 

Don’t worry if the high chair you purchase doesn’t have a footrest. You can easily get your hands on a Pawsi high chair footrest. It is cheap, convenient, and easy to attach to the baby chair.

Learn more about the benefits of Pawsi high chair footrest.

• Portable

Get a high chair that is easy to move around. Heavy and bulky chairs are a problem to move. The best option is to buy a high chair which has wheels attached to it. 

High chairs with wheels make it easier to move the high chair around the house or to take them outside.

• Lower Your Expectations

   

We understand that the parents want their babies to have peaceful mealtime with less fidgeting and smearing. But, do not expect the babies, especially the toddlers to sit properly for 10-15 minutes straight.  

When you start making them sit in the high chair they are sure to cry and fidget at first. Do not force them to sit for longer durations. Try making them sit for a few minutes and then eventually increase their time.

If you make them sit for more than 5 minutes, in the beginning, there is a high probability that the babies will throw a big tantrum whenever they are made to sit in the high chair.

• Include The Baby In Family Mealtimes

   

Another trick to make babies sit in the high chair is to include them during family mealtimes. Let’s accept it, people enjoy eating with their family rather than eating alone. Babies like it too when they are made to eat with the rest of the family.

Bring the high chair near the table or the kitchen counter. When the baby sits with everyone he enjoys having family time. Family mealtime not only makes the baby sit longer in the high chair but also strengthens his bond with his family.

A baby who has strong bonding and attachment with his family members is more likely to develop confident social behavior. 

• Let Them Explore

   

Babies are inquisitive by nature. They love to explore and feel everything around them. When you make the baby sit in a high chair, try to keep his chair near to the table or a kitchen counter. It allows him to view multiple objects and he tries to grab them to feel their texture.

Allow them to pick up the objects and feel them on their tiny hands. Babies will keep themselves occupied while exploring the things around them and they will sit longer in their high chairs. 

However, make sure not to keep sharp objects such as knives, forks, chopsticks, and lighters, etc. within their reach.

• Limit Distractions

   

During mealtimes, everything becomes magically interesting for the babies. From the crumbs on their chair to the toy which they haven’t touched in weeks, everything will interest them. To make sure that your baby focuses on his meal and sits properly in a high chair, try to limit the distractions around him.

Switch off the TV, don’t use tablets or smart-phones around them. Furthermore, make sure you use the high chair in a place where the baby would be least distracted. It will help him to focus on his meal and not on his surroundings.

• Encourage Self Eating

   

Mealtimes means a mess time for the baby. They love to feed their surroundings too. To avoid the mess and maintain cleanliness, many mothers do not favor the idea of letting the babies eat on their own. Suction base tableware has become essential for parents when it comes to toddler mealtimes. Some toddler weaning sets provide a stable base for little ones learning to feed themselves. Thanks to the silicone suction base underneath the bowls and plates, your baby won’t be able to lift the plate from a textured or smooth surface and throw it on the floor, therefore a less messy mealtime for the family.

Encouraging self-eating in the babies not only keeps them focused but also makes them learn how to hold the feeding items. Holding and gripping things enhance their fine motor skills.

• Never Leave the Baby Unattended

   

Never, we repeat, never leave your baby unattended while he is seated on a high chair. Whenever you make him sit in the high chair, make sure there is always someone to watch over them.

If nobody is around the baby while he is seated on the high chair, he will surely think of ways to escape the high chair. The baby may topple the chair and injure himself seriously. 

Having someone around reduces the chances of the baby to escape the high chair. He remains seated as long as someone is watching him.

In A Nutshell

High chairs are without a speck of a doubt a very useful piece of furniture for both the baby and his parents. It makes the mealtime easier, improves the posture of the baby, encourages self-feeding, and allows the baby to become disciplined during mealtimes.

Making the child comfortable and used to a high chair is not easy. Relax! There is no need to panic if your child is not ready to sit in a high chair or cries when he is made to sit.

