Busy Board for Baby!

So the Bug is moving more and will entertain himself for a while so of course, I decided he needed a busy board. He's not quite ready for the crazy pulls and latches ones that I LOVE looking at on Pinterest (can we say 1st birthday???) so I thought and struggled to come up with things that weren't on his sensory board...

The Bug is rather obsessed with wheels so if this was a better quality board, I would have put a wheel on a caster on it but it's cardboard (the side of his tunnel- check back on Monday!) because I'm assuming he will destroy it and I didn't want to spend a lot of money (I didn't spend any but I have an insane amount of random stuff so...) here we go!


I started with a big piece of fabric (left from covering my diaper box shelves) which in hindsight, I might not have done because it slides around too much even glued down.

I wanted this to be a busy board and while he will not likely learn his colors, I liked the idea of putting the paint samples on so that I can talk about the colors with him. Plus- paint samples are always free!!!

He's extremely into shaking so I added some bells on ribbon (they are tied and glued) and a velcro shaker made from an old Gerber baby food container and beads. 

 

In the center, I put a sensory bag with hair gel and beads. It didn't quite work because gravity pulls it all down to the bottom after a little while but it's still fun to move around!

I have quite a collection of wooden spools from my aunt so we created a "wheel" by threading them onto a straw. To attach it and reinforce the straw, I stuck a pipe cleaner in it. They spin great but the Bug really wants to take them off and chew on them... Oh well!

What 7 month old isn't obsessed with untying??? So this ribbon is retied about 30 bizillion times a day BUT he loves it and it was like the easiest part... Maybe not but still super simple!

I'm not expecting him to learn his letters (there are only 4 cuz we were out of E...) but the more he seems them, the better right?!?

Another favorite right now is peek-a-boo but he's still working on object permanence so- I made a peek-a-boo pom- pom! The paper towel tube is glued and taped to the box (I know, hard core...) Then I threaded the pipe cleaner through the pom pom and taped it to the tube. 

So that's it! The Bug is still discovering it and he's having a blast! It's nice to be able to create something that took about an hour but keeps him entertained! It's not the most beautiful thing though my funky duct tape helps but I am well aware this box will not last the year so I didn't want to invest too much!

What would your little one want on their busy board???

Treasure Baskets

So I've been looking around at all sorts of things for the Bug to get into, especially with him crawling- things to keep him engaged. Being a teacher, I'm pretty well versed in both Montessori method and Reggio method teaching styles and while I'm not going on a purge to eliminate plastic toys, we do try to "go green" buying recycled, wooden, and metal toys as much as possible as well as making our own.

One thing I have run across is the idea of treasure baskets- small baskets of anything and everything for babies (most recommend 6 months- 18 months as good ages for these) so I looked around my house and realized- we are not the people that have random things that are good for treasure baskets lying around... Sensory bottles- ABSOLUTELY but everything is too small for the Bug to explore.

I did some digging and threw out the "no plastic" rule because I found a really cool plastic massager that I won in a raffle. Then I headed to Goodwill to see what I could find... I'm sometimes wary of shopping at consignment/thrift stores but you can find some amazing things!

So what's in the basket?!?(There are 3 different size and shape baskets):

* small metal bowl (Goodwill)
* small metal flashlight
* mini muffin pan (Goodwill)
* small metal whisk
* wooden D (Amazon)
* wooden spoon (Goodwill)
* wooden roller (Goodwill)
* plastic back massager
* loofah sponge (Target)
* natural scrubber sponge (Goodwill)
* scarf (Goodwill)
* decorative rock
* wooden dish
* parachute cord bracelet
* toilet paper tube
* unused urine sample cup (I never used the last one before the Bug was born and it's such a great size...)
* pinecone (our front yard)
* felt whale

So far, he loves exploring the different items and moving things from one basket to another!

Everything goes in his mouth though he is starting to explore the sounds objects made when hit together.

Blumm Box- A Review

So we arrived home a found our Blumm box had arrived (Fedex didn't have it coming until Tuesday!) so I was pleasantly surprised after reading some of the reviews about how late they can be. It's got to be hard in some ways to put together a box aimed at a certain age when a) you have a certain number of products for each age range and b) people start and stop ordering them all over the place. But we decided to try the 50% off coupon and here's what we think!

The Bug was not at all interested in the box but got a little more interested as we opened it...

I somewhat feel like the "7 month box" page is a waste. It has no information on it other than the referral which is all over the internet (post in the comments for 50% off a trial if you wish!)

