Category: Family Life

We all see pictures on social media of perfect couples going on extravagant vacations, getting dogs, and cooking together. Their relationships often look so perfect, we may get a little jealous.

We may begin to wonder about the goals we’ve set for our own relationships.

Real relationship goals should be achievable and help enhance your relationship. If you and your partner have been together for a while, you have likely set some couple goals: things you want to see and do or milestones you want to achieve.

If you’re at a loss and can’t think of any realistic couple goals you’ve set for your relationship, we’ve detailed a few inexpensive ones to give you ideas!

1. Wear Matching Outfits

Matching outfits with your partner is a great way to show solidarity with them. Having a photoshoot to show them off is a really cute relationship goal that will strengthen your bond every time you look at them. It’s also a great way to prove how committed you are to your partner!

Why stop with just the shirt and pants? Couple’s underwear is a more intimate way to show your partner you care. If you’re going to do it, go all out!

2. Get a Pet Together

There’s no better way to enhance your relationship than adopting a cat or dog! A lively pet will brighten up your life and give you and your partner something to bond over.

This responsibility will give both you and your partner the opportunity to show one another that you’re dependable. If you plan on having children, a pet is a good way to practice your teamwork!

3. Cook With Each Other

From romantic candlelit dinners to a lazy Sunday morning stack of pancakes, cooking with your significant other gives you the opportunity to spend time together. 

Cooking FOR your partner is just as important! It allows you to surprise and impress them while making them feel loved and appreciated. Having a date night at home is also a great way to save yourself some money!

4. Go on Adventures

An exciting relationship goal, planning road trips and fun vacations in far off lands will allow you and your partner to learn things about one another that you may never discover while staying at home. You’ll get to see how your partner behaves as a travel companion and how they handle the stress of traveling.

5. Prioritize Your Relationship

The most important relationship goal for couples is respecting your partner enough to put your relationship first. 

Your relationship needs to come before everything else, as long as it’s within reason. If you want to build something that will last, you have to work on it every day. Ensure your relationship is built on mutual trust, understanding, and excellent communication.

Couple Goals for You and Your Partner

Adding a few of these couple goals to your list of things to do will enhance your relationship by bringing you and your partner together. Get ready for a fun relationship full of excitement and experiences worth sharing on social media!

Be sure to check back regularly for more relationship and financially friendly advice!

Are you interested in scheduling your baby’s first dental visit?

Scheduling a dentist appointment for your baby can seem daunting, but it’s necessary. Your child’s first dental visit will be important to their health because it will outline any problems if they might have.

When you schedule an appointment for your baby, you’ll need to know of several things to help prepare both you and your child. The dentist will be able to provide you with general advice, but there are a few things you can do to ensure the appointment goes smoothly.

Read on to learn more about everything you can do to prepare for the dental visit.

Prepare Your Baby

When preparing for your baby’s first dentist appointment, you’ll want to do several things to ensure that the process goes smoothly. Preparing your baby for the appointment is best done by scheduling an early appointment.

When the appointment is early, your baby will be wide awake and alert. This will prevent them from dozing off as they’re being examined. If your baby already has several teeth, be sure to clean them before going in.

Prepare the Dentist

When you visit an infant dentist, you’ll want to inform them of your baby’s health history. While your baby most likely hasn’t had many medical visits, any information will be helpful to the dentist.

If there’s a problem with your baby, knowing their medical history would help a dentist conclude what’s wrong. They’ll then be able to give you the appropriate advice.

What to Expect

Your child’s first dental visit will be longer than the future ones because your baby’s entire mouth will be looked at. The dentist will typically look at the jaw, gums, and any teeth to ensure that they’re growing properly.

X-rays aren’t common in a baby’s first dentist appointment because baby teeth regularly fall out. However, an x-ray might be done if your child has a facial deformity to see if there’s a problem with the bone structure.

Your Baby’s Dental Health

Pediatric dentistry is important for your baby’s health because it ensures that their teeth are properly developing. With improper hygiene, things like cavities and mouth diseases can arise.

Visiting a dentist for toddler dental health will put your child on the right path to having excellent dental hygiene. The dentist will recommend you several ways to brush your baby’s teeth, what kind of foods to avoid, and how to teach them to brush their teeth when they’re older.

Schedule Your Baby’s First Dental Visit Today

When do babies go to the dentist? It’s recommended that babies have their first dental visit the moment one of their teeth appear. If your baby already has a tooth, you need to take them to a dentist soon to make sure that they’re healthy.

After scheduling the appointment, start preparing your baby by cleaning whatever teeth they have. You’ll also want to gather any documents relating to their health history. 

Browse our blog if you’d like to read a variety of health articles that will help you and your baby.

Have you ever seen a smart child that seemed to be knowledgeable beyond their years? You look at their parents and marvel.

How did they make their kids so smart? Or were their kids always this smart?

If you want to learn how to raise an intelligent child, all you have to do is look at the clues other parents have left behind. Success leaves clues in all areas of life and that includes raising smart kids.

Continue reading this article and learn how to make your child smarter.

Games Are Golden

Kids want to play games. They are constantly asking for your phone or tablet so they can win at Angry Birds or some other game.