Babies need time to get familiar with things. Do not expect them to get comfortable the moment they sit. Do not force them to sit for prolonged durations. Start by making them sit for 2-3 minutes and then gradually increase the time as needed.

When was the last time you felt most relaxed? Just like any other person, your home should be the place that comforts you. But what if it is not? Your home should not be just a location where you live. Instead, it should be a place of retreat where you can feel comfortable. Your home should be the first place you turn to when you want to escape from the chaotic world. But what if it is the leading case of stress which negatively affects your health?

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You should work on improving the mood and energy of your home to turn it into a healthier living space. Once you turn your home into a sanctuary, you can then focus more on healing your body, calming your mind, and soothing your soul.

Your home does not need to have the latest set of furniture or equipment. Instead, it should be a sanctuary you can take refuge in when you are looking for some calmness and positivity.

When your home environment is unclean, messy, and unkempt, you can develop a range of physical and health issues such as asthma, stress, and depression. For example, if you have an air conditioner that is not working to its full capacity, you might develop breathing problems. However, if you take help of air handler services in Boise (or wherever you live), you might be able to reduce that problem to an extent!

But what should you do to transform your home into a wellness sanctuary? Here are some key tips you can use.

Natural Light

Avoid staying in dark areas of the house. Dark spaces can negatively affect your mood. It can also affect your ability to make healthy decisions. Instead, get out of the darkness and start embracing the natural light from the sun.

Pull back the curtains every time you wake up to allow light to trickle into your house. You can amplify the amount of natural light in a dark room by strategically placing mirrors that can spread out light and brighten the dark spaces of your room.

You can also use light and warm colors in your house to give the illusion of a brightly lit house. Angle your furniture strategically toward the direction of the light to allow light to reflect from the surfaces and brightening the room. However, it can only happen when the furniture has a light color.

Clean Up the Air

The air inside your home is 2 to 5 times more toxic than the one you breathe outdoors. There are potential causes of air pollution in almost every room in your house. However, there are easy and affordable ways to eliminate the problem.

Some potential causes of indoor air pollution include combustion gases from the kitchen stovetop and allergens such as house dust mites, mold, and pet dander. Old or inadequate air conditioning systems can also degrade the air quality in your home. In the event that your AC is old enough, then you might want to consider an air conditioning replacement since breathing in foul air may result in chest tightness, shortness of breath, sore throat, coughing, or even asthma attacks.

It is also worth considering your roof condition. Leaky or damaged roofs are more likely to increase the humidity levels, leading to the formation and spread of mold spores. Ideally, the best time to replace your roof is in autumn, where the weather is at its most predictable without being too cold. Summer is often too hot, and spring can have unexpected showers! So, it can be a good idea to check your roof for repair needs early, so you can plan replacement work at the best time of the year. 

In severe situations, breathing poor air quality can lead to frequent headaches, bronchitis, and chronic asthma. There are several steps you can take to improve your indoor air quality. You can improve the ventilation of your house by opening the windows to allow fresh air inside and let out the polluted air. In a similar manner, you can clean the air ducts and ventilation system of your home by hiring the services of a duct cleaning company (like DUCTZ of Mid Michigan or the ones in your vicinity). This can ensure that you get a constant supply of fresh air.

You can also make use of an air conditioner, especially during summer. Air conditioners get rid of the air in the atmosphere, together with the small particles and pollen in the air. To increase the efficiency of your air conditioner, use one that comes with a disposable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.

Another method you can use to purify the air in your house is by using natural air purifiers such as beeswax candles. Rather than using scented candles that leave behind petroleum-derived gases in the air, use beeswax candles since they ionize the air and neutralize any contaminants.

Create a Healing Space

How would you like to feel when you are at home? Instead of spending too much time decorating your house to look amazing, organize your house in a way that fosters good health. First, identify the space that makes you comfortable. It may be next to a plant, a view from the window, or a sentimental image.

