Kids, Parenting

New Babysitter Tips and Printable Checklists #MommyMustHaves

I have been compensated by JOHNSONS® Baby for this post; however, I am sharing my own thoughts. All opinions are my own.

New Babysitter Tips and Printable Checklists

I was always fortunate to live across town from family with our son. With my 2 older bonus boys we can just rearrange custody days so we could send them to Mom’s if we had plans and she can do the same with us. Even though family would take the boys at various times, it was always nice to hand them tips and necessities.

Our youngest is 9 and has always been very habitual (like my husband). For instance, if he was in need of a bath the night we are out he would expect his same bubbles and shampoo. I always use JOHNSON’S® Baby Shampoo and eventually began using their BEDTIME® Lavender wash. He loves the bath washes that smell good and this one is so relaxing.

bathtime

He also has other habits like reading in his book and being allowed some video game time leading up to bed. These are all nice to note for a babysitter so they can keep the routine as normal as possible for the kids. Having these babysitter tips handy helps the kids moods and excitement levels and that helps the sitter as well.

Babysitter Tips Main Checklist

This is the stationary checklist you can keep up and only need to replace if major contacts, medical information or routines change.

Download the Babysitter Checklists

Babysitter Checklist -2

Use this checklist below every time you leave the kids with a babysitter. This checklist has that day’s notes and meal plans for the babysitter

Another handy thing to leave out for a sitter is a ‘babysitter emergency box’. Kids get bumps and small cuts, they get messy and even get fevers and bugs. A sitter is not going to be familiar with where you keep all of your essentials, so having a basket with main essentials out is always a good idea. Even if I send our son to family to stay, I put these items in a large ziploc in his suitcase because relatives may not have these children essentials in their homes if he needs them. What do I keep in mine?

  • Infant/Children’s Tylenol
  • JOHNSON’S® Band-aids
  • Cleaning Wipes
  • Cotton Swabs
  • Ointments
  • Benadryl

babysitter kit

Then I also double check that his shampoos/washes are available near the bath and his oral care products are ready by the sink. Or if he is being watched out of the home, those go into a large ziploc as well and sent in his suitcase.

With brands like JOHNSON’S® Baby available at Walmart they are trusted to be easily found and available for many more generations to come. Having a habitual child means using brands you know you can consistently buy and have available for them at bed, bath and routine times.

Do you have a routine for your babysitter to follow?

If someone is reporting an adverse event or a product quality complaint, please tell them to call the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) North America Consumer Care Center at 800-361- 8068 during normal business hours of operation: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. After normal business hours, they can report adverse events or product quality complaints through www.jnj.com Contact Us page.

Parenting, Seattle Area Attractions, Travel

Visiting the Oregon Coast – Seaside, Oregon

Visiting the Oregon Coast - Seaside, Oregon

This New Years we took a drive to the Oregon coast and stayed in Seaside. It has been many years since I have been to Seaside and we know it is plenty entertaining for our son. The weather was gorgeous for heading into January and Seaside is located less than 20 miles from Astoria, Or which is a fun town to stay and shop in and Seaside is also about 7 miles from Cannon Beach which is a gorgeous beach town. There are many great beaches on the Oregon coast!

Staying in Seaside, Oregon

We chose one of the several hotels located along the river and only blocks from the ocean. Broadway is the main stretch of Seaside where you find the arcade, shops, restaurants and even a summer fun center with activities so staying on the ocean side of the river and close to Broadway is best. The Comfort Inn was where we chose and the staff were all so fun and pleasant. Not just one staff member, but all of them!

pool hotel

The Comfort Inn on Broadway has a pool, hot tub, sauna room and free hot breakfast. The breakfast had a ton of options like waffles, eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy, cereals, breads, yogurt and much more. They kept a couple beverage items out all day to stop and and grab if needed. They also put fresh baked cookies in the lobby every afternoon!

Eating in Seaside, Oregon

If you drive to Seaside for a few days you won’t only eat in Seaside. With Cannon Beach and Astoria nearby there are several good eating options. However, with all of our stops over 3 days our favorite was Dundees in Seaside on the main Broadway and walking distance to many hotels. The staff is great and they have TV’s for the games and are family friendly. I had nachos and my husband ordered a pizza. We also had beers and mixed drink. Anthony ordered spaghetti and meatballs off the menu. Warning! The Nachos can easily feed 2 if you add meat!