While these games might not be educational, they can help your child with their motor skills and problem-solving skills. You can also find educational games kids can play that will help them learn in ways they enjoy.

When kids learn through playing games, they are highly engaged and willing. One of the reasons some kids don’t learn well at school is because they are resisting education. Games are a great way to get kids on board so their minds are more receptive to learning.

Monitor How You’re Responding to Your Child

Notice the way you, your partner and anyone around your child respond to them when they make a request. The way you respond to your child has a lot to do with the way they look at life.

As parents, we want to protect our children. Since we want to protect our children, sometimes we put our beliefs over on them and it isn’t always helpful for them. If we are passing on unfounded fears, we could cause our children to be too cautious which will discourage them from learning and experiencing new things.

Instead of trying to answer everything that your child asks you, encourage them to discover and learn. Ask them open-ended questions and help them come to their own conclusions.

Make as Few Rules as Possible

While rules can be helpful and keep a house running smoothly, having unnecessary rules can decrease a child’s creativity. Keeping your children safe is important but there are some rules that children can do without and still be safe.

Allow your child to learn their way in the world as much as possible and you’ll see how brave and creative they become.

Boredom Isn’t Bad

Do you remember how painful it was to be bored when you were a kid? Being bored as a kid was the number one more horrible thing to experience for most children. Since you hated being bored, you likely don’t want your child to go through it either.

What you should know is that boredom isn’t bad. Boredom helps your child think up new things to do. Boredom gives your brain space and allows a child to stop going in the same routine they normally would go in.

Model Smart Behavior

Our kids take after us. If you don’t read, it’s unlikely your kids are going to read. If you don’t further your education, it’s unlikely your kids are going to be interested in education.

Whatever you want your kids to do, you should make sure your kids know you’re doing it as well. Even if you’ve done it in the past, children need to see you doing it now.

You might be surprised at how children will start showing interest in things when you start doing them. Children want to be with their parents and get curious about what they are doing. Give it a try and see how it works for your family.

Failure is Your Friend

You might notice many adults that are terrified of failing. Failure is the villain of most adult nightmares and daytime terrors.

What if I bomb this presentation? What if that girl doesn’t like me when I ask her out?

Fear of failure cripples far too many people. Instead of viewing failure as a friend, many people view failure as a foe. If you see failure as a foe, your child is likely to see it that way as well.

Children that are afraid to fail can’t learn as easily because they are afraid to get things wrong. If we as parents try to protect our children from feelings of failure and sadness, it will just make things worse and keep them from taking risks when they get older.

Give Reading and Music the Green Light

Reading opens a whole new world to your children. When children read, they are able to learn things they might not have otherwise discovered. You never know when they might find a topic that excites them and makes them want to learn and develop in that area.

Many children figure out things they would like to study in college or hobbies they would like to develop as adults through reading books. Now it is easier than ever to get your hands on a good book since you have access to ebooks, audiobooks, and more.

Check out My Smart Child

Now that you know more about how to raise a smart child, why stop learning there? We have other articles that can help you as you’re learning how to give your child the best future possible.

Browse our site, find your favorite section, drop a bookmark and come back soon for more great reads.

When it’s time for your son or daughter to learn how to drive, it’s a huge milestone. But if you worry about their safety, you’re not alone. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2017, drivers under 20 years of age had the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes. Teens are also more likely to text and not wear a seatbelt while driving.

You want your kid to be prepared, but you might not want to be the one to get them ready. Driving school is an excellent way to prep your adolescent without the anxiety of riding shotgun. 

Read along as we discuss five reasons you should invest in drivers ed for teens.

What is Driving School?

A driving school specializes in teaching formal driving courses for a person to prepare to get a learner’s permit or a driver’s license. 

Driving school for unlicensed drivers usually comes in two parts the classroom education and behind-the-wheel lessons.

1. Become Familiar with Driving

Driving school is a fantastic way for a teen to learn the basics of operating a vehicle. Depending on when he or she attends class, many teens get to take the course with friends or peers.

The amount of hours for behind-the-wheel lessons varies by state and driving school. But after successful completion of the classroom education driving lessons, your teen will be more confident and prepared to take their road test.

2. Put Knowledge of Driving Laws To Work

During the classroom education, your teen reviews driving situations, strategies, and techniques to reduce the risks of being on the road. 

The information taught in class will prepare the student for the privilege of having a license and the responsibilities of driving a vehicle. 

3. Convenient

The driving school enables your teen to learn the ins and outs of driving while you go about your day. Whether you’re busy working or running errands, driver’s ed allows you the freedom to live your life. While you may need to spend some time in the car while your kid practices, having a professional do the majority of the work does help.

4. Flexible Schedules

Many driving schools will work around you and your teen’s schedule. They may pick up and drop your teen at home, so you don’t worry about transporting them to and from behind-the-wheel lessons. 

Working with a friendly staff to accommodate your needs is one of the biggest advantages of using a driving school. Your son or daughter won’t need to wait around for you or your spouse to use your free time to teach them.

