They say the first year of parenthood is the hardest. Long nights make things a little stressful and eventually you will try anything to help stay sane. Here are some things that we quickly learned we couldn’t live without during our first year as parents:

Bottle warmer

I wasn’t sure this was something we needed until we got one, but honestly a bottle warmer became our best friend. We kept it in our bedroom and really saved us most nights. I would pump hand have a several bottles ready to go in the fridge. At night, I would grab a couple and keep it in the handy cooler that came with it at night. Then if he needed to be fed at 3am, all we had to do is pop it into the warmer and after a couple minutes we were good to go. This is great also because dad can also be the one to get up and feed the baby in the middle night so it’s not always up to mom. Now we got ours two years ago and they’ve only gotten better since then. This one does everything for you. 

Zipper pajamas

You know what is the hardest thing in the world? Trying to close a million little snaps on your babies pajamas at 2am! After hours of sleep deprivation this is the LAST thing you want to do! We learned this pretty quick and only would put our little one in zip-up pajamas. While the snaps are cute, they are so not practical. We did get one pair that was little magnets that was great but didn’t feel as secure. Zippers are the way to go! 

This also goes out to anyone who is buying pajamas as a gift too – NEVER get the ones with the snaps! Your friends and family with a newborn will thank you!

Baby Swing

There were MANY times we were thankful for our baby swing during our first year as parents. Our little one likes movement and sometimes that was the only way he would sleep. The swing came in handy so many times because it gave us a break to cook, clean or just go to the bathroom! It actually made me very sad when he got too big for it and had to give it up because it was SO helpful. There are many different swings with all kinds of bells and whistles. Those work or you can just go basic like this one we got:

The Shusher

This may sound like the dumbest invention ever but is actually GENIUS! All this little machine does is say “shhhhh” over and over again for 30 or 60 minutes. Literally saved us so many nights. AND it’s portable so you can take it anywhere with you! This is a GREAT baby shower gift because most parents won’t think to get it for themselves but will actually love it. 

Sound Machine

A friend had researched great gifts for parents when she was figuring out what to buy us one Christmas and came up with a sound machine. When we finally moved our little one to his own room this helped replaced the “shhhhh” sound from the Shusher and helped soothed him to sleep. Plus, it acted a sound barrier for him so it could drown out what was going on outside his room. In fact, we still use it to this day and it’s the best thing ever! The ones that also act as a nightlight are great and soothing for baby and later toddler:

By MySDMom Jessica

The month of April is recognized as World Autism Month. Some call it Autism Awareness Month and others Autism Awareness Month. Either way, it is a time to talk about those that have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and those that love them. As a mother of a 2-year-old that was recently diagnosed with ASD, this is a time we’re using to share our story. 

December 15th Walt was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. I won’t lie, I was scared when I first heard the doctor say it out loud. I couldn’t help but wonder what this meant for the future of my favorite little man. How does this affect who he is going to be? What does this mean for school? Future jobs? Friendships and relationships? All the possibilities ran through my head and I won’t lie I spent many hours crying for the next few days. 

But the one thing that really ended up helping me stop being so scared and start feeling hopeful was hearing other people’s stories. Whether it was the mom that talked to me about her 25-year-old son that just went to Las Vegas with his friends or the Instagram post I read about a 3-year-old that progressed a ton after starting ABA therapy. All these stories helped me realize this wasn’t a scary thing it would just be different than some other kids. And that is okay. 

So because of that we decided to share our story earlier this month in hopes that maybe one parent with a kid that was recently diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder would see it and feel a little less scared. 

If your child was recently diagnosed with ASD or you know someone that was, this 100 day guide from Autism Speaks was also very helpful for us. 

Most of all, remember this April – Be Kind!

While things are looking up, Easter still won’t be the same this year… Well not the same to every other year but 2020. So here are some great activities to do with the whole family at home: 

Peep Fondue

This one sounds a little creepy, but I for sure what to give it a try! You know those Peeps you get a million of every year and always end up throwing out? Melt some chocolate and use them as Peep Fondue! The kids will love it even though dipping the chicks into the chocolate is a little morbid… 

Peeps Easter Fondue Recipe

Easter Coin Toss

The older kids are REALLY going to like this game. Why? Because they can earn MONEY! And it’s something you can do with the extra hard-boiled egg that just didn’t make it into the egg salad. 

Coin Toss Easter Game for Kids

Grow Some Easter Crystals

This is for the budding scientist in your house! You could start this the night before Easter and wake up to some crystal eggs the kids made all on their own. Super fun, easy and with very little mess. SCORE! 