The first thing the Bug pulled out was a pouch (he's obsessed) which is basmati rice, coconut milk, and carrot blend from Happy Baby. He had just eaten lunch so we haven't tried yet. He's typically happier with sweet pouches but will eat vegetables and real food without it being sweet (I actually prefer it this way!)

The Bug was way more interested in the crinkle paper filling the box...

Next he pulled out a teether ball. He hasn't officially started teething but he definitely likes to chew on things and his squeaky elephant is a favorite so he was pretty interested once he realized that is squeaked!

So these are samples (I thought it said full size items somewhere but whatever) and while they're cool. I'm not in the habit of hand washing clothes or honestly his dishes since we got a new dishwasher. This is the "for mom" part and honestly, I'd prefer they give us just things for the Bug if this is the type of stuff I get...

He also got a bath toy which is pretty cool- he is a huge bath lover so it will get used! and a pack of black and white picture cards. He has the pet ones from a friend and these are more exotic animals so it's nice to add to the set!

Here's a picture of all that was in the box. Overall, not bad BUT there is no way I'm going to continue for $30/month (or less if you sign up for more than 1 month) because we've got enough of this type of thing and the Bug's favorite toys are sensory bottles (I'll post about those soon!)

I will say, the Bug was happy to play with the crinkle paper they used to pad the things in the box. He would have continued had I let him...

Recipe: Rainbow Rice

I know there are multiple ways to make Rainbow Rice but honestly, I am making it for a child who mouths things so I want to be as non toxic and baby friendly as possible therefore rubbing alcohol is out!

Start with a bag of white rice, (type doesn't matter and you could use brown but color sticks better and is more vibrant on white rice!) food coloring, and vinegar. You can use zip top bags (my preference) or containers with lids (if your child is helping, this works better for 'shaking'!!!)

Divide the rice into as many containers as you want colors. You can choose to leave some white or dye it all!

Add 1 Tablespoon of vinegar (less if the smell will bother you) and as many drops of food coloring to each bag. The amount of food coloring depends on 1.) how bright you want the colors and 2.) the size bag or container you are using. For a quart bag about 3/4 full of rice (you want room for shaking), I would do 10-15 drops for a lighter color and 20-25 for a brighter color!

Mix (or get help! the Bug is starting to shake things but this needs a little more so he helps start them and I finish them off).

Once the colors are added. Open the bags to let the rice dry. (yes, it will smell like vinegar but I prefer that to alcohol)

Add the rice to a plastic bin or baking sheet and have fun!

Don't have rice? Pasta works too! If you're worried about your little one eating the rice, pasta is a great alternative!

Creating a Space for Baby- in the Kitchen

I see all these posts with these beautiful kitchens with drawers at a child's level full of their dishes... I'm jealous! We recently did a minor kitchen renovation (it seemed major to me) but kept the existing cabinets. The hubby added a few organizational pieces so I did a bit of rearranging and since the Bug was starting to move, I took the opportunity to create a cabinet for him.

There is a shelf in the back where things that are his but we don't use everyday life- the pouch system, extra disposable bibs, the freezer bottles that only hold 2 ounces of milk...

Then I bought baskets (I love buying baskets). I made everything look pretty for pictures- it never looks like this. The Bug mostly plays with the tupperware basket (since that's what I get out for him) and even though I am the one cleaning it up, it's usually at the last second before we are moving on...

All of his bowls, cups, plates, spoons and of course forks (oh your 7 month old isn't obsessed with forks? You are lucky!) are in these baskets with a few bottles mixed in for the rare use (we used to do more bottles but he's nursing less often and eating solids so we have less of a need since I can leave the house for 3-4 hours now instead of 20 minutes!)

That's it.

I mean, his junk food is in the pantry cabinet and he has finger foods in the fridge and freezer but they are in with the adult food...

But seriously, the moment the Bug could sit unassisted, he became OBSESSED with tupperware. It's his new favorite thing and I actually like that he's playing with things similar to what I'm using/cleaning. We even had a mini math lesson seeing which measuring cups fit together- they're like stacking cups with sticks!

Creating a Space for Baby

Babies take over. They come in perfectly content to look at things around them but we have all these toys that someone thought were cute!

We are lucky to have a house with space but the Family Room doesn't quite lend itself to becoming an all out playroom unless we want to never use the porch or fireplace so, I set out to create a space for the Bug to be able to play.