5. Lower Insurance Premiums

With the cost of living increasing it’s not surprising auto insurance premiums can be expensive. But using a driving school for your new driver in the house might save you money. Many insurance carriers give a discount for teens who complete driver’s education.

Lower insurance prices mixed with affordable driving courses make this beneficial for you and your teen.

Sign Them Up

Driving school not only teaches your teens the basics of driving, but it helps you stick to a busy schedule. When your teen takes driver’s ed they receive preparation for driving responsibly. 

To learn more interesting tips about saving money or being a mom check out our blog.

 

Did you know new parents will get less than 5 hours of sleep each night for the first year of their baby’s life?

According to a study, the average is 4 hours and 44 minutes. That’s nearly half the recommended 8-hours-a-night rule!

And as they get older, it doesn’t get much better. Whether it’s hunger, out of habit, or because they’ve had a nightmare, sleepless nights are common. On top of these issues, you could wake to find them in a puddle.

So, how can you prevent diaper leaks at night? Read on for the 411.

Preventing Diaper Leaks at Night—The 411

Just one diaper leaking at night can turn a peaceful night’s sleep into a chaotic mess. Not only do you have to clean up your little one, but depending on the scope of the problem you may have to change ALL the sheets and more.

But don’t panic. There are ways to prevent diapers from leaking at night. Here are 7 of our top tips.

1. Invest in the Best Diapers for Nighttime Leaks

Rule number one has to be this—buy the best overnight diapers for toddlers and babies. Because if you scrimp on quality, both you and your little one will suffer.

There are some high-quality nighttime diapers available that are specifically designed for the job at hand. Nighttime diapers are generally more absorbent and thicker than regular diapers.

While nighttime diapers are a little more expensive, you only need to use them at night. So the box will last longer than you might think.

Of course, if you’ve opted for eco-friendly options, such as cloth diapers, what can you do? You can use eco-friendly diapers made from bamboo pulp instead. They soak up a lot better than cloth diapers, but they are bio-degradable, which makes them a great choice for eco-friendly moms.

2. Give Them a Boost

While you might have the best diapers for nighttime leaks, what if they don’t work for your child? Or what if you really want to stick to cloth nappies? There is a secret strategy that you may not know about—diaper booster pads!

You may not have heard about them before, but they are a handy invention for preventing leaky diapers. The booster pads look similar to a feminine pad and fit inside a regular or overnight diaper. It acts as a “first line of defense”.

Some booster pads absorb up to 8 oz. of liquid. And once the pad’s full, the diaper absorbs the rest. It really is that simple!

3. Size Up

Size up, the answer could be as simple as that.

Once your baby or toddler is reaching the diaper size limit, leaks may start. Try increasing their nappy size. This may solve their bed-wetting conundrum in a matter of minutes.

If the diaper seems a bit too big and bulky for their day time excursions, just use the bigger ones at night. And keep the smaller size for their daytime activities.

But remember that if the diaper is too big for them, that will actually cause more leaks. Make sure there are no gaps and that it fits comfortably.

4. Positioning is Key

While the size is important, positioning is also vital to preventing leaks. With disposable diapers, make sure the leg bands are on the outside. These frilly edges help create a seal and keep the wetness in.

If they’re leaking out the front, make sure the rise is high enough over their stomach. The front of the diaper should fit snugly under their belly button. And with boys, make sure their penis is pointed down—upwards is a complete no-no!

If they leak out of the back of the diaper, pull the back of the diaper up higher. And make sure it fits snugly around the legs and tummy.

5. Stealthy Diaper Change

How to prevent diaper leaks at night? Make sure to change them right before they go to sleep. When they fall asleep with a fresh diaper, it might not overflow throughout the night.

But if that doesn’t work, you may have to do a stealth diaper change. Before you go to bed yourself, sneak in and change their diaper. This could make all the difference to a dry night’s sleep.

If your little one is a light sleeper, this might create more problems than you can solve, no matter how stealthy you are. Only attempt this if you’re sure they’ll sleep through the change.

6. Toddlers Drinking Routine

This only applies to toddlers as babies need to take in formula regularly. Whatever you do, NEVER withhold feeding your baby to stop their diaper leaking at night.

However, toddlers are a different matter.

If they regularly drink something right before bed, their diaper will fill up quickly. Try to change up their routine and make sure they drink an hour before bedtime. If they are still holding onto a bottle at night, try do away with it for good.

This means on their final diaper change before they sleep, you will dispose of most of the liquid before they catch some zzz’s. This will lead to a dryer night’s sleep.

7. Save the Linen

If all else fails and you still find your little one wet at night, try to make the change as effortless as possible. Use waterproof sheets and linen savers to protect the mattress.

A handy tip is to have two waterproof sheets on the mattress already. This means you only have to strip off the first layer and their bed is ready for sleeping.

Waterproof sheets are worth the investment, as you’ll be needing them when they start potty training later.

Sleep Like a Baby, Finally!

As you can see, you can prevent diaper leaks at night. You just need a good bedtime routine and the right tools for the job. If you follow these tips, one thing’s for sure—both you and your baby will finally get the chance to sleep like a baby!

For more foolproof tips for moms and dads, check out the “Family Life” section of our blog.