Easter Borax Crystals

Unique Easter Egg Hunt Ideas

I know when I was a kid we did the same Easter egg hunt every year. Wake up, find the eggs around the house, eat all the candy. Maybe it’s time to switch it up a bit. Here are some unique things you can do for your Easter Egg hunt this year:

35 Best Easter Egg Hunt Ideas for Some Family-Friendly Competition This Holiday

​Easter Crafts​

A holiday wouldn’t be complete without some fun crafts for the kids. But let’s be real, between working from home and distance learning, right now simple is the key. Here are some great crafts the kids can do that won’t require too much brain power: 

40+ Simple Easter Crafts for Kids

California is preparing to send kids back to school in the next couple months. While specific dates range depending on the county COVID numbers, specific school district and grade, parents are getting ready to get their kids back to in-person learning. So what do you need to know and how should you prepare for your kid going back to school? Here are some helpful links: 

When will kids be going back to school? 

This is a complicated question. It depends on the current case rate in San Diego County. Elementary students can return if the case rate is less than 25 per 100,000 people, which San Diego County is currently below. Middle school and high school students can return once we reach the red tier, which is currently defined as 7 cases per 100,000. However, that restriction is about to be relaxed some to 10 cases per 100,000 people in the coming days depending on vaccination rates. Yes, it does sound complicated (because it is), but EdSource.org has more up-to-date information broken down for you: 

Quick Guide: California’s plan for getting more kids back to school

What should your kids have ready to head back to school? 

Obviously, your child will probably need plenty of masks and hand sanitizer before heading back to class. But there are a lot of things that you might not even think about. What is the drinking water situation in class? Who do you contact if your child does get sick? The CDC has provided a printable handout for parents with a checklist to help guide parents: 

Back to School Planning: Checklists to Guide Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers – CDC

How do you handle your child’s back-to-school anxiety? 

Going back to school at the end of summer can be stressful. So imagine what it will be like in the middle of a global pandemic? While things are starting to look better, the stress and worry of being around so many people again can be hard for both parent and child. Kaiser Permanente has shared three way how you can help your kids and yourself get through the anxiety: 

3 ways to manage anxiety about returning to work and school – Kaiser Permanente

If your family is any like mine, you are missing Disneyland SO MUCH! It’s been almost a year since the most magical place on earth closed and in that time we’ve missed the rides, the lands and (most importantly) THE FOOD! There is a section of the Disney California Adventure that is open right now serving some of your Disneyland favorites like churros and popcorn and a food festival coming mid-March. But if you can’t make it up to Disneyland for either of those, here is how you can make some of your favorite Disneyland foods at home with the whole family! 

Mickey Waffles

If you’ve been sleeping on Mickey Waffles then you are missing out! These are my favorite Disneyland food. There is something about the batter that is so tasty and those Mickey ears get nice and crispy. Luckily, you can make them for yourself using Carbon’s Golden Malted Pancake & Waffle Flour. This is the same exact batter that they use in the parks. For bonus points you can also get your own Mickey Waffle Iron at ShopDisney.com. There are other waffle irons that are less expensive, but honestly they do not compare

Churro Toffee

This is a newer item at Disneyland and is becoming an instant favorite. If you like churros, then you will love Churro Toffee! This item was selling out all over the parks when it was first introduced but now you can make it at home. 

Churro Toffee – Life in the Lofthouse

Monte Cristo Sandwich

The Monte Cristo Sandwich is a classic of New Orleans Square. This friend ham, turkey and cheese sandwich may seem complicated but is actually super easy to make. Just don’t forget the raspberry dip!

Mickey Mouse Beignets

This recipe comes straight from Disneyland! There really is nothing better than getting a bag of the magical beignets from the Mint Julep bar. The line is usually around the corner for this amazing treat. Get the recipe below but don’t forget to get a Mickey Mouse cookie cutter on Amazon for the full effect!

Disneyland’s Mickey Mouse Beignets

Corn Dogs

You know that red wagon on Main Street that always has a line? That line is for corn dogs! I will admit after hundreds of trips to Disneyland I had never had one for myself…. Until almost exactly a year ago before they closed. I don’t know why I was sleeping on these, they are SO GOOD!!! Not sure if you can capture the exact magic of these at home, but go ahead and try it out and see.

Disneyland Style Hand Dipped Corn Dogs

Turkey Legs

I’m going to go ahead and say it, I do not do the Turkey Legs at Disneyland. Something about carrying around greasy meat does not appeal to me. But if you must get it in, below is a recipe to make it at home…. Enjoy I guess….

Smoked Turkey Legs (Disney Copycat Recipe)