You can then add a comfortable chair in the area and include materials that further enhance calmness such as candles or scented oils. If you’re considering using candles as a form of healing, be sure to read the articles on sites such as Candle Obsession to learn more about how they might be useful. The healing space should be quiet and free from anything that does not make you happy.

You can also set the mood using lighting to uplift your moods.

Bring In Nature

You may find different components of nature appealing to your health. For example, plants can help reduce stress and anxiety. They can also help with the purification of indoor air. You should therefore consider adding a few plants indoors.

If you want to create an indoor garden, add plants of different sizes and shapes around the house. You can place them on countertops, in corners, or hung them from the ceiling.

Mix up different plants and distribute them across the various rooms in the house. Depending on your location, you can find local plant delivery services where you can purchase home plants to be delivered to your door.

Not to mention, there are plenty of natural plant aromas that make the environment pleasant. They can enhance your mood and improve your immune system. You can get some indoor plants or used their oils that have a therapeutic effect on various health conditions.

A good example is peppermint oil that helps to reduce mental and physical fatigue and lavender oil that helps you to remain calm.

A Healthy Kitchen

Visual cues play an important role in the design of a wellness kitchen. Ensure that you stock up your fridge and pantry with fresh produce. Reorganize the entire kitchen and ensure that unhealthy foods are out of sight. Only place healthy foods on kitchen countertops.

Ensure that your drinking water is more visible to encourage you to drink water every morning when you get into the kitchen. Ensure that your kitchen is cooking-friendly. You can cultivate an indoor herb garden or stack your shelf with several healthy cookbooks that you can use to draw inspiration.

Stock up your food items more frequently to keep you from eating out and ensure that you prepare your healthy meal.

Summing Up

Transforming your home into your sanctuary can appear to be a lot of work. However, you can achieve the results you are looking for by just making a few slight changes. Every change you make should have a positive impact on your health.

Consider your eye health when setting up the lighting. While artificial lights can also be effective, your first consideration should be natural light. Ensure there is enough airflow in your house. Only then can your home provide you with the relaxation you deserve.

Whenever someone close to us has a new baby, we find ourselves trying to brainstorm ways to help her out. Between the sleepless nights and major transitions, she’s sure to need a little help with something, right? But what are some of the best ways to help out a new mom that aren’t too overdone or overbearing? Check out some of our go-to things to do to lend a hand to the new moms in your life!

Get Groceries

For many, an easy go-to for helping out new moms is to make a fresh meal and bring it over. While I’m sure this is appreciated, it’s very likely that she has a refrigerator full of lasagnas and casseroles at this very moment. If you’re wanting to help out with food, consider making a stop at the grocery store for her. Shoot her a text and see if she needs some essentials, such as bread, milk, eggs, cheese, etc. You might also consider getting her a gift card to a food delivery service such as Grubhub or Doordash.

Offer to Hang Out with the Baby

This one is a classic, but it really never gets old. If you have a good relationship with the new mother, you might consider offering to spend a few hours with the baby so that she can have some time to herself. Whether she wants to revel in a luxuriously long shower, take a nap, or even just read a book or watch a movie by herself, giving her the option to have some me time is sure to be appreciated. You might also want to get her some video baby monitors if she doesn’t already have any – they’ll help her keep an eye on the baby when she’s in another room and nobody else is around.

Get Her Supplies for Postpartum Recovery

When a new baby comes, there is so much emphasis put on what to do to prepare for and tend to him. What we often fail to acknowledge is the mother’s postpartum needs. No matter what kind of birth experience she had, there are a few things she’ll need to make her postpartum recovery easier. Mombox has a great postpartum recovery box that provides all of the necessary supplies for recovering mamas, and would make a fantastic gift!