I wanted shelves but the Husband said with our baseboard heaters, shelves would block the heat come winter. I wanted something the Bug could crawl up to and see his toys. I wanted to not spend a ton of money.

I looked around and discovered a number of diaper boxes flooding the house. I grabbed 3 yards of fabric (I went light and solid but you can go crazy if you want!) and covered diaper boxes. I turned them onto their sides and FLOOR SHELVES! 
I wrapped the boxes like a present covering all 4 sides and the bottom in the hopes that if they are not destroyed, these can transition to toy boxes (as opposed to shelves) as the Bug grows.
I tried out adding accent fabric around the top and while I like the look, it is unnecessary at this stage since it won't be seen under the toys...
The baskets are from Target and the giant foam mats are from Lowes.

I can rearrange them, replace them, and they're the perfect size for the Bug's toys! In fact, since their introduction 2 months ago, I have rearranged several times (including making baskets to put in other rooms so not all his toys are in one place- another day!) and making it more "mobile Bug" friendly!

Here's the Bug's area (after a cleanup and nighttime...) I have little areas within his bigger area but that's a post for another time... The puzzle mats are from Lowe's and the baskets are from Target!

Getting Out of the House...

Let's be honest, getting out of the house with a little one is a HUGE task. We live in New England and the Bug was born in January thus making leaving the house even more fun...

But, the hubby had gone back to work and all of our family members had come and gone and I was at home with a 5 week old and had watched everything on Netflix and Amazon Instant Watch about 300 times (ok, that is an exaggeration but I was bored with TV!)

If it had been summer, I would have gone for a walk around the neighborhood but it was February and it was COLD.

So we found out that our local library has an infant story time (they also have toddler and preschool story times, a teen group, and pretty much are like the best small town library ever BUT...) and we went!

The Bug slept through pretty much the whole thing but it quickly became an important part of our week (they take breaks at the beginning and end of summer and it's AWFUL).

It gave me (the new mom in a new place with no mom friends or really friends at all) the courage to look for more things like this that I could do with my little guy and I have told every new mom I meet about it!

Not only did we get out of the house, we found something fun and educational that has already instilled a love of music and books into my now 7 month old. He LOVES the teacher and gets excited when I sing the songs at home too! 

And yes, his favorite part of books is trying to wrinkle and rip the pages so typically his independent reading is board books or these wonderful indestructible books! They do wrinkle (and make wonderful sounds) but he can chew, squish, and pull without hurting the book. They are dishwasher safe and the pictures are adorable!

So use that internet search engine and find something to get out and do no matter how old or young your little one may be! Not only will you meet other moms and dads, you'll feel better too!

*Note: we received the Indestructables books as gifts at The Bug's baby shower and have not purchased any ourselves. 

3 Types of Sensory Boards for Babies

Seeing all of my friends posting things on Pinterest, especially those of us with new babies got me going... The Bug was about 4 months (just reaching for things) when we made his first sensory board. I started with things we had around the house- as a former childcare teacher, this probably means more than the average person has lying around BUT trust me, you can make these with anything! Pipe cleaners, burlap, ribbons, aluminum foil, bubble wrap, straws, coffee filter, big buttons, and fabric are pictured on the Bug's. The back is a piece of cardboard I cut from a box! I laid everything out and got it situated and then glued it all on with hot glue. (The buttons are larger but do not pass the toilet tube choke test so if you use things that small, make sure your child cannot pull them off and do not leave your child unattended with this in reach!)

The Bug woke up from his nap and it was time to play!

He loved reaching out and touching things. I tried to find a variety of textures and colors to make it more fun (and keep him on his tummy... The Bug could roll off his tummy at about 2 weeks...)

After the initial introduction of the sensory board, my mom and I discovered that The Bug loves nature and being outside. I can't say for sure that any kids would or would not like this but he still does... This one takes a bit more planning with a younger kiddo because you want to find things that have enough "stick" to them. 

The final layout- The flower is fake. I made this board in April and in these parts, there are not many flowers out yet plus I wanted the board to last longer than a flower would. I am proud to say that it is now August and everything is still together!

The Bug once again woke up to a fun discovery! He was and still is loving this board!

As you can see in the above picture, we use the boppy to prop him up a bit more giving him more arm exploring power! Also, their is a piece of bark glued onto part of a toilet paper tube because the shape was right. Now the Bug can explore the bark without mashing it!