We did go over New Years so hours of eateries were shortened. But when my son had a late night ice cream craving, the Dairy Queen 1 block over from Broadway was open late to serve. They were closing and loaded up his brownie sundae for him and offered him a bag of fries they were going to dump so he was a satisfied 9 year old.

We spent Sunday watching the Seahawks game at the Public Coast Brewery in Cannon Beach, Oregon. If you love unique brewed beers, they have many and are delicious. If you are not a beer drinker, their root beer is amazing! It was family friendly, order as you walk in and fast service.

What to do in Seaside, Oregon

Besides staring at the ocean? For the adults, there is shopping and good eateries. Located between about 6 pubs within a 30 mile radius you’ll eat well and enjoy some good Northwest beers.

For the kids, Funland about 2 blocks up from the beach is the hot spot! It is a huge arcade attached to a pizza place that has good food. It is called Fultanno’s Pizza and is a hit spot for lunch and dinner while the kids play. It is a ticket arcade so kids can earn fun prizes.

With the beach at my back, I took this shot of Broadway in Seaside. A long street of shops, food, hotels and fun!

In the summer, there is an indoor activity center across form the arcade with mini golf, bumper cars and more. There is no shortage in ice cream and candy shops and there are even swings and bathrooms on the beach.

It is also a pet-friendly beach and town! I think everyone in Seaside brought their dog on vacation with them. There is a dog around every corner and everyone stops to talk dog and owner with each other. With our new puppy, Maya she was in heaven and we got to meet and chat with so many other dog owners on our walks.

Healthy Living, Parenting, Reviews, Uncategorized

Keeping Kids Healthy with GIANTmicrobes – Review

I have partnered with GIANTmicrobes for feature. All opinions are my own

Keeping Kids Healthy with GIANTmicrobes - Review

Vitamins come in many forms from tablets and capsules to yummy gummies. Most kids get their vitamins in gummies or flavored, candy-like tablets. Now they can play with their vitamins! With actual, enlarged molecules of Vitamins A, B6, C and D they will learn all about these compounds that are essential for growth and nutrition. See these fun Vitamin GIANTmicrobes.

Vitamin A plays an important role in bone growth and vision. It also is great for the skin and teeth as well as cell and tissue growth. What foods are a good source of Vitamin A?

Vitamin A is found in yellow and orange foods like carrots and squash. Ask your child to name a few they can think of?

Microbes Plush

Vitamin B6 is one of those B-Vitamins that converts food into energy. In particular, B6 is important for the cardiovascular and nervous system as well as immunity and digestion.

Vitamin B6 is found in meat, fish, nuts, bananas and potatoes! Ask your child what Disney Minion they think gets the most Vitamin B6?

Vitamin C Facts

Vitamin C fights the cold and flu bugs and helps heals wounds. You can’t stay away from germs, they are all around us but Vitamin C helps our body not get sick from those germs.

Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits, strawberries, tomatoes, cabbage and kiwi to name a few. Ask your child what Vitamin C food they want as a side for lunch or dinner today?

Vit C nutrition

Vitamin D is for the bones! Vitamin D also gives us a mineral that helps our body take in Calcium. Calcium (milk) and Vitamin D are best friends.

Vitamin D can be found in grains, green leafy vegetables, egg yolks and some cereals. Ask your child what they like to put on their green salad?

Learning biology

Now that you and your child have learned about their vitamins, how about some plush molecules to play with. They will use these to learn and memorize. If vitamins don’t excite them, there are so many cells, diseases and critters to learn and have fun with at GIANTmicrobes.

Books Reviews, Children's Books, Education, Parenting

Freddie the Fly Motormouth: A Story About Listening – Book

I have partnered with Boys Town Press for this feature

 

 Freddie the Fly Motormouth: A Story About Listening - Book

Freddie the Fly: A Story About Listening

By: Kimberly Delude

 
When I hit middle school I was told by my parents and some friends that I was a motormouth. I talked and (perhaps it’s the Italian influences from my Grandparents who were the same way) I talked fast! I would here “Calm down, you’re talking too fast” or “My! You have a lot to say!” I learned and grew put of it in High School and like, Freddie the Fly am better off for learning to control my speech.

 
Kimberly Delude is a Certified Speech and Language Pathologist and this is her first children’s book. Freddie is told he is a motormouth and after meeting other just like him they work together to learn ways to pause and listen. It is in learning these new skills he finds out some pretty neat stuff about his friends all because he stopped to listen.

 

 
Freddie the Fly will be available in October on Amazon and you can preorder it now.