Hire a Cleaning Team

This is a definite crowd pleaser. Hire a team of professional cleaners to go and spruce up her home a bit. This is sure to help her feel more relaxed and in control, something that every new mom desperately wants to feel. Depending on what she wants, you might invite her over to your house for a few hours while the crew takes care of her house. Talk to her beforehand to see what works best.

Help Prep Food

There will come a time when she feels ready to start making meals again, and having a few easy options on hand will make a world of difference. Prep a few freezer meals that will make for some easy dinners so that she has some good options to choose from. If she has a crock pot or pressure cooker, take that into account when you’re putting the freezer meals together. Additionally, if the baby is taking formula, you can get some best tasting formula as a gift.

Bring a Gift for Her

Everyone is dropping off little outfits for the little one and boxes of diapers and wipes. These are wonderful things to do! However, a great way to help a new mom is to bring a gift just for her. Whether it’s a bottle of bath salts, a good new book or even her favorite treat, this is a great way to help her feel seen.

We all want to lend a helping hand to new moms who’ve just given birth. If you’re looking for some good ways to help a new mom that you’re close to, be sure to consider some of our favorite go-to’s for taking care of the mamas in our lives!

Now that you have finally met your little one, it’s time for those cute, sleepy little newborn pictures. Keep in mind that the clock is ticking so it’s best to set the date with your photographer a few weeks in advance to make sure that they won’t be booked up.

Surf through the web to find the best San Antonio newborn photographer (or the one where you live, of course), do the required research, and only then decide to book. However, don’t be late for the booking. To schedule safely, you should book the week after your due date. The ideal time for a newborn session is when they are five to twelve days old. This will also give you time to find the best site to buy Instagram followers if you’re into your social media! If you need some ideas on themes, here’s a quick list of three options you can’t go wrong with.

Royalty

When your baby arrives, you’ll naturally want to treat them like a prince or princess. Using accessories such as little crowns and faux fur robes make for the perfect photo. Another element that works great for the royalty theme is the choice of props that you use. A mini gold carriage for them to lay on, jewels to surround them with, or creative use of lace are all beautiful options to make your pictures regal. Make sure that you always choose a few backdrop options so you can have a variety of different moods and feels. With the right backdrop, you won’t need as many props since they tend to set the mood and bring out the simplicity in a photo. You can also hire a Newborn Photographer near your location to implement these ideas since a professional could easily provide you with necessary props or may have ideas about beautiful backdrops. This can help you save your energy to have a successful baby photoshoot.

Sports

Set good habits now and dress your little one in a miniature sports kit! We can assume that at some point in their life they will be playing a sport, and if you have a favourite game that you play, it can be a fun way to introduce your baby to it. Choose a sport you’re passionate about and have the props ready to go for the session. If it’s basketball, you can use a jersey or basketball net to lay your baby on top of. You can also position them to look like they’re holding a mini basketball. Some fun sports that use a lot more props are baseball and football since you can use a ball, mini team shirts, and even small little boots.

Matching

If the baby has an older brother or sister, it’s only right that a matching session should take place. Adorable baby onesies and kids t-shirts at The Spunky Stork allow you to pick coordinating outfits for each. If you do decide to go with matching outfits, make sure that the material that the baby onesie is made from is from a safe material. Newborn skin tends to be the most sensitive so a material such as organic cotton is a bit more safe than others. When taking these types of sibling pictures, make sure that the poses you choose don’t require much from each. For example, big brother may not be old enough to understand that the baby’s head needs to be held a certain way to avoid harm. Depending on your photographer’s skills, they may be able to photoshop a hand or two out of the picture if you need to step in and help hold your baby. It would be best if you talked it over with your photographer during scheduling so that you are all on the same page for what can be expected to bring your vision to life.

Once your baby is here, it will be a little overwhelming getting used to the new change in your life, so stay ahead of the game and schedule your session sooner than later. Put this on your list of to-dos and cross it off as soon as you can so you can have a stress-free session.