The Bug grew from 4 months to 5 months to 6 months and suddenly, the original sensory board was falling apart. I was sad but I hadn't spent any money on it anyway so we made a new one! My mom had just sent a ton of fabric scraps from her days of making clothes for me and my brother etc so I went to town finding pieces that had a variety of textures, patterns, and colors! I did spend a little bit of money on this one buying some fabric remnants at Joanns as well as a zipper. 

Another hit! Fabric squares go around the outside and ribbons/tags go across the bottom. On the far side we have pom poms, pipe cleaners, and a sponge. The middle is foam letters, googly eyes, a zipper, and the buttons I salvaged from the first board. The side closest to the camera is feathers and a bow.

So as you can see, there are a lot of ways to create a toy for your baby to explore! All of these boards incorporate sensory elements and we always try to add some language development in with our activities! We talk about the textures using words like smooth, bumpy, rough, soft, and hard, the colors, and the sounds he makes. 

*A note on colors- I had someone say "I think that's supposed to be red" when describing a toy to a 2 year old when the object was clearly pink (Dark pink but still). With a variety of hues, it can be tough so if your child says a color is different then what you would have said but they're within the color family, go with it! As your child gets closer to Kindergarten, they'll begin to be able to differentiate shades (light green, dark blue, etc)!

Traveling with a Baby

So before the Bug was 6 months we had gone on 3 longer than an hour car trips and flown on a plane (the plane was without Hubby...) 

Car trips are easier- you can take more, stop when you need, and have a lot more flexibility so even the 8 hour drive we took was easier than flying for me!

Car Trip Suggestions:

1. If you're breastfeeding, plan to pump and have a bottle so if you get stuck in traffic you can calm a screaming baby.

2. Ride in the back seat! We pushed the passenger seat all the way forward so I had tons of space.

3. Take the changing pad! We stuck it on the other seat in the back and the Bug had an instant car changing space. It was so much nicer than rest stop bathrooms (I grew up in the Southeast and there aren't rest areas like in the Northeast so it is WAY better than gas stations or fast food bathrooms!!!) It also gives you a place to put the baby down not in the carseat where they can stretch.

4. Take a few toys/books because while the Bug generally slept in the car, there were times where he didn't and it was nice to have a few things for him to look at!

Flying Suggestions:

1. If you are visiting someone, see if they can borrow/buy items to reduce what you have to travel with. We got VERY lucky as we were going to see my mom and one of her fellow teachers still has baby stuff from her now toddler so she let my mom borrow a carseat, pack n play, high chair, and play mat! My mom bought diapers and wipes for the Bug, another friend had an extra stroller, and we didn't need anything but clothes and his favorite toys!

2. If you're by yourself, check your luggage. It's so hard to get settled even getting to pre-board (we have priority boarding with some airlines so we board before families anyway.) that not having to deal with bags was major for me. I know airlines charge but the $25-35 is worth it!

3. Babywear! I didn't have to take him off going through security, they just wiped a wand on my hands to check for residues. He was still small enough that taking him off would have been a pain so I was thankful for this!!!

4. Get the seat YOU prefer! Everything I read said to get a window seat but I am 6'1" and love aisle seats for the leg room. I did have a seat mate who needed to pee and it woke up the Bug but I was much more comfortable then I would have been in the window seat!

5. Take anything you need on the plane and check the rest! We took a few small toys (the list is below) and a few of his favorite books. I took my Nook and snacks and might have looked at my Nook once. I also took a bottle despite breastfeeding because it was much easier to give him a bottle in certain situations (I have not perfected feeding while wearing.) plus the Bug will take cold bottles so I could take it frozen and let it defrost during the trip.

6. Use the stuff in the setback pocket! The Bug loved flipping through (and eating) the magazines and was mildly amused by the barf bag hand puppet!

The toys and books we took:

Indestructibles- these books are AMAZING! Not only do they have pretty pictures (and no words so I can say anything I think of!) They are chewable, machine and dishwasher safe, and just perfect for travel! They're thin so the take up about 3 sheets of paper worth of space!

Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton and Look Look! were also in our bag. Sandra Boynton is one of our family's top choices for baby board books and Look Look! was given to us by a friend. It's black and white with splashes of red so the contrast is great for babies!

These links by have been wonderful for teething, shaking, and basically are a staple in our diaper bag! The Bug also loves this zebra which has things for multiple senses (but I have read some less appealing articles lately and am taking a more "green" approach to the Bug's future toys...) 

We also took finger puppets which are now a HUGE hit! I can sing songs, tell stories, and the Bug can chew on them. Plus, like the Indestructibles, they take up very little space!